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[amlithist]

Well, it's time.  Long-timers here will recall that I learned that my chair was on his way out already a year ago, when I filled in for him.  It happened before spring break this year; everyone in the dept. but me was shocked, surprised, and angered when he held a meeting to announce he'd been fired as chair.  No one else in the dept. wants the job, but I really do.  Our dean insisted on having at least two names to take forward, and she leaned on a colleague to throw her name in.  This colleague--a very close friend of mine--swore all spring that she does not want it, and still says that she doesn't but agreed to put her name in so that there'd be two to take forward.  Now, the committee has been formed and we'll be called for interviews this coming week/early the following week. 

I was kind of hurt that Friend put her name in after all.  I even told her that I'd retract mine, as she has the ear and support of the Evil VP who's just announced her resignation (but she'll still have input, and she hates me).  Friend still vows that she doesn't want it, but I don't know what to think.  Objectively, I'd be a better fit because of experience (both in the dept. and across the campus and district), my willingness to do it, and my overall work history and experience in business before academia (including a lot of paper-pushing and management of both money/budgets and people).  We'll see what happens.

I've decided, though, to go for it.  Our dept. is possibly the least competitive on the planet; we all, by and large, just want to teach, draw our paychecks, and be left alone.  Still, I'm going to go into this interview with guns blazing--ideas for changes, a thorough knowledge of the entire college structure and politics, engagement in the field outside our dept., and a strong track record when filling in last year.  (I was able to not only do a passable job, but one that garnered praise from others in our division and from the top admins, who hate our outgoing chair). 

As I see it, our top priorities have to be getting a handle on developmental classes--an area where Friend would have an advantage by virtue of teaching many of these, though I've done a lot of study and networking with other depts. on the topic and am up to speed; mending fences/building bridges with other depts. in our division and beyond (there has been a decided hatred built up against the entire dept. due to current chair's corner-cutting, deceptions, and general nastiness towards others over the years); enforcing the maintaining of academic standards (to which current chair has given lip service but has actually let slide); and rebuilding/expanding our dept's. good reputation. 

Outgoing chair will remain on faculty, and as he's the only chair virtually all of our faculty have ever known, it's gong to be tough, not to "fill his shoes" as people keep saying, but to run this dept. as a professional enterprise rather than the "old boys" club it's been.  I'm completely willing to go to the wall with a faculty member who's right, but I am NOT willing to bend the rules, take advantage of students, and/or outright lie just to make sure my faculty member comes out smelling like a rose as he's done for years.  And I refuse to be trained by him--I want to learn how to do things the right way, not his way.  Get me to the right admins, and let me have someone from another dept. as a mentor.  (He is still pissed/unhappy with me, and shows it whenever he gets the chance.  Rather than be happy that I did well, he saw me as a threat.  Well, if you'd done your job well and not gotten sick without leaving a mess for me and the dean to find, and then getting pissed when we saw some of your s*** and fixing it, there wouldn't be anything to be mad about, would there?  Plus, he IS this job--it's who he is, not something he does, so I'm sure that being competent made me a threat.  Whatever.)

I don't even know why I'm posting here, exactly, except that it's on my mind today.  (There's an understatement--it's consuming me, all of a sudden, though it's certainly not news.  I've known all along that, no matter when/how he left, I'd apply for the chair's job.)  I'm not really nervous, but it's just an odd situation.  I guess I feel a bit betrayed by my friend, though she certainly has every right to run for it; still, if you truly don't want it, why go through the motions?  I'm in a better position, on paper, because of my history and experience as mentioned, but also because I'm a bit older than her and at a better time in my life to take it on:  my kids are both grown and gone (youngest will be off to college in the fall, and the oldest has moved out on her own), while Friend still has a junior high boy at home who is a handful (and there are weeks that go by that no one in the office ever sees her--she goes directly to teach her classes, then bags office hours by telling her students to e-mail her, because she goes back home right afterwards to corral the boy).  She doesn't like to be there early mornings or late evenings, while I'm around all hours of the day and, many days, for 10-12 hour stretches--she's not going to be willing to do that. 

