Current Search: College department heads (x)
View All Items
- Title
- HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CHAIR PERSPECTIVES ON LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS: A QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY.
- Creator
- Baroody, Ramzy, Shockley, Robert, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
A relatively small number of research articles have been written about one of the most challenging positions in higher education, that of a department chair. Chairs must wear many hats and assume many tasks including management and oversight, budget and financial management, teaching, research, working with students and faculty, evaluations, community relations, and legal issues, to name a few. This qualitative descriptive study aspires to ascertain the perspectives of department chairs on...
Show moreA relatively small number of research articles have been written about one of the most challenging positions in higher education, that of a department chair. Chairs must wear many hats and assume many tasks including management and oversight, budget and financial management, teaching, research, working with students and faculty, evaluations, community relations, and legal issues, to name a few. This qualitative descriptive study aspires to ascertain the perspectives of department chairs on what they believe constitutes their effectiveness as leaders in higher education. Attempting to identify and analyze requisite personality traits, skills and behaviors of department chairs is vital for understanding the nuances that influence and shape their abilities to become accomplished leaders in their field. Surveys containing 12 open-ended questions were electronically distributed to department chairs at a private college in central Florida. Analysis of the data collected resulted in the development of four themes, supported by three styles of leadership. The themes were correlated with their corresponding research questions and the correlation process was used to draw several conclusions. First, department chairs incorporate a variety of skills and a combination of leadership styles that best fit their abilities and personalities, into their work performance. Second, department chairs in higher education require specific skills and tools to help them achieve their strategic vision they set for their departments. Some of these tools are learned and acquired through experience, while others inherent, grounded within instinctive and innate personality traits and values they already possess. Third, personal and interpersonal skills, knowledge, and competencies form the cornerstones of a leaders’ abilities, successes and failures. Building upon the foundation established in this study, future researchers could expand upon the scope of this research to include a larger sample size, more diverse participants, private vs. public educational institutions, gender, race and ethnic specific sampling, national and international sampling, and more in-depth research questions that include personal and environmental influence.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2021
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013784
- Subject Headings
- Educational leadership, College department heads, Education, Higher--Administration
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The roles and responsibilities of the Associate in Science Degree department chair.
- Creator
- Bredemeyer, Nancy Rehak, Florida Atlantic University, Bryan, Valerie
- Abstract/Description
-
The changing roles and responsibilities of the Associate in Science Degree department chair (ASDDC), influencers of change, and need for training were examined at two Florida community colleges using a modified Delphi research methodology in three rounds. One hundred-twenty-three roles and responsibilities of the Associate in Science Degree department chair identified in Round One interviews of 20 Workforce Associate in Science Degree department chairs were utilized to construct a...
Show moreThe changing roles and responsibilities of the Associate in Science Degree department chair (ASDDC), influencers of change, and need for training were examined at two Florida community colleges using a modified Delphi research methodology in three rounds. One hundred-twenty-three roles and responsibilities of the Associate in Science Degree department chair identified in Round One interviews of 20 Workforce Associate in Science Degree department chairs were utilized to construct a questionnaire implemented in Round Two and Round Three of the Delphi study. The ASDDCs interviewed in Round One, serving as the expert panel in Two and Three, were asked, "How are the listed roles and responsibilities changing?" Sixty-seven, or 63.21 percent of the identified list of roles and responsibilities of the ASDDC reached consensus of change. Fifteen, or 14.50 percent of the roles and responsibilities were identified as "changing rapidly" or "change is tremendous." Nine categories of responsibilities emerged from the identified 123 roles and responsibilities of the ASDDC. Ranked highest to lowest in consensus of change were: Technology, programs, community college, students, professions, hiring/supervising, leadership, clerical and last, training. Statistical significance was found between the subgroups of "high tech" ASDDCs and "high touch" ASDDCs in three categories: program, community college, and hiring/supervising. Themes emerging from the study indicated the Associate in Science Degree department chairs are fulfilling Gmelch and Miskin's earlier identified department chair roles of manager, leader, and scholar with the faculty developer role just emerging; the future holds time-consuming clerical work; the chairs are proud of their technology and physical working space; community colleges are changing; Associate in Science Degree department chairs see themselves as leaders in their professions by teaching and developing curriculum, and ambiguity and lack of clarity exits in the roles and responsibilities of the Associate in Science Degree department chair which echoes Dymmel's earlier findings in North Carolina community colleges. Recommendations resulting from the study include: Restructuring the position of Associate in Science Degree department chair, examining the ambiguity of the position, and creating partnerships to provide training for the position.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12173
- Subject Headings
- Community colleges--Florida--Administration
- Format
- Document (PDF)