The Department Chair Primer / J-B Anker Resources for Department Chairs (PDF)

If higher education is to fulfill its vital social mission, new
department leaders must be prepared for their positions and get up
to speed on the basics quickly, educating themselves about the role
and continuing to learn on the job.

In this second edition of his classic resource, Don Chu outlines
the proven ideas and strategies new department chairs need in order
to do their jobs well. Thoroughly revised and updated, The
Department Chair Primer contains information that addresses the
current pressures and challenges in higher education and offers
practical suggestions for responding to them.

Filled with illustrative examples, the book gets straight to the
heart of challenges and issues. Each chapter details a particular
problem, includes a brief introduction to the topic, and provides
tips on how to deal with the situation. Covering a wealth of
topics, The Department Chair Primer

* Explores the chair's role as department leader

* Offers suggestions for handling stress and conflict

* Includes information on budgeting, resource management, and
development

* Contains strategies for professional development, people
management, and working with challenging personnel

* Presents ideas for handling department communications, student
development, and strategic positioning

Written in a concise and accessible manner, The Department Chair
Primer is an ideal resource for the busy new department chair.