I will ask the forumites' opinion on this, though:  the suggestion has been made by Friend (and alluded to by the dean this week) that maybe we could do this as a "co-chair" situation.  My initial response, and one I maintain after thinking long and hard about it, is, "HELL, no."  Part of it is my own arrogance (if you want me to do the job, then give me the job, or don't, but don't do this kind of crap); part of it is that I know my own work/management style (make a decision and then live or die with it--extensive discussion/consultation on every move is NOT my style); part of it is my absolute determination that this department change into a professional one, rather than the "one big happy family" that's driven us into the ground over the past decade under the outgoing chair, and I believe that takes leadership by one person, not by committee.  In fact, I've determined that if this is the offer that's made to me--to co-chair with my friend--I will walk away from it, and also walk away from a lot of the extra work I've been doing over the past five years.  I can come in, teach, do office hours, and hit the door running, just like most of my colleagues; the pay's the same.  (I do have tenure, and I should be getting the bump to associate this week, before and independent of the Chair issue.)

What do my more seasoned colleagues here say?  I know I probably sound like I'm extremely arrogant, but the facts do bear out that I'm the stronger candidate--I've taught in a wider variety of situations, longer, than my friend has; I have much more management and administrative experience; I have a track record of putting in the time and hours needed to get a job done; and I honestly really DO want this job.  I have no aspirations to any further promotions or to working in administration, for what that's worth; I'm happy to give the school the next 10-12 years until I can retire, and call it a day. 

So, what words of wisdom do all of you have for me?  (Encouragement will be gratefully received along with advice!)  If anyone wants to PM, that's fine; I have no problem giving further information or even "outing" myself, as I don't post anything here that I haven't wouldn't say IRL.  :-)

[barred_owl]

Hi, amlithist.

I can lend my support, at least, to your bid for the chair position!  I think you've laid out some excellent ideas, as exemplified by this statement:

...part of it is my absolute determination that this department change into a professional one, rather than the "one big happy family" that's driven us into the ground over the past decade under the outgoing chair...

I see what you're describing as "arrogance" as seasoning--you've spent many years observing, contributing, and trying to do your best in the face of obstacles to the department's success.  You know what needs to change, and you know how you'd go about effecting that change.  That's not arrogance, it's maturity.

I don't like the co-chair option, either.  I'd be uncomfortable in that situation, for sure.  I guess I'd feel like either I was always getting dumped on when the other co-chair had some family crisis or whatever, or that, when stuff hits the fan, I'd be in the line of fire.  No one needs that!

Good luck to you, amlithist--if your post is any indication, you'll be a great department chair!  Keep us posted on how things play out for you!

[daniel_von_flanagan]

I wasn't able to stay attentive through your whole post, but after reading your first paragraph it was obvious that you are not going to get the job.  Do not invest any emotional capital in this, it is not about you, it is not even about your friend, it is about your dean.  When your friend gets the job, don't complain, just congratulate her and for heaven's sake don't spend any of your time helping her, that will just reward the dean. Just get back to focusing on your teaching and research. - DvF

[systeme_d_]

I did read the whole post, and it really does sound like the Dean wants Friend as chair, not you. 

It also sounds like Friend has been told, privately, that you're not going to get the chairship.  It sounds like a done deal.

Current chair probably poisoned the well.  The Co-chair offer is to placate you, and so that Friend will be allowed to run the department with a minimum of acrimony (from you).  Don't take it.

[philo]

Maybe systeme d is right.  On the other hand, maybe it really is this simple---someone else HAD to put their name forward, and your friend did just to let the process carry forward. 

For what it is worth, though, I agree with you that co-chairing is out.  A colleague proposed such a thing to me, once, as a possibility for the future, and I was pretty sure it was a bad idea then and I'm even more sure now (having become a solo chair now).  First, there is a problem about how to divide the work and the rewards (teaching reductions, money, etc.).  Second, there just needs to be a single authority figure.  It needs to be clear who is in charge.

