Activities and roles of department heads that can improve departmental and faculty effectiveness were investigated, along with dimensions associated with departmental leadership of chairpersons. In the first of two studies, department heads at four-year institutions were interviewed to identify views of existing conditions in higher education,…

Management tasks of department chairs and their perceived needs for staff development were studied in Australian Colleges of Advanced Education (CAE), U.S. state colleges, and a U.S. university. Data were obtained from 679 Australian and 98 U.S. department heads, using similar instruments developed by the Nebraska-Lincoln Task Force on Management…

Describes a study of 3,000 department heads at U.S. community colleges to determine their perceptions of their responsibility to offer student services at the department level. Indicates that scheduling classes, responding to student interests, and integrating computers into instruction were rated highly, while emphasizing transfer received low…

Describes a study of 3,000 community college department chairs to identify and prioritize strategies used to cope with job-related challenges. Indicates that top strategies were related to relations with business and industry, maintaining the chair position, and internal departmental operations. Discusses implications for future research. (10…

Drawing from a national survey of 9,000 community and technical college department chairs in the United States and Canada, this book offers insights on the personal characteristics, responsibilities, challenges, and strategies of chairs. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the study, including information on its rationale and purpose, instrument…

This monograph explores the changing role of the academic department chair in the areas of leadership, influence, and faculty development. The paper uses research insights to explore the situation of an academic chair who is squeezed between the demands of upper administration and the expectations of faculty, staff, and students. Studies of the…

This digest explores the changing role of the academic department chair in the areas of leadership, influence, and faculty development. The paper uses research insights to explore the situation of an academic chair who is squeezed between the demands of upper administration and the expectations of faculty, staff, and students. Studies of the roles…

Describes a study to identify sources of revenue for community colleges, and department chairs' perceptions of their primary financial management roles. Reports that the main source of funding was public money, while only 40.2% of the respondents indicated that seeking external funding was important or very important. (10 citations) (AJL)

Researchers have spent years investigating the demands, multiple roles, and critical nature of organizational leaders in postsecondary educational settings. Overall, the research indicates agreement that leadership at all levels in postsecondary education is complex and multidimensional. During the past thirty years, though, much of the research…