A Chairperson’s Institute is an event that provides a foundation for administrative effectiveness. This event helps current and future chairpersons strengthen their academic environments by:

• Taking a leading role in the change process

• Assisting with improvements in teaching and learning practices

• Embracing a student-centered philosophy

• Creating productive environments for faculty success

• Putting together effective Quality Enhancement Projects to improve student learning and success

Definitions of effective academic leaders/ managers and their roles (e.g., Covey, Senge, Gmelch, Bollman & Deal) will be examined from the perspectives of:

• Structure and rules

• Models and symbolic frameworks

• Empowerment

• Personal mastery

• Vision and pathfinding

• Leadership and team skills and relating with others

• Mental models and systems thinking

• Alignment and political frameworks