[amlithist]

I wasn't able to stay attentive through your whole post, but after reading your first paragraph it was obvious that you are not going to get the job.  Do not invest any emotional capital in this, it is not about you, it is not even about your friend, it is about your dean.  When your friend gets the job, don't complain, just congratulate her and for heaven's sake don't spend any of your time helping her, that will just reward the dean. Just get back to focusing on your teaching and research. - DvF

DvF--thanks for your perspective (you made me laugh out loud, because I feel EXACTLY the same, about a dozen times a day)!

[amlithist]

Thanks, everybody, not least for your reading and consideration of my rambling original post.   

Another issue has just been articulated by my friend:  what if we each go into our separate interviews, and the existing/outgoing fired chair is there?  The guy is just ballsy enough to do it.  I told her, if he's in the room, I'll politely thank the committee, decline the interview, and leave; I'll also call my union and the campus president immediately.  Have you heard of such a thing?  I could possibly see it if circumstances were much, much different, but he's been fired (and is only being allowed to remain on faculty at all because of the dean's soft heart and desperate pleas to the admin that a complete termination would have wreaked havoc with his devotees in the department).  I just don't see how it would be possible--let alone "kosher"--for him to sit in on our interviews, but then again, I've seen a lot of weird things since I've been at this school......

[philo]

Another issue has just been articulated by my friend:  what if we each go into our separate interviews, and the existing/outgoing fired chair is there?  The guy is just ballsy enough to do it.  I told her, if he's in the room, I'll politely thank the committee, decline the interview, and leave; I'll also call my union and the campus president immediately.  Have you heard of such a thing?  I could possibly see it if circumstances were much, much different, but he's been fired (and is only being allowed to remain on faculty at all because of the dean's soft heart and desperate pleas to the admin that a complete termination would have wreaked havoc with his devotees in the department).  I just don't see how it would be possible--let alone "kosher"--for him to sit in on our interviews, but then again, I've seen a lot of weird things since I've been at this school......

Why sit around and worry about a scenario like this when even you say that you don't see how it is possible?  If you get the position, you can't dissipate your energy worrying about all kinds of fanciful "what ifs"?

[dellaroux]

This is more a reading on style, and what might or might not work; it seems to me that while you are correct in your assessment of what ought to be done and have clear, workable ideas about how to do it, the description you give of your department also suggests that to get the position at all, you might have to tone things down a bit so as not to scare the chicken pants off them...(to borrow a phrase I just saw somewhere)...

1) You mentioned that everyone just wants to do their work and get on with things. So that would make me think that any "guns a-blazin'" might constitute a serious abrogation of the (tacitly-agreed-upon, perhaps) "laid-back"department style (which is probably what got them into this mess to begin with...) and could, in and of itself, set up resistances that would impede your efforts from the start.

But I could also be wrong about that; certain parallels might also be made with a country that, rather messed up by inept governmental administration, recently took the opportunity to choose a radically different figure to lead it out of that morass, with a style that seems to be standing up decently to the pressures and demands of the situation so far....

2) It also seems very sad that you've suddenly been thrust into a position in which someone you have counted as a friend might now be placed in some other role.

Even if you get the job, that part might play out very differently, as well; it sounds like you might also be wanting to look for another position elsewhere, given all the other givens about support, atmosphere, ongoing gender issues that will probably still run, mycelium-like, under everything, etc.

3) I still do think you should go for it, but perhaps more soberly, knowing that so many things could change or become difficult whether or not you get the position.

This is one reason many churches now have an "Interim" minister between appointments, often because it helps to buffer between either a very good, or a very bad previous pastor or priest.

The new replacement otherwise either inherits all the goo the other person left, or must fill impossibly golden slippers...the interim helps absorb some of that and lets the congregation and the minister have a better chance of making things work together. 

What a perplexing situation! Danger and opportunity mixed, it seems...

[parispundit]

I think everyone would agree that co-chairing is out.

