Abstract
This article examines the evolving role of the academic department chair in the face of challenges anticipated for the 1990s. It emphasizes the complexity of balancing the needs of three constituencies (administration, faculty, and students) while maintaining program quality amid shrinking budgets, faculty shortages, and increasing diversity among students. Key priorities include faculty recruitment and retention, productivity, resource acquisition, and image-building to secure institutional support. Additional concerns addressed are governance, affirmative action, and student recruitment, particularly as competition for enrollments intensifies. Practical realities discussed include managing grievances, navigating administrative turnover, and addressing day-to-day operational issues, while stressing the importance of strategic planning despite uncertainty. Using metaphors drawn from literature, scripture, and mythology, the article frames the chair’s responsibilities as demanding yet vital, requiring cooperation, adaptability, and resilience to sustain departmental health in an increasingly competitive academic environment.
Recommended Citation
Pappas, Edward J.
(1989)
"The Department Chair in the 1990s: Confessions, Concerns Convictions,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 68, Article 6.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol68/iss1/6
