At Trinity College department chairs are the advocates of the department. They implement department policy and represent department views regarding institutional policies. In this document we address the activities of department chairs and discuss their selection, function, and evaluation.

1: Selection of Department Chairs

1.1: The Dean of the Faculty appoints department chairs. These appointments are made after consultation with all department members. Each department shall have the opportunity to recommend its choice to the Dean. Chairs must be tenured members of the Trinity Faculty. Department chairs shall normally be appointed to three-year terms and shall usually serve no more than two terms in succession. (Passed March 17, 1987; Revised February 12, 1991)

2: Functions of Department Chairs

2.1: Coordination of the activities of the department. The chair, in continual consultation with the department, is responsible for coordinating the activities of the department, including the development and revision of policies and other decision-making of the department.

2.2: Guidance and evaluation of Faculty. Major responsibilities of the chairs are the guidance and evaluation of tenured and untenured Faculty. They prepare materials for salary discussions and decisions and serve as advocates for department members in obtaining institutional support for teaching and research. They serve as advisors to new Faculty regarding College policies on promotion and tenure and, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Appointments and Promotions Committee, prepare material for promotion and tenure reviews.

2.3: Curriculum. Chairs are responsible for coordinating the department's curriculum, for acting on department and collegial curricular decisions, and for overseeing individual teaching and scheduling assignments.

2.4: Administration. Chairs represent department policies and serve as liaison to the offices of the Deans and other administrative offices, and to such committees as the Educational Policy Committee, Appointments and Promotions, the General Education Council, and the Curriculum Committee. They also supervise the work of administrative and technical assistants and secretarial staff.

2.5: Finance. In consultation with the department, chairs prepare the department budget request, and they oversee the expenditure of funds allocated to the department.

2.6: Planning. Chairs coordinate the department's development of short and long range plans. They recommend sabbatical leaves and leaves of absence, and prepare department requests to the Educational Policy Committee for new positions or the reallocation of vacated ones.

2.7: Faculty recruitment. Chairs coordinate and oversee the department's recruitment of Faculty for available positions and serve as liaison between the department and the Dean of the Faculty during recruitment proceedings.

2.8: Advising. Although all Faculty members are expected to serve as advisors, chairs serve as the primary source of information about the major. In accordance with department policy, chairs assign major advisors. Upon good cause and, if possible, in consultation with the student's advisor or other appropriate department members, the chair may, in keeping with department policy, modify the way in which an individual student meets major requirements.

3: Evaluation

3.1: Each department chair shall be evaluated biennially, beginning in the first year of appointment. All members of each department shall be invited by the Dean of the Faculty to send a written evaluation. The Dean shall communicate a summary of the department evaluation to the chair. The chair shall have the right to respond formally to this summary.

4: Activities of Department Chairs as a Group

4.1: In addition to individual responsibilities, chairs may assemble for such activities as the following:

4.1.a: Meeting with the Dean. The chairs meet regularly with the Dean. Each year they elect a secretary who assists the Dean in establishing the agenda for these meetings.

4.1.b: Acting as advisors to other campus groups. The chairs may serve in an advisory capacity to such committees as Appointments and Promotions, Educational Policy, Financial Affairs, Curriculum, and the General Education Council.

4.1.c: Caucus. The chairs assume the right to convene to deliberate issues of concern to any chair. The secretary serves as the convener and assembles the group at a chair's request.

(Passed February 12, 1991)