Faculty Roles for College, School, & Department Leadership
Chair of Department
Although the Provost, in close consultation with the Dean, officially appoints the chair, the Dean serves as the direct supervisor to the chair, overseeing development, support, and evaluation of chairs. Three year appointment, renewable for a second term. Three to four course equivalencies per year and yearlong administrative salary, based on department size and scope of responsibility. Chairs should generally not hold other roles while serving in this capacity.
Responsibilities
Administrative
- Manage the department's operations budget.
- Create the course schedule by assigning faculty their requested and required classes.
- Work with the Registrar to schedule summer school.
- Review faculty undergoing formal reviews.
- Identify needs for new and replacement full time faculty positions, oversee the searches, and meet with final candidates.
- Define department academic rules, in collaboration with the faculty, implement, and maintain them.
- Meet with faculty for annual work plan discussions, work with them to determine their teaching and service preferences, and assign them.
- Be present at events such as Picture Yourself at Emerson, Orientation.
- Meet with other chairs as appropriate.
- Serve on the School Leadership Committee.
- Attend Academic Cabinet Meetings.
- Network with alums and attend alumni events locally and globally.
- Manage external program reviews.
- Contribute, prepare, sign-off, and submit agreements, accreditation, and licensing reports.
Managerial
- Facilitate and help bring into being faculty, student, and staff visions of the department’s functions and curriculum.
- Keep faculty, staff, and students up-to-date and informed of the various projects in place at the College—developments of new programs and curricula, as well as any changes or new endeavors for the institution as a whole.
- Ensure the continued amicable, collegial, and transparent function of the department with respect to curriculum planning, retention and professional development of faculty and staff, and to support students in whatever way possible.
- Supervise, Sustain, and Develop departmental staff.
- Mentor faculty and help support and develop their teaching, research, and creative work.
- Have follow-up meetings with full time faculty regarding issues from evaluations (i.e. to discuss mid-term feedback or other troubleshooting activities).
- Mediate disputes between students and faculty.
- Conduct first level mediation of disputes between faculty.
- Assist the school Dean and the Provost in their vision/strategies as pertains to the department.
Leadership
- Collaboratively create a clear vision of the department and lead its data informed strategic planning.
- Communicate clearly with internal and external constituencies (faculty, staff, and students, the College, as well as external communities).
- Create and maintain a culture of collaboration, transparency, and equity.
Associate Chair of Department
Annual appointment by the Chair, approved by the Dean, generally renewable for up to three years. Two to three course equivalencies per year and summer stipend, based on department size and scope of responsibility.
Responsibilities
- Create and maintain a pool of potential affiliated faculty and recruit and hire from it.
- Mentor and supervise affiliated faculty.
- Recommend to the Chair course assignments for affiliated faculty.
- Observe affiliated faculty instruction, review student evaluations, and have follow-up meetings with faculty regarding issues from evaluations (i.e. to discuss mid-term feedback or other troubleshooting activities).
- In collaboration with the Chair, oversee the Academic Program Review (APR) process, in years where this is applicable.
- Coordinate prospective student visits.
- Participate in pre-semester faculty meetings.
- Serve as temporary Acting Chair of the department in the Chair’s absence.
- Review and approve syllabi for courses for transfer students and study abroad course equivalents with the Registrar’s Office (VMA).
- Coordinate Marlboro IDS majors (VMA).
- Liaise with Media Arts gallery and Arts Emerson (VMA).
- Assist Chair in preparing tenure and promotion reviews (VMA).
- Oversee graduate student instructor interviews, onboarding, and teaching (VMA).
- Plan monthly department meetings (soliciting agenda items from faculty and scheduling guest speakers (CS).
- Communicate with faculty, department administrators, and Dean’s staff regarding faculty reviews (CS).
Chair of Faculty Assembly
As per Faculty Handbook, annual appointment by faculty election, renewable for a second year upon reelection. One course equivalency per year, $3,000 summer stipend.
Responsibilities
- Chairs the monthly Faculty Assembly meetings.
- Chairs the monthly Faculty Council (FC) meetings to set the Faculty Assembly meeting agendas.
- Serves as the mouthpiece for the FC in the Assembly, and as the mouthpiece for the FC/FA in communication with the President, Provost, CFO, and other administrators on issues under their purview discussed (and voted on) in FC and FA.
- Chairs the monthly meetings of Faculty Handbook Committee (FHC)
- Attends Shared Governance Committee meetings as FA representative, alongside FA vice-chair.
- Attends monthly Academic Cabinet Meetings.
- Meets with the Provost alongside fellow FA officers on a monthly basis to discuss issues of faculty concern under the purview of the Provost.
- Meets with the Provost alongside fellow faculty leaders (full time faculty union president and affiliated faculty union president).
- Communicates with the department chairs/associate chairs regarding FA committee composition.
- Communicates with the SGA governing council to inquire about initiatives and concerns SGA would like to bring to faculty.