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[sci_case]

I've been asked, both by the dean and by my colleagues (some of whom have pleaded fearfully for me to say yes), but I have thus far flat-out refused. I will be asked again soon for a final decision, so I thought I would give it some consideration and could use some feedback.

Some of the main reasons I don't want to be chair are:
- the hit my publishing will likely take
- the fact that the college has yet to indicate that it actually values my work (my salary is much lower than many faculty at my rank who have done a very small fraction of the publishing I have done)
- I think the direction the dean is taking the college is the wrong one, and I disagree with many of his policies and his style of decision making
- I have a number of colleagues who likely won't (and shouldn't) get tenure in the coming years
- a number of programs need to be extensively revised
- stress and my health

Reason for saying yes might include:
- the alternatives could be scary (for me and for my colleagues)
- there are a number of ways in which the department could be stronger and require some leadership to get there (including the program revision cited above--burden/opportunity)
- my professional development
- there are a number of good folks chairing other depts in the college

Go ahead and advise, talk me into it, or out of it...

[ursula]

Excuse the crankiness in my reply:

I have a few colleagues who, whenever I ask if I can nominate them for this, that or the other committee, position, whatever, always decline, claiming their research must take precedence.  That's fine, and that's part of what we're here for, but their refusal always means that someone else must do the job, and it usually falls to the same few people.

So, in effect, what colleague X is saying to me and these other people is that her research is far more important than ours. We can do the scut work of making the place function, and making it comfortable for her to do her research.  Ours can go to hell.

Take your turn as Chair.  It's a short period of time, your research will recover (especially if you have a leave right after), and you'll be doing your part for your institution.

[glowdart]

Excuse the crankiness in my reply:

I have a few colleagues who, whenever I ask if I can nominate them for this, that or the other committee, position, whatever, always decline, claiming their research must take precedence.  That's fine, and that's part of what we're here for, but their refusal always means that someone else must do the job, and it usually falls to the same few people.

So, in effect, what colleague X is saying to me and these other people is that her research is far more important than ours. We can do the scut work of making the place function, and making it comfortable for her to do her research.  Ours can go to hell.

Take your turn as Chair.  It's a short period of time, your research will recover (especially if you have a leave right after), and you'll be doing your part for your institution.

I agree, especially if it is a rotating chair duty.  Share the load.  And if it falls to someone who isn't a good chair, then everyone's life is miserable until that person's term is up.  Having a bad chair can wreak more havoc than being chair, depending on who gets installed in the post.   

Will you be in a position to make sure that the people who don't deserve tenure don't get it?  Will you be in a position to protect your other junior and senior faculty from the Dean's new direction?  Is this what is best for the department?  Can anyone else do this job? 

Pawn off the program revisions onto the other senior faculty as much as possible while retaining oversight & leadership. 

[terpsichore]

I agree with Ursula. Unless there is a compelling reason not to, you should take your turn at it; it's the right thing to do. If another person does it and is a disaster, your colleagues will be mad at you for not stepping up when asked.

Taking your list item by item:

Some of the main reasons I don't want to be chair are:
- the hit my publishing will likely take
- the fact that the college has yet to indicate that it actually values my work (my salary is much lower than many faculty at my rank who have done a very small fraction of the publishing I have done)

Can you negotiate a higher salary and some research funding to help offset these concerns?

- I think the direction the dean is taking the college is the wrong one, and I disagree with many of his policies and his style of decision making

This is potentially a big problem. You'll need to find a way to work with the dean, and you'll need to concentrate on those differences that really matter to you (pick your battles).

- I have a number of colleagues who likely won't (and shouldn't) get tenure in the coming years

That's unfortunate, but this task will fall to someone.

- a number of programs need to be extensively revised

Do they need to be revised right away and all at once? Or can you pick one program, revise it, and leave the rest to the next chair?

- stress and my health

This is also a potentially big issue.  It's very important to find ways to manage stress and support your own health as chair. Learning to pick your battles is one important skill. It's also useful to recognize what you can and can't control. Excercise, eat well, get enough sleep.

[sci_case]

Excuse the crankiness in my reply:

I have a few colleagues who, whenever I ask if I can nominate them for this, that or the other committee, position, whatever, always decline, claiming their research must take precedence.  That's fine, and that's part of what we're here for, but their refusal always means that someone else must do the job, and it usually falls to the same few people.

