Chairs & Directors Handbook

This goal of this handbook is to help DU faculty at the start of their new roles as Department Chairs. It will offer practical advice and guidance, and it will offer ideas on how to make this role one’s own. The handbook is written and compiled by colleagues at DU, some of whom are Directors or Chairs while others are members of the faculty. In addition to providing a better understanding of new responsibilities, this handbook will help one learn how a Department Chair can make a difference in an academic program flourishing at the University of Denver.

NOTE: This Handbook is intended to be a living document, and we encourage your feedback.  Email the Office for Faculty Success

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Download the Chairs and Directors Handbook for leadership resources to navigate your role with clarity and confidence at DU.

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  • Authorship and Handbook Development Background

    This handbook was created by the Chair Development and Training group, which emerged from the first DU Chair’s Symposium held in summer 2019. Its original committee members were Rashida Banerjee (Teaching & Learning Sciences), Sandra Eaton (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Hava Gordon (Sociology & Criminology), Michelle Knowles (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Lorenzo Patelli (Accounting), Andrea Stanton (Religious Studies), Keith Ward (Music), and Erin Willer (Communication Studies). The group was charged with creating chair development resources for DU department chairs and program directors, including a handbook and an orientation for new chairs and directors.