Describes how the task of leading an English department has changed over the past 25 years. Considers the delicate yet essential task of the department head to provide leadership and vision for an entire department. Relates the general problems of English departments and specific problems in graduate education with diversity and difference gone…

A symposium in the November 2006 issue of "College English" addresses the question, "What should college English be?" In this article, the author presents his answer to this question--it should be a functional approach to English studies. By English studies he means everything that is done in English departments. Most English departments teach…

As Composition Studies has grown as a discipline over the last quarter century, the field has wrestled with defining and naming disciplinary expertise and professional positions. At first glance, issues of naming may not appear worthy of debate, and so whether an individual writing center director identifies as a writing program administrator…

In an era of diminishing public resources, community college departments need a budgetary system in which options are clearly spelled out, consequences projected, priorities delineated, and budget requests made that are functional and provide useful results. Unfortunately, few colleges and even fewer departments are developing and utilizing such…

Describes tactics and approaches used by an English department chair in dealing with faculty, administration, and internal faculty strife. (SR)

Discusses the effect that human relations have on the administration of college foreign language departments. It is argued that department chairs need to be aware of their responsibilities to administrators and faculty, establishing a blend of positive interaction within the department and respect for their leadership position. (three references)…

Policy statements of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages are presented for administration of foreign language departments; use of outside reviewers; and statement of good practice: teaching, evaluation, and scholarship.(LB)

Considers the potential use that English teachers might make of the discussions ensuing from curricular reform initiatives. Argues that the debates generated by the process of program reform are usually far better than the curricular results of those debates. Shows how assessment debates have great educational potential for curricular changes. (HB)

This feature includes four articles, three of which present arguments for alternative titles for the field of physical education: Movement Science, Kinesiology, and Exercise and Sport Science. The fourth article discusses the genesis, organization, and current philosophy and purpose of the Exercise Science Department at the University of…

Promotes idea that change is needed in supporting faculty contributions across full range of mission of higher education: (1) teaching must become community activity; (2) departments must be held accountable for contributions to mission; and (3) learned societies must participate in supporting teaching and reflective practice. (CRR)

Offers a keynote address presented to the Southern States Communication Association. Outlines why communication may be considered the central academic discipline, a site where other disciplines intersect. Issues a challenge to take stock and pride in the discipline of communication. (SR)

Argues that high school department chairs should relate collegially, not administratively, with teachers. Advocates teacher collegial groups (TCGs) as a productive strategy for setting collegial department norms. Offers research findings on TCGs in school settings. (SR)

Explores how a particular metaphor might help to consider the current situation of higher education and to imagine what might be done about it. Aims to clarify and to represent more accurately what the intellectual work of a university means for students, the faculty, and higher education as a whole. (SG)

In this interview, Reynaldo F. Macias, chair of the recently established Department of Chicana/o Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), talks about the historical significance of El Plan de Santa Barbara, its impact on Chicana/o studies throughout the Southwest, and its relevance in establishing a department at UCLA, and the…

Environmental differences for speech departments at large and small colleges are not simply of scale; there are qualitative as well as quantitative differences. At small colleges, faculty are hired as teachers, rather than as researchers. Because speech teachers at small colleges must be generalists, and because it is often difficult to replace…