Should i become department chair

Some of the most important skills for a department chair might include:. It can take more than a decade to develop the academic credentials and experience needed to take on the role of department chair. As instructors first, some department chairs may also need advanced degrees in their specific area of expertise. Because of the dual requirement, the educational path to department chair is rarely straightforward.

However, in many technical fields, certifications can be as valuable as a degree program or may be required alongside a degree. The pay rate for a department chair can vary dramatically based on the type of institution, experience level, and education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that for department chairs at the elementary or secondary level, local governments often offer the highest level of pay. They also employ very few department chairs. Below is a quick glance at average salaries for those employed in a department chair position.

Growth projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics are based on the increasing need for higher education and population growth. More students result in the need for more instructors and management professionals to oversee those instructors. While any job has its challenges and delights, working as a department chair has a surprising number of benefits.

Those who enjoy teaching can continue to work in the classroom, putting cutting-edge educational techniques into practice and interacting directly with students. While most APSA members are scholars who teach and conduct research in colleges and universities in the U. PS: Political Science and Politics.

Cite this Item. Read and download Log in through your school or library. Alternate access options. Of course, you can always make the choice to quit the position. But I suspect that you agreed to be chair because you believed you could make a difference by steering your department in a positive direction. You can continue to send me letters at [email protected] -- it will just take me a bit longer to get to them.

Expand comments Hide comments. View the discussion thread. We have retired comments and introduced Letters to the Editor. Share your thoughts ». About Contact Subscribe. Career Advice. Dear Kerry Ann. Chair in Despair. By Kerry Ann Rockquemore. December 7, Dear Kerry Ann, I started my first semester as department chair this fall.

The group picks a weekly one-hour meeting time that every member agrees to hold sacred in their calendar no canceling and no interruptions. You meet at the designated time face-to-face, by conference call or Google Hangout.

Every person gets an equivalent amount of time to present a challenge and let the group brainstorm on how to resolve it. Start the meeting with a quick round of wins and end with everyone clearly stating their concrete step forward. If not, why not?

Who are or could be my chair role models on campus? Warmly, Kerry Ann Rockquemore, Ph. Read more by Kerry Ann Rockquemore.