Institute for Academic Leadership

The Institute for Academic Leadership, hosted by Florida State University, conducts workshops to enhance the planning, management, and leadership competencies of department chairpersons, deans, and academic administrators of the State University System of Florida.

Florida’s Resource for Academic Chairs and Administrators in the State University System

State University System of Florida, Department Chairs Workshop. Mission Inn, Howie-in-the-Hills.

The chairs workshop is a two-session series—one session in the fall and the other in the spring. Each session has a different set of topics. The workshop is designed to be interactive and participative, rather than a lecture/listen format. Each topic to be discussed has an assigned reading period followed by small group discussion.

The purpose of these workshops is to support the development of the chair as an academic leader within the department and within the institution as a whole. The workshop is designed to stimulate discussion and enable interaction among chairs and provide an opportunity to discuss rules and procedures, legal issues, common frustrations, and many other topics of general interest.

Topics to be Covered 

    Fall
  • Faculty Evaluation and Performance Counseling
  • Dealing with Deans
  • Legal Issues Facing Chairs
  • Delegating and Using Committees
  • Faculty Assignments

  • Spring
  • Chair as Leader
  • Conflict Resolution and Management
  • Departmental Budgeting
  • Teaching Effectiveness
  • Departmental Missions, Goals, and Assessment

Workshop Dates

Spring:   Fall:
June 5–8, 2022   September 11–14, 2022 
June 4–7, 2023   October 1–4, 2023 
June 9–12, 2024    October 6–9, 2024 

Directions

The chairs workshops will be held at the Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. Past workshops have been held here and attendees have given us positive feedback about the hotel. For a look at the amenities, visit the Mission Inn website. For information regarding the workshops, contact Anne Blankenship at (850) 443-6458, ablankenship@fsu.edu or Larry Abele, Director, at (850) 591-0358, labele@fsu.edu.

Workshop Attendees Since 2009


Current and Past Workshops

Fall 2023

Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Delegating and Using Committees • Dealing with Deans. See Agenda

Presentations

Academic Freedom
by Clay Calvert | slides
Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling
by Craig Stanley | reading material | slides
Assigning Faculty Activities
by Lawrence G. Abele | reading material | slides
Ethics and Legal Issues in Teaching
by Nancy Stanlick | slides
Legal Implications of Being a Chair
by Ryan Fuller | reading material
Delegating and Using Committees
by Glenn Cunningham | reading material | slides
Chairs are from Mars; Deans from Pluto
by Joe Glover | slides
Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | reading material | slides

Spring 2023

Academic Leadership • Departmental Missions, Goals, and Assessment • Teaching Effectiveness • Conflict Resolution and Maintaining Morale • Departmental Budgeting. See Agenda

Presentations

Budget and Legislative Update
by Tim Jones | handout 1 | handout 2 | handout 3 | slides
Assuming a Leadership Role
by Craig Stanley | reading material | slides
Dealing with Conflict and Maintaining Morale
by Nancy Stanlick | reading material | slides
Mission, Goals and Assessment
by Jeffrey Moore | reading material | slides
Departmental Budgeting
by Joe Glover | reading material | slides
Transitioning into an Administrative Role and Leadership
by Paul Hart | slides
Effective Teaching
by Lawrence Abele | reading material | slides
Artificial Intelligence/ChatGPT
by Joe Glover | slides

Fall 2022

Faculty Evaluaiton & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Dealing with Deans. See Agenda

Presentations

Faculty Management and Assignments
by Jeff Moore | slides
Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling
by Gwendolyn Singleton | reading material | slides
Assigning Faculty Activities
by Lawrence G. Abele | reading material | slides
Ethics and Legal Issues in Teaching
by Nancy Stanlick | slides
Legal Implications of Being a Chair
by Ryan Fuller | reading material
Delegating and Using Committees
by Glenn Cunningham | reading material | slides
Time Management
by Jim Gray | slides
Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | reading material | slides

Spring 2022

Academic Leadership • Departmental Missions, Goals, and Assessment • Teaching Effectiveness • Conflict Resolution and Maintaining Morale • Departmental Budgeting. See Agenda

Presentations

Effective Teaching
by Lawrence G. Abele | reading material and slides
Budget and Legislative Updates
by Tim Jones | slides
Assuming a Leadership Role
by Janet Kistner | reading material and slides
Dealing with Conflict and Maintaining Morale
by Nancy Stanlick | reading material and slides
Discussion of House Bill 7
by Joe Glover and Ryan Fuller | slides
What your General Counsel and Human Resource Office would like you to know as Chair
by Ryan R. Fuller | slides
Mission, Goals and Assessment
by Jeffrey Moore | reading material and slides
Departmental Budgeting
by Joe Glover | reading material and slides
Transitioning into an Administrative Role and Leadership
by Paul Hart | slides
Other Workshop Material
2022 Legislative Bills of Interest | document
2022-23 LBR Executive Summary | document
2022-23 FCO Budget | document

