Resource Manual

The intent of this resource manual is to facilitate the job of department chairperson without replacing other campus documents related to university policies and procedures. The format of this manual is primarily electronic. Rather than reproducing texts in various other documents and locations, it provides a compendium of links to help you find policies and resources quickly and simply. It is an outline of what you might need to know and where you can go to find it.

Many times the descriptions of roles, responsibilities and procedures in this document are equivocal because the role of the chair varies greatly across the campus. Some individuals with responsibilities similar to a “chair” instead have the title of “director”, while some academic units are “schools” rather than “departments.” In some colleges the chairperson plays an executive role in a large unit. He or she may serve an indefinite term, have extensive budgetary and personnel responsibilities, and have wide discretion over departmental resources. In other colleges, the chair may serve a rotating term and have more limited administrative responsibilities. Teaching loads also vary, based on size of unit and nature of responsibilities. We give general guidance in this handbook, but the chairperson or director should consult with his or her dean regarding specific policies and expectations.

NOTE: Although this resource manual includes links to statements of policy, no policy implications should be derived from information in the manual itself. Information in this document is subject to change, and chairs should always seek the most current information online or from the appropriate unit manager.

LM (7/21/2005)