Serve as the Face of the Department

A Chair must be accessible—to students, faculty, and staff, both in person and on email. This means that chairs will need to be in the office, with the door open. Certain times of the term are especially important (e.g., at the start of each semester, during the add-drop period, advising and registration weeks each semester, during course withdrawal deadlines, and during the weeks following the last day of classes until grades are due). (Note: The period before grades are due is when faculty members may seek your counsel or intervention around instances of plagiarism and ask for advice on the process.) Colleagues will look to you as a model, and they will see what you're doing--in all kinds of ways.

Timely answering of email will be appreciated by all the people turning to you with questions. Much of this communication stems from the chair’s role as point person for communication to and from the Registrar’s Office, other departments, and the Office of the Provost. For tips on managing email, see “8 Ways Not to Manage Your Email (and 5 and a Half Tactics that Work.”

It is important that a knowledgeable representative from the department be present on significant recruitment days, such as Bronco Day in April. Students and parents take note when department leaders make themselves available during recruitment days.