III.   Administrative -- Chair

A.      MWSU Policy Guide Description of Chair

The department Chairpersons are directly responsible to their college Deans.  In addition to teaching regular classes within the department, the Chairpersons have the major responsibility of directing instruction, developing curriculum within the department, organizing the academic disciplines within the department, and coordinating the activities of these disciplines.  Department Chairpersons have a major responsibility for recommending appointments, promotions, and tenure within the department (4).

B.       Formal Evaluation of Chairperson

The criteria the department and the Dean use to evaluate the Chair (MWSU chair evaluation form)

a)       Representing “voice” of department to Dean and others

b)       Leadership in developing an effective curriculum

c)       Fairness in evaluation of faculty

d)       Establishment of a scholarly environment

e)       Recruitment of faculty

f)        Attention to administrative details

g)       Promotes departmental harmony

h)       Suitability of scheduling

i)         Hiring and supervision of non-faculty staff

j)         Overall effectiveness as departmental leader

k)       Equitable distribution of departmental duties (committees, sponsorships, etc.)

C.    Term and term limits

a)       Term of the Chairperson of the Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism is established at 3 years.

b)       Excepting the sitting Chair, Chairpersons of this department are recommended to two consecutive terms.  After an interruption of one term, a person may serve again.

        D.    Selection process

a)        At the first department meeting of the academic year of the current chair’s third year in office, the department will elect a Special Advocate who is charged with scheduling and chairing special meetings (see below), keeping the department informed of process and counting “informal” ballots.  The Special Advocate may not run or be chosen as chair.  At the end of the Chair’s second term, an outgoing Chair may serve as Special Advocate.

b)       At the last department meeting of the fall semester of a current chair’s third year in office, nominations will be received for the office of chair by the Special Advocate.  The sitting chair may declare his/her willingness to continue service (if in the first term), but at least one other candidate will be nominated/chosen by the department.

c)       The Special Advocate is charged with encouraging candidates and following the procedure the department creates to present 2 candidates for the position.

d)       During the first month of the second semester, a special meeting of the department will be held so that both candidates can present their vision and direction for the department.  Both candidates will present at an open meeting of the department with at least 1 hour set aside for questions of the candidates.  This meeting must be scheduled so that all voting members of the department are in attendance.

e)       Further meetings may be scheduled as needed if deemed necessary by the department or the Special Advocate.

f)        Prior to the Dean’s scheduled conferences with the individual department members, a “non-binding” (but written) vote of all voting members of the department will be taken by the Special Advocate in a manner decided by the department.  (For example, a special meeting with written ballots, a ballot box available in the office of the Special Advocate, or an email vote might be used.) These results will not be made available to the Dean.

g)       The outcome of this vote would be made public to all members of the department by the Special Advocate.

h)       On the basis of the individual department interviews, the Dean may name either of the candidates or a non-candidate who has received substantial departmental approval.

i)        Upon completion of his/her task, the Special Advocate will destroy all ballots.