Heads and Chairs

Heads and Chairs provides you with foundational knowledge and skills to develop and enhance your academic leadership at the departmental level. Led by a team of experienced academic administrators, it draws upon both the literature and practice of academic leadership and presents it to you in a highly interactive setting. Join department leaders from universities across Canada for an exceptional learning and networking opportunity.

Heads and Chairs 2023

Due to popular demand, CHERD will provide two virtual offerings of Heads and Chairs in Spring 2023. 

Fall 2022 meant a return to a hybrid learning and working environment. While this academic year is different than it was pre-COVID,  the role of the department chair remains critical in this new higher education reality. Department heads and chairs, uniquely situated between senior management and faculty, continue to play critical roles in building and sustaining a healthy collegial unit within this new environment.

Literature indicates that less than half of new department heads receive any professional development prior to taking on their key and challenging role. Professional development for department chairs has never been more important.

This offering provides an opportunity for both new and returning chairs to learn and network within a pan Canadian environment, with two very experienced facilitators who have both served as department chairs in their respective institutions. 

Delivery methods

There will be two offerings of Heads and Chairs to accommodate a range of schedules. Based on feedback Heads and Chairs will continue in the online format. The workshop will include interactive synchronous sessions, group work, content videos and online discussions, all contextualized within the current higher education environment.