Handbook of Operating Procedures > Series 300 Faculty and Academic Policies > 3.1.15 Chairs and Program Coordinators

3.1.15 Chairs and Program Coordinators

A. Purpose

The following describes briefly the general duties and responsibilities of Chairs of Departments and Program Coordinators.

B. Persons Affected

Chairs/directors, program coordinators, faculty.

C. Definitions

A chairperson/director is a faculty member in a department/school assigned by the dean to manage the department/school.

An academic program is a credential as defined by the institution. A degree with a defined major is clearly a program. A certificate may also constitute a program.

A program coordinator oversees essential curricular components, including the appropriateness of content and pedagogy, the currency of disciplinary content, and assessment of effectiveness of the curriculum. Program coordinators are appointed by chairpersons or deans if the chairperson is also a program coordinator.

D. Policy

Chairpersons/directors and program coordinators shall be qualified for their respective roles in the Division of Academic Affairs.

E. Responsibilities

1. Chairs/Directors of Departments.  Department chairs are responsible directly to the deans of the respective colleges. Chairs are the leaders of the departments and assist the deans in matters of instructional administration within the colleges. The department chair is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and administration of the department, including:
   1. Pursuing and achieving departmental excellence in teaching, research, and service;
   2. Strategic planning and goal setting aligned with similar efforts at the college/school and university level;
   3. Management and professional development of faculty members and staff;
   4. Preparation and management of department budget;
   5. Recruitment, retention, evaluation and promotion of faculty;
   6. Development of curriculum or appointing qualified program coordinators;
   7. Communication with faculty and administration;
   8. Enforcement of applicable regulatory policies;
   9. Maintaining an environment of collegiality and shared governance;
   10. Addressing questions, complaints, grievances, and suggestions from faculty, staff, and students;
   11. Performing other duties as assigned by the dean
2. Program Coordinators.  Program coordinators oversee essential curricular components, including the appropriateness of content and pedagogy, the currency of disciplinary content, and assessment of effectiveness of the curriculum. Coordinators must be qualified in the field(s) appropriate to the curricular content and academic level of the program.  The chairperson/director may assume the role of a program coordinator if he or she is qualified. One individual may be designated as coordinator of multiple programs if qualified for each program. Conversely, a single department/school can have multiple coordinators. Each program coordinator shall be provided a job description and appointments shall be approved by deans.

F.  Procedures

Not applicable.

G. Review

This document shall be reviewed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs every five years or as the organization or responsibilities change.