Associated Colleges of the South

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 (America/New_York)
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.
