The CC Chairs and Directors Development Program is designed to create a community of support to promote the growth and ongoing development of chairs and directors. The roles and responsibilities of a department chair and program director are complex and multifaceted. Responsibilities include mentoring colleagues, managing budgets, overseeing personnel matters, managing curriculum, interpreting policy, advocating for the department or program, and representing the department or program to external stakeholders.  The skills needed to engage in this role include excellent communication skills, conflict management skills, creativity, organization, and vision. Given the huge undertaking that is being the chair or director and the fact that most faculty have not engaged in formal training for the role, it is imperative that CC chairs and directors have ongoing support for their work.  

This program is offered to all chairs and directors each academic year.  It is designed to meet the professional needs of chairs and directors participating in the program in any given year.  One session per block is scheduled; each session is 90 minutes and organized by the Associate Deans of Faculty. When the Associate Deans of Faculty put together the annual program schedule, they include reading resources for each topic. 

For each session, chairs and directors are encouraged to engage in a discussion about the topic of focus, to ask each other questions about approaches and strategies, and to support one another in leadership development. For some sessions, the group of chairs and directors attending are put into smaller groups based on professional needs.  Other sessions include guest facilitators.  Topics will vary from year to year depending on professional needs, but can include the following:

• Roles & Responsibilities
• Department/Program Climate
• Mentoring Colleagues
• Antiracism & DEI
• Managing Conflict
• Effective Meetings
• Managing difficult faculty
• Chairs/Directors letters
• Establishing a vision and goals

Program Schedule: 2021-2022

*Beverages and appetizers will be served!