On the other hand, I am disturbed by how much you want this job. I am certainly biased, having fled the US in part to avoid becoming Chair of my dept. (and boy was that the right decision!), but in general, those who want small amounts of power, like Chair of an academic dept. are even more dangerous than those who want lots of it.  It is one thing to be willing to fight to get rid of a bad chair, it is another, after he's gone, to fight to be the new chair if there is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Me, I'd go into the interview and strongly recommend my friend. And pray I wasn't stuck with the job.

[amlithist]

Great observations here, everyone, and exactly what I needed to hear--other perspectives to help me shake my tunnel vision that's developed as a result of spending too much time alone stewing about all this.

Dellaroux, I am SO stealing "chicken pants!"  Your comments are well taken, though.  The interim pastor thing is something I've seen used often, and while I didn't like it at first, I've come to believe that it's a very valuable tool for putting some distance between what was, and what the new will be.  And you're right--the "laid back" culture is nice, and it's comfortable, and ideally I'd like to keep as much of that in place as possible, but on the other hand, admin is screaming for changes, esp. in our handling of developmental classes.  So whoever takes over is going to have to balance being laid back with also doing some creative pushing to both get the admin off our back and, more important, helping our students, which is top priority.

In terms of wanting the job, that's a sticky proposition. Do I want it, for the sake of saying, "Look at me, I'm a dept. chair"?  No, not really.  But I know I can do the job; it'd be nice to be spending those released hours doing something other than grading stacks of essays; I honestly think I could do some things to help our department and our students; and, again, if nobody else is going to step up, I'm really concerned that we're going to get someone from outside, which could be a total wild-card.  Better the devil you know, etc. 

My friend and I have been talking, and we've both come to the conclusion that whoever gets it, will be fine with each of us.  I can truly work under her just fine, and vice versa; and we've both determined that whichever of us doesn't get it will be ramping down our activities anyway (we're both at that point in our careers where we can stop saying "yes" to every request that comes down the pike; there are a number of folks below us on the food chain who can take on some of these roles). 

Again, thanks to all for talking me off the ledge here; it's greatly appreciated.

[dellaroux]

No problem, it sounds as if you have been talking carefully to yourself all along...

By the way, the "chicken pants" thing isn't original with me on the Forum; I was alluding to its use on a couple of other threads (which ones, I don't remember...).

"Linguistic tracking of vectored use of innovative phraseology on internet fora" might make an interesting dissertation topic for someone...

:--}

Glad you and your friend can talk about this and see it either way. In that case, either of you would have a "friend in the main camp" with whom to work should the chair's cap land on either of your heads.

The arrangement I've seen that I like best is the rotating chair, in which each tenured prof knows that, for a year, that will be their job, but no-one has all their work derailed for more than that year.

It also makes department politics decidedly more low-key since nothing highly charged can grow into a condensation nucleus for a political hailstone that's <for keeps>.

The players all stand up and move around until the music stops and the next one lands in the chair....

[professorgb]

It is the end of a very difficult Monday, 12 hours at least, your long note makes me wonder why do we do this, well we do it anyway, I think you would be a great chair but I have to agree with a lot that has been said. No to co-chair and your friend is probably the preferred person.

But, do not worry, you will be chair or something better will come along. Your analysis suggests that you are almost thinking like a good chair. So keep it up, go through the process, do it carefully but be yourself. If you do not get it now, you will later, or you will become associate provost, larger pay, less work.
Thanks for your posting!

This sounds like excellent strategic planning and you could run a workshop to lost chairs out there:
 (if you want me to do the job, then give me the job, or don't, but don't do this kind of crap); part of it is that I know my own work/management style (make a decision and then live or die with it--extensive discussion/consultation on every move is NOT my style); part of it is my absolute determination that this department change into a professional one, rather than the "one big happy family" that's driven us into the ground over the past decade under the outgoing chair, and I believe that takes leadership by one person, not by committee.

[professorgb]

and if I were the editor of the Chronicle, you seem to have a good article here!

[drangie]

Sooooo . . . . .

Who was appointed chair?