Operations

As the leader of an academic department or program, the chair has a number of responsibilities related to maintaining facilities. These may include overseeing the maintenance and repair of classrooms, laboratories, offices, and other spaces used by faculty, staff, and students. The chair may also be responsible for ensuring that the department has sufficient space and resources to meet the needs of its faculty and students. This may involve coordinating with the campus facilities management office or working with external vendors to ensure that necessary repairs are completed in a timely and cost-effective manner. Additionally, the chair may be responsible for managing the department's budget and allocating funds for facility maintenance and upgrades as needed. Ensuring that facilities are well-maintained and well-equipped is critical for supporting the work of faculty and students, and the chair plays a key role in this process.

Submit a Work Order (only available on-campus)

Key Request Form

 

 

As an academic department chair, working with donor development can be an important part of your role. Donor development involves identifying and cultivating relationships with individuals or organizations who may be interested in supporting the department or program through financial contributions. This may involve working with the university's development office to identify potential donors, coordinating outreach efforts, and organizing events or other opportunities to engage with donors. As chair, you may also be responsible for communicating the department's goals and needs to potential donors and highlighting the impact that their support can have on the department and the university as a whole. Working with donor development can be a challenging but rewarding aspect of the chair's role, as it allows you to help secure the resources needed to support the department's work and goals.

Stewardship
As an academic department chair, working with donor relationships is an important part of your role. Donors are individuals or organizations who provide financial support to the department or program, and it is important to maintain strong relationships with them in order to continue to secure the resources needed to support the department's work and goals. This may involve regular communication with donors, including thank-you letters, updates on the department's activities and achievements, and invitations to events or other opportunities to engage with the department. As chair, you may also be responsible for coordinating with the university's development office to ensure that donor needs and preferences are being met, and for identifying opportunities for further engagement with donors. Building strong donor relationships requires patience, effort, and good communication skills, but it is an essential part of the chair's role in ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the department.

ETSU's Advancement Office is in the Model Mill, 602 Sevier Street, Johnson City, TN  37604.

You have two primary ways to make purchases for your department: ProCard and eBucs.

• ProCards.  ProCard is your ETSU-issued credit card.  There is a significant amount of rules and oversight that go with this card.  There is a lot of information here.
• Voyager.  Voyager is your purchasing and approval system.  This should be your first go-to for purchasing.  You can reference the support page here.

As an academic department chair, managing travel requests can be challenging, especially when you must consider factors such as tenure and promotion, approval processes, and departmental initiatives. Here are a few pieces of advice that may be helpful:

• Prioritize travel requests based on their alignment with the department's goals and objectives. This can help ensure that resources are being used effectively and that faculty and staff are able to attend events that will have the greatest impact on the department.
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  Communicate clearly with faculty and staff about the criteria and process for approving travel requests. This can help to ensure that everyone is aware of the expectations and requirements and that the process is transparent and fair.
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  Work with the department's budget and financial resources carefully to ensure that travel requests can be accommodated within the available funds.

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  Coordinate with the university's travel office or other relevant departments to ensure that travel arrangements are made efficiently and that faculty and staff have the necessary resources and support for their trips.
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  Consider the impact of travel on faculty and staff workloads, especially in the context of tenure and promotion evaluations.
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  Involve faculty and staff in the decision-making process as appropriate and seek their input and feedback on departmental initiatives. This can help to foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the department's goals.

• Make sure to clearly communicate the department's goals and priorities to all stakeholders.
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  Foster strong relationships with other departments and units within the university.
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  Be proactive in seeking out opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.
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  Stay up-to-date on the latest research and developments in the field.
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  Be responsive and open to feedback from faculty, students, and external partners.
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  Be a strong advocate for the department, highlighting its strengths and successes.
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  Foster a positive and inclusive culture within the department.
  Encourage faculty and students to engage in outreach and networking activities.
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  Be mindful of the department's image and reputation, both internally and externally.
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  Take the time to listen to and understand the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.