New Department Chair Programming Series - Support for Chairs.
2024-02-29 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Support for Chairs: In this session we will explore resources available for avoiding burnout and promoting self-care (after all, we are rapidly approaching mid-terms!). We will provide some examples for when faculty feel distant from their identities as scholars (when taking on administrative duties); delegating; saying “no” when appropriate. We will discuss effective conversation and use of email, humor, ways to listen, understanding the need to collaborate with other units, the limits of what a chair can and cannot do. The goal of this session is to let you know that you are not alone in feeling a bit of burnout, and share a few solutions.

Please click here to register: https://www.acsouth.edu/forms/new-department-chair-programming/

New Department Chair Programming Series - Topic to be selected by group in early February.
2024-04-02 15:00 - 16:00
Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

2024 Chief Academic Officers Meeting
2024-09-19 14:00 - 2024-09-21 11:00

New Department Chair Programming Series - Me, as department chair.
2024-09-19 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

September 19, 2024: Me, as department chair

Who am I as a leader and how do I apply my leadership strengths to the role of department chair?

Understanding my preferred style and how it impacts communication with others

Adapting my leadership to fit particular situations

Asking for feedback from peers and mentors to support continuous leadership growth and self-awareness

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

New Department Chair Programming Series - Establishing an inclusive and collaborative departmental culture.
2024-10-10 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

October 10, 2024: Establishing an inclusive and collaborative departmental culture.

How do you foster and maintain an inclusive departmental environment?

Faculty mentoring

Onboarding new faculty

Leading meetings

Making decisions as a department

Staffing introductory courses

Attending to student concerns

Connecting back to my preferred leadership style (Session 1)

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

2024 VP of Student Life & Dean of Students Meeting
2024-11-13 14:00 - 2024-11-15 15:30

New Department Chair Programming Series - Navigating a difficult conversation and delivering feedback to others: The good and the bad.
2024-11-14 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

November 14, 2024: Navigating a difficult conversation and delivering feedback to others: The good and the bad.

How does a chair deliver meaningful feedback with empathy and effectiveness?

Performance reviews (including performance reviews of full professors if you are an associate professor)

Tenure letters

Inheriting prior information

Being the designated grown-up in difficult conversations

Documenting areas of improvement and helping faculty navigate a plan to address them

Asking for feedback

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

New Department Chair Programming Series - Me, as department chair.
2024-11-20 15:15 - 16:30
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

November 20, 2024: Chair Connections – STEM Department Chairs

Please note that this session takes place at 3:15pm ET.

Chair Connections provides discipline-specific learning communities that offer peer support and timely guidance, helping department chairs address challenges unique to their fields while fostering a strong professional network.

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

New Department Chair Programming Series - Me, as department chair.
2025-01-16 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

January 16, 2025: Me, as department chair

Who is taking care of me?

Self-care

Avoiding burnout/exhaustion

How to maintain my own professional development as chair and as scholar

Identifying my needs for a mentor

Setting boundaries

Connecting back to the many responsibilities and challenges for a department chair (sessions 2 & 3)

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

New Department Chair Programming Series - Using Data/Telling the Story.
2025-02-13 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

February 13, 2025: Using Data/Telling the Story

What data is useful to collect and how do I use it to advance departmental goals?

Collection and use of departmental data for external reviews; assessment; internal requests for positions, funding

Understanding and using institutional data

Relating data to goals for equity and inclusion – are all students successfully navigating courses, major, etc? Is any particular group of faculty or students being left behind and do we know why?

Connecting back to establishing an inclusive culture (session 2) and laying groundwork for working with other administrators (session 6) and maintaining a functional department (session 7)

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

New Department Chair Programming Series - Working effectively with senior administrators.
2025-03-06 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

March 6, 2025: Working effectively with senior administrators

How does a chair gain support for departmental goals and work effectively with senior administrators?

Understanding organizational structure and roles of other leaders

Understanding campus operating procedures for facilities/maintenance, budgets/purchasing, technology, institutional effectiveness/assessment, and other college business processes

Understanding accountability and supporting an institutional perspective on policies -Connecting back to the use of data (session 6) and navigating difficult conversations (session 3)

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

New Department Chair Programming Series - Maintaining a healthy department.
2025-04-03 15:30 - 16:45
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Department chairs are essential faculty leadership roles that influence and shape the institutional mission and student success. This year-long program will leverage a consortial approach to professional development and build community among participants while providing essential guidance, opportunities for self-reflection, and sharing of useful practices for effective leadership as a department chair.

The target audience is new or emerging department chairs, although experienced chairs may also benefit. The program is scaffolded to connect sessions and build community among participants who can provide peer-peer support (“co-mentoring”) throughout and after the program. Chairs are encouraged to participate in all sessions, as much as their busy schedules allow.

April 3, 2025: Maintaining a healthy department

What is my role in promoting student success and maintaining a healthy and thriving department?

Ensuring a relevant, updated, and innovative curriculum

Managing student complaints

Supporting faculty and staff (special emphasis on support for new faculty)

Supporting students

Strategic planning for the department

Being the designated grown up

Knowing when to ask and what to ask for help on Connecting back to using data (session 5)

Please login to ACS Community to register for this session.

2025 VP of Student Life & Dean of Students Meeting
2025-11-13 14:00 - 2025-11-14 15:30
Draft agenda and registration link will be shared in August of 2025. If you would like more information on this event, please contact Ashley Torgerson at atorgerson@acsouth.edu.
