Fostering Leadership Development and Professionalism for University Department Heads

Abstract

This paper will review a successful eight-year program for the academic leadership development of department chairpersons. This program has involved two hundred department heads, ranging from the various technologies and sciences (i.e. microelectronic engineering, chemistry, photography, printing, packaging, computer science) to the humanities and social sciences (i.e. fine arts, social work, criminal justice, accounting) and the major service units (i.e. bursar, cooperative work-study and placement, development, government affairs, counseling, accounting). This particular strategy for institutional renewal was proposed and budgeted based upon the assumption that department heads have a major impact on academic change and climate within an institution of higher learning. This academic leadership program was internally funded and planned according to specification drawn from extensive interviews with department chairpersons, faculty members, staff and deans. Released-time was made available to participants. A formal process was designed to evaluate the series. Cognitive content, affective content and the process of learning were studied in the model. The data collected from our evaluation process clearly demonstrates that the participants are enthusiastic about the series and, without exception, in support of its continuance for others. A particularly encouraging finding was that department chairpersons had made significant new commitments of time and resources toward the professional development of their faculty and staff following this exposure to the Academic Leadership Workshop Series (ALWS).