Department Leadership

Department chair

3 year term/appointment

Based on individual contracts, may receive three course releases annually, and a .50 graduate assistant

• Chair (see https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/222 for College description of Chair duties which are consistent with those described below in 5.a.v.)

  • The Dean of the College appoints the Department Chair with the approval of the voting faculty.

  • The term of the appointment is typically three years with the possibility of renewal by the Dean.

  • Nominations for the position of Chair will be made to the Dean by the faculty who will adopt a slate of one or more candidates at least 9 months prior to the transition of the current chair.

  • The Steering Committee will provide to the Dean a rank-ordered list of candidates that shall include all Faculty who request consideration. This recommendation shall include a description of the strengths and weaknesses of each. This shall be confidential between the Steering Committee and the Dean’s office.

  • Chair duties will include:

    • Making recommendations regarding Department budgets to the Dean via the appropriate Associate Dean only after consultation with the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may recommend that certain matters be brought to the faculty.

    • Convening and facilitating work of the Steering Committee.

    • Representing Department interests in Dean’s Leadership Council and other appropriate venues.

    • Serving as local human resources officer for contract and P&A faculty, including hiring recommendations, annual review, and facilitation of promotion and tenure reviews.

    • Proposing the annual Department budget and the annual report of expenditure  with Steering Committee input, negotiating this budget with the Dean, and managing its implementation with three reports per year (September, December, and April) to the Department.

Associate chair

3 year term/appointment

Based on individual contracts, may receive a course release annually, $1,000 in additional professional development, and $2500 in summer salary

• The Chair may appoint Associate Chair(s) in consultation and with the Steering Committee and, as necessary, with the approval of the Dean.

• The Associate Chair(s) serves at the pleasure of the Chair with the approval of the Dean, as necessary. The Associate Chair will be a member of the Steering Committee.

Director of graduate studies (DGS)

3 year term/appointment, elected by a vote of the Department faculty

Based on individual contracts, may receive a course release annually, and a $2500 summer salary

• DGS (see: https://sky.cehd.umn.edu/governance/default/policy-library/dgs-roles-and-responsibilities/)

  • The DGS is appointed by the Chair after consultation with the Steering Committee.

  • The term of appointment is typically three years with the possibility of renewal.

  • The DGS is a voting member of the Steering Committee.

 Director of undergraduate studies (DUGS)

Based on individual contracts, may receive a course release annually and a $2500 summer salary

• DUGS (see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q1YAv_l-AMuVzyNm_oqbihlLiLtGGffz0sV12yKwRdY/edit?ts=5ae8939b)

  • The DUGS is appointed by the Chair after consultation with the Steering Committee.

  • The term of appointment is typically three years with the possibility of renewal.

  • The DUGS is a voting member of the Steering Committee.

Program coordinators

Based on contracts, may receive a course release* annually, $1,500 academic year stipend, $2,500 summer salary

• Program Coordinators are appointed by the Program with approval of the Chair.

• The term of appointment is typically three years with the possibility of renewal.

• When a coordinator’s term is about to expire, the Program will make a recommendation regarding succession plan to the Chair in the last spring semester of the Coordinator’s term.

• Duties include:

  • oversight and management, with Chair approval, of the Program budget

  • oversight of teaching and supervision assignments within the Program and its component subplans, including initial approval and/or consultation regarding course buyouts, leaves, replacement instructors, course scheduling, and course development/revision

  • primary responsibility for any credentialing, licensure, or accreditation matters relevant to the Program or its component subplans.

  • management and annual review of P&A faculty and staff

  • oversight and preparation of Program-level or subplan documentation, nominations, and other Program positions or statements requested by the Department, College, or University.

*If a course release is not viable due to program teaching needs, the coordinator may consult with the Department Chair  to discuss alternative benefits. Acceptable alternative benefits may be a 25% GA for one semester to support additional work or $7,000 overload stipend (approximately the equivalent of the cost). Alternative arrangements must be pre-approved by the department chair and reviewed each academic year.