A discussion of conflict in academic departments describes current philosophies in conflict resolution, including a principled approach emphasizing positive benefits. Structures within organizations that inherently create conflict are identified, and various strategies for dealing with conflict are outlined based on one theory of response modes.…

This study investigated what university and college department chairpersons believe are the most important duties of their position, how they view their roles, and the relationship of perceived roles and duties. Possible role definitions included seeing department chair work as leader, scholar, faculty developer, or manager. The study surveyed 800…

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the role of the academic department chair in a time when the chair's role is rapidly becoming more important and more complex. Part 1 describes the new roles chairs face, followed by a general discussion of their responsibilities. Part 2 is concerned with the department chair's work with people,…

Four prerequisites for college and university departmental change and renewal have been suggested: dedication to teamwork; collective dialog and inquiry about effective teaching; commitment to quality control and rewarding collective goals; and leadership of a purposeful chair. These are discussed in relation to conditions mitigating against…

Clusters of faculty stressors were investigated with attention to how clustered stressors are associated with the professional characteristics of intellectual discipline, rank, and tenure. The relationship of the stressors to the key personal characteristics of age, gender, and marital status was also examined. A total of 80 universities, 40…

An analysis of five dimensions of perceived stress (reward and recognition, time constraints, departmental influence, professional identity, and student interaction) among university faculty and their relationship to personal and professional characteristics is reported. (MSE)