Abstract
This article provides a reflective account of being evaluated as a department chair by a large and diverse faculty across three communication units at Louisiana State University. The author critiques the mandated evaluation instrument, noting dissatisfaction with rating scales and skepticism about their ability to measure administrative performance accurately. The narrative situates the evaluation within the complex structure of the department, where unit chairs hold responsibility for many functions on which the department chair was nevertheless evaluated. Despite concerns about the appropriateness of the instrument, the author reports supportive results attributed to strong faculty goodwill amid departmental restructuring. The discussion identifies several benefits of the process, including heightened awareness of weaknesses, motivation to address perceived shortcomings, increased self knowledge about interpersonal dynamics, and improved balance in accountability between faculty and higher administration. The account concludes that even imperfect evaluation systems can yield constructive insights when faculty approach them in good faith, and that collaborative spirit can mitigate the limitations of standardized instruments while promoting administrative effectiveness.
Recommended Citation
Hopkins, Mary Frances
(1986)
"When the Faculty Evaluate the Chairperson,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 56, Article 15.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol56/iss1/15
