Faculty Development: The Role of the Chair in Developing Tenure-eligible and Tenured Faculty

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Department Chair Online Resource Center

Publisher

American Council on Education

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Abstract

When it comes to faculty development, institutions seem to suffer a personality split. While our work as educators is focused on developing either the young or the uninitiated with whom faculty spend a great deal of time mentoring, leading, encouraging, and counseling, our attitudes toward our colleagues often are grounded in a cult of individualism that can curtail intellectual exchange and even push individuals to seek their professional sustenance outside the home institution. While a department exerts effort to orient new full-time faculty, that effort may not go beyond an introduction to the mechanics of the department and of the institution. While it is certainly necessary to understand the seasonal rhythms and processes of the workplace, acculturation that does not progress beyond mechanics will not encourage the development of a community of teacher/scholars. Nor does a cursory introduction give much recognition to the evolving developmental needs of mature faculty members or to the idiosyncratic situation of women and minorities. Faculty development is, in fact, a complex task and a responsibility most effectively led and encouraged by a department’s chair. A good place to start is by mapping the dimensions of the topic.

Comments

Originally published by the American Council on Education (ACE). Publisher's PDF available through remote link.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS