Advice from Former Department Chairs: Qualitative Perspectives

In the present phenomenological qualitative research study, we conducted interviews with 14 professors whom returned to full-time faculty positions after having served in department chair positions at a Midwest, comprehensive, private university. Interviews explored the professors' experiences...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Educational research (Orem, Utah) Utah), 2020, Vol.31 (2), p.29
Main Authors: Firmin, Michael W, Shinkle, Matthew W, Kohli, Samantha B, Dosier, Sydney L, Chaung, Ying-Ruey
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administrator Behavior
Administrator Role
College Faculty
Department Heads
Facilitators (Individuals)
Leadership Role
Teacher Administrator Relationship
Teacher Attitudes
Team Training
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Summary:In the present phenomenological qualitative research study, we conducted interviews with 14 professors whom returned to full-time faculty positions after having served in department chair positions at a Midwest, comprehensive, private university. Interviews explored the professors' experiences as they reflected on their time working as chair, and we asked them for advice they would share with aspiring, future department chairs. Three themes emerged from analyzing the transcripts of our semi-structured interviews: transparency in leadership, advice regarding the difficulty of organizing unpredictable situations, and the chair role of being a temporary facilitator. The present study provides insight to current faculty members who have potential interests in pursuing future department chair roles. Many new department heads receiving little training, development, or mentoring prior to receiving their first chair appointment. Consequently, hearing the perspectives of former chairs can help shorten the new chairs' respective learning curves and may potentially facilitate the new chairs' own successful tenures.
ISSN:2637-8965
2637-8965