Department Head/Chair/Director
The UTLC offers programs and professional development opportunities for Department Heads/Chairs and School Directors. Featuring both leadership development and administrative support, these programs provide academic leaders with opportunities to grow in their practice while connecting with each other.
Contact Laura Pipe (lmpipe@uncg.edu), Director of the UTLC, if you have ideas or questions.
Featured Programs
Monthly Gatherings
Each month between September and May, the UTLC hosts Department Heads/Chairs/Directors Gatherings. Gatherings offer open discussion and collaboration with fellow academic leaders, communication pathways with senior leadership, and resource sharing.
Gatherings are by invitation only for Department Heads/Chairs and School Directors
Department Head/Chair/DIrector Retreats
The UTLC hosts annual Department Head/Chair/Director Retreats in August and May. These events focus on key leadership areas that are essential to the Department Leader Toolkit. From “giving good feedback” to “developing a strategic plan,” these one to two day Retreats provide opportunities for leadership growth and addressing institutional needs.
Fall Date: TBA
Department Head/Chair/Director Resource Site
This Canvas site offers academic leaders resources covering a range of topics, such as supervision, teaching effectiveness, conflict management, and general leadership. The site also features several Magna Publications leadership trainings and access to Magna Publications’ The Academic Leader.
Access is by invitation only for Department Heads/Chairs and School Directors
Policy Resources & Campus Contacts
Policy Support
The Office of the Provost website provides a comprehensive list of academic and administrative policies, processes, and forms.
The current Handbook for Department Heads/Chairs is available and undergoing revision. Check back for an updated Campus Guide for Academic Unit Leaders (coming soon).
The UTLC will be launching an Department Leadership Canvas site in fall 2025! Check back for more information soon.
Campus Contacts
Faculty Personnel Services (FPS) oversees key personnel process for faculty appointments, from payroll to promotion/tenure.
The Office of General Counsel provides legal guidance to administrators of UNCG when they are acting on behalf of the University, including topics related to policy interpretation, compliance, and institutional mandates.
Financial Planning & Budgets provides basic information and guidance to all departments/schools and offices concerning the establishment, revision, reporting, administration and control of budgets.
The Office of Assessment, Accreditation & Academic Program Planning (OAAAPP) leads University-wide accreditation and institutional effectiveness. OAAAPP provides consultation, training, and administrative and technical support related to assessment; internal and external academic program change procedures; SACSCOC compliance; and strategic planning activities for faculty and staff.
The Dean of Students Office provides support for student wellbeing, including student needs and supporting students in distress. The Dean’s office also includes the Office of Students Rights & Responsibilities.
The Division of Student Success coordinates efforts to support undergraduate education at UNC Greensboro through close collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and administrative units across campus, in the community, and with partner institutions.
The University Teaching and Learning Commons (UTLC) serves as the pan-institutional center for teaching and learning support.
Processes & Procedures
Faculty Success (formerly Activity Insight) is the campus interface for faculty activity reporting and tracking, including annual faculty reviews.
The updated Faculty Workload Policy is now available.
Additional campus resources coming soon.
The Promotion and Tenure Policy includes framing documents, forms, and resources.
Personnel Forms for hiring and pre-employment actions.
Forms and process for credentialing faculty/instructors for teaching in accordance with UNCG Policy.
Resources for unit-level teaching effectiveness process development, including frameworks, scholarship, and perspectives on the evaluation of teaching and learning.
The UTLC is available to assist units in their creation of unit-level Evaluation of Teaching processes. Please contact Laura Pipe (lmpipe@uncg.edu), Director of the UTLC, to schedule a consultation or workshop.
Leadership And Administrative Resources
LinkedIn Learning Collection
LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform that provides access to over 16,000 videos and 5,000 courses on various topics created by experts in the field. This cultivated list of leadership courses and pathways provide department leadership with broad expertise in managing and navigating the department head/chair/director role.
Vector Solutions COllection
Designed to fit busy schedules, these online, research-based workshops cover a range of essential topics, including search committee practices and accessibility strategies. This cultivated collection of virtual trainings covering a range of management topics provide department leadership with “just-in-time” management support.
Jane D. Harris SoTL Library: Department Leadership
The UTLC hosts the Jane D. Harris Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Library at 1100 W Market St. Within the SOTL Library, the UTLC has cultivated a specific section to support Department-level leadership. Books range from general leadership to department head handbooks, you can browse or check out books from the Jane D. Harris SOTL Library: Department Leadership set using our Libib catalogue.
Templates & Administrative Tools
Memo of Understanding
Toolbox for Department Chairs (the Chronicle)
PDF of Toolbox for Department Chairs from The Chronicle of Higher Education
Conferences & Professional Development
In Person Conferences
CCAS Seminar for Chairs/Heads
The Council on Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) hosts an annual seminar for department chairs and heads in August.
Academic Chairpersons Conference
The Academic Chairpersons Conference is hosted by Indiana University and held annually in February.
Learn more
AASCU Department Chair Leadership Institute
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) offers an annual institute with cohort sessions offered in January and August. Applications are due in October of the prior year.
Essential Skills for Department Chairs
Academic Impressions offers an essential skills workshop for department heads/chairs offered annually in June and October.
Leadership in Higher Education Conference
Magna Publications hosts an annual Leadership in Higher Education Conference each October.
NCFDD: Department Chair Success Program
UNCG is an institutional member of NCFDD, a career and research resource. Department Heads/Chairs/Directors will need to register for their free NCFDD account using their UNCG email address.
The Department Chair Success Program (CSP) provides department chairs with essential leadership skills, practical strategies, and a supportive community to navigate their roles effectively. Gain the tools to lead with confidence and balance your responsibilities.
Virtual Conferences and Workshops
Academic Leadership essentials
Magna Publications offers a virtual, self-paced Academic Leadership Essentials workshop covering general leadership, evaluation, and faculty development.
Chronicle’s Strategic Leadership Series
The Chronicle of Higher Education offers a virtual Strategic Leadership for Department Chairs series each summer.
NCFDD: From the Chair’s Perspective
UNCG is an institutional member of NCFDD, a career and research resource. Department Heads/Chairs/Directors will need to register for their free NCFDD account using their UNCG email address.
From the Chair’s Perspective is a multi-week course on chair concerns:
- It’s All About The Relationships
- You’re The Boss And Other Myths About Being Chair
- Little Fires Everywhere
- Insights on Academic Leadership