Fall 2021

Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Dealing with Deans. See Agenda

Presentations


Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling
by Gwendolyn Singleton | reading material | slides

Assigning Faculty Activities
by Lawrence Abele | reading material | slides

Legal Implications of Being a Chair
by Ryan Fuller | reading material | slides

Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | reading material | slides

Fall 2019

Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Delegating and Using Committees • Dealing with Deans. See Agenda

Presentations

Collective Bargaining
by Ryan Fuller | slides
Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling
by Gwendolyn Singleton | reading material | slides
Assigning Faculty Activities
by Lawrence G. Abele | reading material | slides
An Introduction to the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
by Norman Anderson
Delegating and Using Committees
by Glenn Cunningham | reading material | slides
Time Management
by James Gray | slides
Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | reading material | slides

Spring 2019

Academic Leadership • Departmental Missions, Goals, and Assessment • Teaching Effectiveness • Conflict Resolution and Maintaining Morale • Departmental Budgeting.   See Agenda

Presentations

Board of Governors & Financial and Legislative Update 2019
by Tim Jones | slides
Assuming a Leadership Role
by Barbara Ridener | slides
Departmental Budgeting
by Joe Glover | slides
Life on the Bridge – Conflict Management, Leadership and Lifelines
by Monique McKay | slides (coming soon)
Mission, Goals and Assessment
by Jeffrey Moore | slides
Effective Teaching
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
Ethics and Legal Issues in Teaching
by Nancy Stanlick | slides
Dealing with Conflict and Maintaining Morale
by Karen Bryan | slides
Other Workshop Materials
2019 Legislative Bill Summary | document
CS/SB 190, Higher Education Bill Summary | document

Fall 2018

Higher Education Leadership • Faculty Evaluations & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Performance Measures • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Delegating and Using Committees • Time Management • Dealing with Deans.   See Agenda

Presentations

Social Media
by Marcia DiStaso | slides
Faculty Evaluations & Performance Counseling
by Gwendolyn Singleton | slides
Assigning Faculty Activities
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
Departmental Graduation Rates
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
Delegating and Using Committees
Glenn Cunningham | slides
Time Management
by James Gray | slides
Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | slides

Spring 2018

Academic Leadership • Departmental Missions, Goals, and Assessment • Teaching Effectiveness • Conflict Resolution and Maintaining Morale • Departmental Budgeting.   See Agenda

Presentations

Legislative Update 2018
by Janet Owen | slides
Assuming a Leadership Role
by Barbara Ridener | slides
Tools of the Trade
by Isis Carbajal de Garcia | slides
Mission, Goals and Assessment
by Jeffrey Moore | slides
Effective Teaching
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
Social Media
by Stephanie Vie | slides and handout
Dealing with Conflict and Maintaining Morale
by Karen Bryan | slides

Fall 2017

Higher Education Leadership • Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Performance Measures • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Delegating and Using Committees • Time Management • Dealing with Deans.  See Agenda

Presentations

Effective Listening Skills
by Diann Newman | handout
Faculty Evaluation & Performance
by Gwendolyn Singleton | slides
Assigning Faculty Activites
by Larry Abele | slides
Staff Evaluations
by Jamie Sprague | slides
Delegating and Using Committees
by Glenn Cunningham | slides
Time Management
by Jim Gray | slides
Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | slides

Spring 2017

Academic Leadership • Departmental Missions, Goals, and Assessment • Teaching Effectiveness • Conflict Resolution and Maintaining Morale • Departmental Budgeting.  See Agenda

Presentations

Implicit Bias
by Kate Ratliff | slides
Assuming a Leadership Role
by Barbara Ridener | slides
Positive Academic Leadership
by Jeffrey Buller | slides
Mission, Goals and Assessment
by Jeffrey Moore | slides
Effective Teaching
by Larry Abele | slides
Performance Funding
by Joe Glover | slides
Dealing with Conflict and Maintaining Morale
by Karen Bryan | slides
Other Workshop Material
2017-2018 Operating Budget
Governor's Vetoes 2017
Vetoed SB 374 Summary

Fall 2016

Higher Education Leadership • Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling • Assigning Faculty Activities • Performance Measures • Legal Implications of Being a Chair • Delegating and Using Committees • Time Management • Dealing with Deans.  See Agenda

