2026 Workshops for Department and Division Chairs

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) offers the annual Workshops for Department and Division Chairs to strengthen leadership at the departmental level. The workshops are designed to serve both experienced and new chairs of departments or divisions at independent colleges and universities. Campuses are encouraged to send several department or division chairs to the workshop so that they can support one another in instituting change upon return to campus and develop stronger working relationships among institutional chairs. Department and division chairs are the bridges between department or division members and senior college administrators, and well-trained department and division chairs make a difference in academic affairs. Faculty members who take on the chair role need support to understand how to use the position to achieve both departmental and institutional goals. These workshops will focus on effective strategies to develop leadership skills and an institution-wide vision in the context of uncertainty and change, and will support chairs to develop skills that build strong and inclusive departments. Most chairs begin their positions with little or no training in the chair’s responsibilities and with incomplete knowledge of campus challenges. Effective chairs learn the value of developing an institution-wide perspective, communicating clearly, and collaborating with peers to promote greater institutional effectiveness. They must develop the ability to think strategically; plan actively for the future; and cooperate with both academic and administrative departments, including admissions, advancement, finance, and student affairs. At the same time, most chairs remain heavily invested in their faculty responsibilities of teaching, advising, service, and scholarship. Participants will gain skills and perspectives useful to their roles and will meet colleagues who face comparable challenges at institutions similar to theirs.