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[liverpool]

I am going to an interview for a Chair position. This is my first such interview. I'd be interested in any advice on how these searches differ from regular faculty searches. I know I need to do my research on the dept, faculty and university, but I'm wondering if there are any experiences you have had during such searches that might be useful beyond the usual "prep." Thanks

[anthroid]

If you're being interviewed for a chair position from outside the university, this usually means the department is highly conflictual, or that no one wants the job for a variety of reasons, or that the department has ticked off the administration so much that admin. is insisting on new blood.  I'd suggest that you be prepared to discuss your experience in successful conflict resolution, your management style (you are always collaborative, remember that, and you believe in shared governance), and your vision for the department.  Be able to talk about how you would inspire disaffected department members, and think about (and discuss) possible new programs or directions in which the department could go. 

Being a chair is a very hard job, maybe one of the hardest at the university level.  There should be a recent First Person posted in this particular forum somewhere about the difficulties (and rewards!) of chairing--read that and be prepared to address some of the issues.  Remember, though, as someone brought in from the outside, the pressure to be first among citizens will be less than if you were an existig faculty member and became chair--as an outsider you can straddle the line between faculty and administration a little more easily (though it isn't ever a cinch). 

And be sure to discuss how much you love teaching, and how valuable you think research is. Depending on where you're interviewing, emphasize one more than the other...

[csguy]

If you're being interviewed for a chair position from outside the university, this usually means the department is highly conflictual, or that no one wants the job for a variety of reasons, or that the department has ticked off the administration so much that admin. is insisting on new blood.

Just for completeness: Hiring a chair from outside may also provide a mechanism for bringing in a more senior person. I was in just such a position earlier in my career: senior faculty were not seen as strong enough and we junior faculty were too junior.

[engineer_adrift]

Hiring an outside chair can also mean that the administration is so dysfunctional that no local faculty can be persuaded to take the job.  Due diligence recommended strongly.

[dr_stones]

Ask for the budget. In advance.

Ask to see the existing personnel review process, the faculty manual, and to see the reports in progress (possibly "screened" or "scrubbed") of probationary faculty.

Ask about the benefits structure, plans for expansion, outside funding, and the role of the chair in fundraising.

Ask the faculty about their governance model; then ask the Dean and the Provost, because they may have very different visions.

Ask why they are going outside for a chair.

And remember that you are not just negotiating your own deal, but also every future deal for the unit you will chair.

[liverpool]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your insights. This has been most helpful.

[larryc]

Also ask if chairs are usually elected by the faculty or appointed by the administration.

It could also be that no one wants to be chair just because there is too much paperwork and it does not pay enough. That was the situation at my old school where we almost advertised for an outside chair once until we got cold feet and pushed one of our own into the position.

Definitely be aggressive in your questioning.

[zharkov]

Also ask if chairs are usually elected by the faculty or appointed by the administration.

It could also be that no one wants to be chair just because there is too much paperwork and it does not pay enough. That was the situation at my old school where we almost advertised for an outside chair once until we got cold feet and pushed one of our own into the position.

Definitely be aggressive in your questioning.

As in Start Trek IV, are we using a Klingon Bird of Prey to go back in time?  (To 2007?)

In any case, yes, too much paperwork and not enough of a stipend lead the list of issues.  Faculty with "issues" and less-supportive deans can be added to the typical mix.

[nitnat]

I assume that there is a "presentation" of some sort for the Chair position.

I have been on numerous search committees for Chair/Dean positions and find it frustrating and intriguing that most candidates present their teaching, scholarship, a wee bit of service sometimes and little or no evidence of interest or experience in leadership and admin.

I also find some candidates' rather aggressive and laser like focus on the budget rather strange. There is an appropriate time to get info on the prospective dept's budget. In my humble opinion, this should be done only when an offer is being considered.

Best of luck!

[aandsdean]

I assume that there is a "presentation" of some sort for the Chair position.

I have been on numerous search committees for Chair/Dean positions and find it frustrating and intriguing that most candidates present their teaching, scholarship, a wee bit of service sometimes and little or no evidence of interest or experience in leadership and admin.

I also find some candidates' rather aggressive and laser like focus on the budget rather strange. There is an appropriate time to get info on the prospective dept's budget. In my humble opinion, this should be done only when an offer is being considered.

Best of luck!

No, because finding out about the budget can tell you all kinds of things about the way the place works.  A savvy administrator is ALWAYS going to be interested in the department/program/school/college/university budget.  Someone who DOESN'T focus on it is naive.

I'm working on hiring a dean right now, and the best candidate, by far, was the one who had the most focused questions on the school's budget.

[tattletale_heart]

I'm working on hiring a dean right now, and the best candidate, by far, was the one who had the most focused questions on the school's budget.

Might you be willing to share the KINDS of questions s/he asked about the budget?

[aandsdean]

I'm working on hiring a dean right now, and the best candidate, by far, was the one who had the most focused questions on the school's budget.

Might you be willing to share the KINDS of questions s/he asked about the budget?

Sure:

What is the travel and professional development budget for the school faculty?  How much control rests in the school and how much in your office?

Is there endowment income for the school?  If so, how much, and what can it be spent for?

How long since the last operating budget increase?

Who administers raises?

What has the pattern of raises been over the past few years?

How is the budget developed?

Are there better ways to use the budget for institutional effectiveness?

(Some of the questions were more specific than this, related to specific situations at my school that would potentially out me if I got into them, but these are the general gist.)

[oatmeal]

I have found this "resurrected" thread interesting. I am off to a chair of department position interview in a few weeks. Is it fine to ask to see the budget of a department beforehand, as noted in an earlier post? I assume I can ask for a copy of the faculty manual, the tenure procedures (the chair position comes with tenure), the department's committee structures, the exact job description for a chair within the university system, the process of a chair's review, and perhaps a strategic plan for the department (and college)? I agree with aandsdean that knowing as much about the budget as possible (and the subtleties) is crucial but can one know this before going "on campus"?

The more materials one has the better, I think but sometimes asking can be rather difficult. I like to prepare in  a very detailed way but sometimes it is difficult to really know what is going on beyond the scenes until one gets there for the on campus visit, and then it is not easy to find out that much. However, comparing the comments of a Dean, the senior faculty and the tenure track faculty on issues is important.

Also, in preparing for an interview for a chair position, one thing I keep in mind is that at this level one is interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you, as a senior move involves a lot of complex steps and decisions.

[aandsdean]

Oatmeal, it would be OK if you asked the dean (or the person who's running your planning) if you can have a copy of the departmental budget.  However, I'd say I've very rarely gotten it before the campus visit--this includes two chair interviews, a few dean interviews, and about 6 VPAA interviews.  They may not want to hand it to you until they see the whites of your eyes!

Good luck!

[engineer_adrift]

Seconding aaandsdean, you also want to focus like a laser on the budget because of looming cuts in many public and private universities.  What is the one and five year forecast for your school and department?  Are you being asked in to do the bloodletting that no one in the inside has the stomach for?  Do you have the stomach for it?  Are you willing to start, from day one, fighting in budget meetings to protect your folks?

It's no fun being a chair now in many places.  Very difficult choices have to be made.

Best
EA