English Department Chair

Essential Job Functions

• Creates and approves goals for department by interpreting and supporting the goals of the institution as they relate to the department
• Implements and/or reinforces changes based on policy decisions; interprets department policies to faculty, staff, students, and/or public
• Initiates and maintains communication with colleagues, administrative staff, faculty, students, industry, external community, state, and national agencies
• Informs the dean of decisions involving changes in the department and issues related to other campuses
• Conducts meetings with faculty and staff
• Provides the necessary research and department support to obtain/maintain external grant funds or donations, if appropriate
• Solves issues that arise between faculty and students
• Keeps current on trends, issues, and initiatives in the divisions' related fields of education that affect teaching and learning within the departmental program
• Assigns teaching loads and other departmental duties
• Identifies best practices for department or processes in collaboration with industry and in review of educational literature and community needs
• Makes sure compliance with policies and procedures of the College
• Attends meetings (e.g., department meetings, task forces, committees, councils)
• Maintains leadership competencies established by the College

Department Operations – Non-Faculty Activities

• Prepares the annual department budget
• Reviews/approves the purchases of goods and services
• Develops and/or reviews class schedules
• Reviews and processes textbook requests on a semester basis to insure timely access and bookstore processing
• Works with dual credit to meet the needs of independent school district partners

Department Operations – Faculty Activities

• Recommends renewal of faculty contracts
• Reviews and approves personnel changes within the department and forwards forms to the respective dean
• Determines personnel needs in the department, makes appropriate requests in writing, and participates in hiring interviews in conjunction with the appropriate search committee
• Tracks and analyzes program data, specifically student performance and enrollment data
• Develops and implements strategies that support program completion, job placement, and/or transfer opportunities for students, when appropriate
• Ensures department participation in student recruitment efforts
• Supervises campus grants that provide for educational programs or services to the division. Works with colleagues in college district to develop new grant applications
• Responds to requests for faculty substitutions, class emergencies, and as a first point of contact for part-time faculty access
• Performs beginning-of-term learning management system checks, distance learning course reviews, and verifies end-of-course documentation

Professional Development and Performance Management

• Evaluates faculty teaching effectiveness through classroom observations, distance learning reviews, and end-of-course documentations annually, using consistent evaluation procedures, and informs the dean of any concerns about the performance of department members
• Recognizes faculty who demonstrate a high level of teaching effectiveness, giving recognition for positive actions of faculty as well as offering constructive suggestions for professional growth
• Supervises and evaluates new faculty and staff
• Promotes professional development opportunities to members of the department as appropriate
• Meets with faculty and/or staff members to create key performance indicators that reflect the needs of the department, as well as consideration for the annual priorities of the College that affect teaching and learning
• Provides evaluation and ongoing feedback regarding faculty and/or staff performance
• Participates in validation meetings to review and discuss performance ratings of department members with campus leadership

Curriculum and Assessment

• Facilitates assessment of student learning outcomes, general education outcomes, program-specific outcomes, accreditation requirements, and student performance on certificate or licensure assessments
• Facilitates the development of curricular programs, projects, and initiatives in support of the College’s mission and strategic plan
• Works with Institutional Effectiveness
• Participates in activities associated with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation, program accreditation, and/or program review
• Makes sure program compliance with national, state, and/or regional agencies