Abstract
The contemporary legal environment for department chairs is explored through six recurring areas of risk that shape everyday academic administration in higher education, with special attention to theatre programs. The discussion begins with equal opportunity, discrimination, and affirmative action, emphasizing up-to-date knowledge of policy interpretation, careful drafting of advertisements, equitable salary practices, and meticulous recordkeeping across hiring, promotion, and termination decisions. It then turns to retention, promotion, tenure, and salary, stressing clear written procedures, consistent application, pattern awareness across decisions, and early consultation with university counsel in cases involving dismissal or disclosure of sensitive information. Additional sections examine “truth in advertising” in catalogs, syllabi, and advising as an implied contract with students, and outline practical strategies for negotiating contracts with guest artists, managing copyrights and royalties, and maintaining safety in theatres, shops, and public spaces. The conclusion reframes legal compliance as part of a broader ethical commitment to fairness, consistency, and good judgment in departmental leadership.
Recommended Citation
Gillespie, Patti P.
(1985)
"Department Chairs and the Law,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 51, Article 6.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol51/iss1/6
