The Liberal Arts Department Chairs' Leadership Approach for Providing Faculty Professional Development

摘要

Colleges and universities have a need to prepare faculty to educate students to be critical thinkers and well-rounded individuals. In accomplishing this goal, the undergraduate academic department chair takes on a critical role to assist with the process of faculty professional development. Currently, there is a call from different stakeholders ranging from parents to legislators for greater accountability for the achievement of student learning outcomes in higher education. The accountability for learning outcomes is necessary to function in a complex and interrelated world and society. The academic department chair plays an important role as a leader in providing the necessary guidance for each faculty member to become good instructors.;There were studies conducted identifying marketing department chairs' strategic planning for faculty professional development, but no study has been conducted identifying a public four-year Midwest liberal arts university and a private four-year liberal arts Midwest college liberal arts department chairs' strategic planning for faculty professional development. This study was conducted utilizing the basic qualitative methodology. The basic qualitative methodology was used to understand the daily work experiences of the liberal arts department chairs as it relates to strategic planning for faculty professional development. The participants are liberal arts department chairs from a public four-year Midwest liberal arts university, and a private four-year Midwest liberal arts college.