So, in effect, what colleague X is saying to me and these other people is that her research is far more important than ours. We can do the scut work of making the place function, and making it comfortable for her to do her research.  Ours can go to hell.

Take your turn as Chair.  It's a short period of time, your research will recover (especially if you have a leave right after), and you'll be doing your part for your institution.

I can imagine that the crankiness is well justified! Particularly based on a context in which all have substantial research agendas and value research--and I certainly respect the idea of sharing the responsibilities (and believe a rotating chair would be ideal in many ways, given a productive and mostly functional working environment).

However, in my case, I am not at all trying to imply that my research is more important than that of others.  For many around me, they have already said, through their choices, that their research is not important, and the leadership has routinely rewarded them for those choices (favoring service).  I have paid a price for maintaining my commitment to research in this environment.  So I guess I think that continuing to pay that price is enough without the additional sacrifice required of being chair.

And while a number of my colleagues (certainly not all) do not value research much, some seem to see me as an advocate of fairness and transparency, which has not always been the norm.

[sci_case]

I agree with Ursula. Unless there is a compelling reason not to, you should take your turn at it; it's the right thing to do. If another person does it and is a disaster, your colleagues will be mad at you for not stepping up when asked.

Taking your list item by item:

Some of the main reasons I don't want to be chair are:
- the hit my publishing will likely take
- the fact that the college has yet to indicate that it actually values my work (my salary is much lower than many faculty at my rank who have done a very small fraction of the publishing I have done)

Can you negotiate a higher salary and some research funding to help offset these concerns?

- I think the direction the dean is taking the college is the wrong one, and I disagree with many of his policies and his style of decision making

This is potentially a big problem. You'll need to find a way to work with the dean, and you'll need to concentrate on those differences that really matter to you (pick your battles).

- I have a number of colleagues who likely won't (and shouldn't) get tenure in the coming years

That's unfortunate, but this task will fall to someone.

- a number of programs need to be extensively revised

Do they need to be revised right away and all at once? Or can you pick one program, revise it, and leave the rest to the next chair?

- stress and my health

This is also a potentially big issue.  It's very important to find ways to manage stress and support your own health as chair. Learning to pick your battles is one important skill. It's also useful to recognize what you can and can't control. Excercise, eat well, get enough sleep.

Thoughtful on all accounts, thanks...

[oatmeal]

OP--This is a hard question to answer even with all the information you provided. As a reluctant chair myself, I had to weigh up a lot of variables. From what you have written, an important component is what is your dean like and is he or she supportive of chairs? What administrative "power" does a chair have at your institution and is that something you desire? Is there really shared governance in the department? These questions are important (in addition to what others have raised). Also, the tenure questions you noted are a big issue and will take up a lot of your time (a lot); is this something you are prepared for and able to deal with? Also, you could wait a while and take your turn in three or five years. Good luck with your decision and perhaps you can tell us what you decide. If you say yes, welcome to the world of being a chair.

[larryc]

I've been asked, both by the dean  . . .  my salary is much lower than many faculty at my rank  ...

"Dean Wormwood? I have thought about the chair position. If I am to do it, I need an adjustment in my base salary to reflect my productivity up until this point. Yes, I do know about the chair stipend, I want that too, but an adjustment of my base salary is also necessary. I will be emailing you a memo laying out my requests, why don't you look it over and get back to me. Thanks, Wormy."

[sci_case]

I've been asked, both by the dean  . . .  my salary is much lower than many faculty at my rank  ...

"Dean Wormwood? I have thought about the chair position. If I am to do it, I need an adjustment in my base salary to reflect my productivity up until this point. Yes, I do know about the chair stipend, I want that too, but an adjustment of my base salary is also necessary. I will be emailing you a memo laying out my requests, why don't you look it over and get back to me. Thanks, Wormy."

Part of what I was considering...the confirmation is very helpful

[mellonia]

I agree with Ursula as well, and terpsichore, that we all should participate in governance.  But "taking ones turn" and the timing of said turn can be challenging to decide.  It sounds like the OP has taken a hit for NOT doing much service ("I have paid a price for maintaining my research"), but at my institution it's the opposite;  turning down service and focusing on research is rewarded through salary increments, which has knock-on effects in terms of the grants you get and sometimes teaching release.  These things make it much less clear when (and if) one should take a turn.