Presentations

Higher Education Leadership in Uncertain Times
by Ralph C. Wilcox | slides
Faculty Evaluation & Performance Counseling
by Gwendolyn Singleton | slides
Assigning Faculty Activities
by Larry Abele | slides
Performance Measures
by Joe Glover | slides
Delegating and Using Committees
by Glenn Cunningham | slides
Time Management
by Jim Gray | slides
Dealing with Deans
by Janet Kistner | slides

Presentations

A Healthy Department
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
This presentation reviews activities and qualities essential for a highly functioning academic department.
Academic Leadership
by Barbara Ridener | slides
Leadership style, seeing the big picture, leading by example, communication, and relationships are highlighted in this look at leadership.
Deans and Chairs Roles
by Joe Glover | slides
This presentation discusses how and why the roles and functions of the Dean and Chairs are different and how to make the most of it.
What Your General Counsel and Human Resource Office Would Like you to Know as Chair
by Ryan Fuller | slides
Defining and identifying types of issues that arise within an academic department and when to contact the General Counsel or Human Resources Offices.
Missions, Goals, and Assessment
by Jeffrey Moore | slides
This presentation reviews the purpose, design, and implementation of program assessment and highlights common misconceptions associated with assessment.
Departmental Conflict
by Carolyn Henne | slides
This discussion offers approaches for dealing with different types of conflict within a department, along with maintaining faculty morale.
Teaching Effectiveness
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
This look at teaching explains the course syllabus, eight factors of effective teaching, the assessment of learning, and the validity of student evaluations.
SUS Performance Funding
by Joe Glover | slides
Academic Maps
by Larry Abele | slides
A History of Higher Education
by Randy Hanna | slides
This presentation examines public higher education in Florida, including the structure of the State University System and legislative action regarding university issues.
Conflict Resolution
by Patricia Price | slides
Defining and identifying types of conflict and recognizing different approaches to conflict situations are among the objectives of this presentation.
Federal Rating System
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
This look at college affordabilty reviews measures of the federal rating system: paying for performance, promoting innovation and competition, and ensuring the affordability of student debt.
Managing (ir)Rational Behavior
by Robert F. Kenny | slides
This presentation focuses on case studies in managerial psychology, including a discussion of perception and the effect of expectations.
Effective Fiscal Management
by Johnny Pherigo | slides
Financial management principles are covered, including account types such as educational and general, foundation, contracts and grants, student fees, and auxiliary/agency.
Turning Administrative Chores into a Lucrative Career
by Jaap Vos | slides
Guidelines for success as a department chair, such as being a good listener, thinking about trends, and preparing for change, are provided.
A Brief Look at Finances
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
This financial overview covers the two sources of funding—general revenue and tuition and fees—and also presents a timeline for submission of the SUS legislative budget request.
Departmental Budgeting and Assessment
by Glenn Cunningham | slides
Fiscal management, budget planning, database procedures, and the role of staff are described in this review of departmental budgeting, annual reports, and outcome assessment.
Distance and Electronic Education
by Joseph Glover | slides
State-funded and self-funded policies of distance and electronic platform education are detailed in this presentation.
Essential Department Chair
by Jeffrey Buller | slides
The concept of positive academic leadership, alternatives to common administrative practices, and the development of leadership strategies are explored.
Lessons Gleaned from Howey
by Jaap Vos | slides
This overview details the requirements of a good chair, including knowledge of the departmental unit, understanding of external factors, and leadership skills.
Strategies for Success
by Lawrence G. Abele | slides
Key strategies for the success of a chair include integrity, trust, and openness; belief in the university; creation of the environment; and knowledge of the department.
Written Evaluations
by Catherine Longstreth | slides
The purpose of the written evaluation is to assess performance and this look at the evaluation process provides suggestions for preparing the draft and final letter.
A Time for Everything
by James Gray | slides
This department chair’s survival guide offers insights on topics ranging from time management to student, faculty, and dean expectations.
Delegation and Using Committees
by Glenn Cunningham | slides
How a chair can maximize effectiveness through efficient delegation and thoughtful committee assignments is described in this presentation.
Faculty Evaluation
by Kay Pasley | slides
This presentation reviews the why, what, and how of faculty evaluations, with an emphasis on developing a plan for remedying deficiencies and building strengths.

Case Studies

Academic Legal Case Studies
PDF
These legal case studies deal with issues such as evaluation, leave, faculty relations, academic performance, public records, tenure and promotion, and special accommodations. These cases will be discussed during the small group discussion. Following the small group discussion, the attorneys will review the disposition of the cases.