Chairs’ WorkshopChairs’ Workshop

JSM 2009 JSM 2009

Vijay NairVijay Nair

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

vnn@umich.edu

August 1, 2009August 1, 2009

Topics – RL & VNTopics – RL & VN

Working with “Administration”Working with “Administration”Departmental ActivitiesDepartmental Activities– Promoting collaborationsPromoting collaborations– Engaging faculty in department operationsEngaging faculty in department operations– Promoting and rewarding excellencePromoting and rewarding excellence– P & T and annual reviewsP & T and annual reviews– Faculty recruitingFaculty recruiting

Setting prioritiesSetting prioritiesBudget models and managing budgetsBudget models and managing budgets

UM BackgroundUM BackgroundUM ~ 38,000 students (28 + 10)UM ~ 38,000 students (28 + 10)– Full service universityFull service university– Stat, Biostat, ISR, B-school, Eng., …Stat, Biostat, ISR, B-school, Eng., …

LSA (18K + grad students)LSA (18K + grad students)– Stat part of Nat Sc (collaborations with Soc Sc)Stat part of Nat Sc (collaborations with Soc Sc)– One Dean, 3 area assoc deans, for budget + finance, & One Dean, 3 area assoc deans, for budget + finance, &

for ugrad + grad education (Rackham)for ugrad + grad education (Rackham)– ~ 30 chairs and directors~ 30 chairs and directors– Dean “controls” budget, etc.Dean “controls” budget, etc.– Governance –elected ExCo – hiring, promotions, policy, …Governance –elected ExCo – hiring, promotions, policy, …– Two meetings a semester – Deans + all C + D; Two meetings a semester – Deans + all C + D; – monthly meetings with Dean, Assoc Dean and monthly meetings with Dean, Assoc Dean and

NS chairs + directorsNS chairs + directors

Dept BackgroundDept Background

Started in 1969 Started in 1969 About 18 FTE + 5-6 lecturers/teaching facultyAbout 18 FTE + 5-6 lecturers/teaching faculty

3 grad programs (Ph D, Applied Master’s, Dual degree masters) 3 grad programs (Ph D, Applied Master’s, Dual degree masters) ~100 grad students ~ 55 TA positions~100 grad students ~ 55 TA positions

Ugrad major (~25 grad per year) + 2 minors (about 90 students)Ugrad major (~25 grad per year) + 2 minors (about 90 students)

Large service teaching (ugrad and grad)Large service teaching (ugrad and grad)

Joint courses with Biostat, Econ, IOE, MathJoint courses with Biostat, Econ, IOE, Math

New interdisciplinary ugrad concentration in InformaticsNew interdisciplinary ugrad concentration in Informatics

VN VN chair for 11 years. chair for 11 years.

Working with the DeansWorking with the DeansType of college/school and the administrative structureType of college/school and the administrative structure

Academic affairs, budget, research, …Academic affairs, budget, research, …

Who controls the $$Who controls the $$

Develop personal relationship and trust; understand their personality; Develop personal relationship and trust; understand their personality; what works and what doesn’t; remember it’s not about you but the dept.what works and what doesn’t; remember it’s not about you but the dept.

Frequent e-mail contact, off-line one-on-one contact more effective than Frequent e-mail contact, off-line one-on-one contact more effective than making cases in group settings, making cases in group settings,

Understand Dean’s major agenda and see how department can fit in; Understand Dean’s major agenda and see how department can fit in; get involved in (lead) key initiatives; Stats smaller discipline and can get involved in (lead) key initiatives; Stats smaller discipline and can often be on the outside; often be on the outside;

Talk up the dept and faculty, make sure they know of achievements, Talk up the dept and faculty, make sure they know of achievements, nominate faculty for key internal committees, …nominate faculty for key internal committees, …

First couple of years are key … find a mentor (senior chair) who you First couple of years are key … find a mentor (senior chair) who you trust to bounce questions off … relationships with other departments are trust to bounce questions off … relationships with other departments are importantimportant

Setting PrioritiesSetting PrioritiesTask varies with state of the dept when you take overTask varies with state of the dept when you take over

Engage faculty in developing long-term plan and priorities early on – Engage faculty in developing long-term plan and priorities early on – retreat or other forum for internal planning retreat or other forum for internal planning some use consultants to some use consultants to facilitate discussion and develop consensus facilitate discussion and develop consensus not for everyone not for everyone

Plan beforehand with informal discussions with key playersPlan beforehand with informal discussions with key players

Make sure junior faculty views are heard (separate junior faculty retreats)Make sure junior faculty views are heard (separate junior faculty retreats)

Take on only 2-3 major activities initially (focus your energy on a few and Take on only 2-3 major activities initially (focus your energy on a few and hopefully ones that you enjoy)hopefully ones that you enjoy)

VN experience VN experience 5-year plan and external reviews; make dept fully 5-year plan and external reviews; make dept fully integrated into the college; interdisciplinary collaboration; exploit strength integrated into the college; interdisciplinary collaboration; exploit strength of UMof UM

Managing the BudgetManaging the Budget

Different budget and funding models Different budget and funding models also vary with Deans and economic also vary with Deans and economic conditionsconditions

VN experienceVN experience

““Begging” is part of the job!Begging” is part of the job!

Get a really good Department ManagerGet a really good Department Manager

Don’t keep a surplus!Don’t keep a surplus!

Faculty Review Process at UM StatisticsFaculty Review Process at UM Statistics

Annual reviews and discussion with chair and mentorAnnual reviews and discussion with chair and mentor3-year review and feedback3-year review and feedbackEnd of 5End of 5thth year, P&T committee set up – chair and committee works year, P&T committee set up – chair and committee works with candidate to develop a casebook – includes CV, research with candidate to develop a casebook – includes CV, research teaching and service documentation -- names of external letter teaching and service documentation -- names of external letter writers (number)?writers (number)?Dept selects from candidates list and own list – some in your area, Dept selects from candidates list and own list – some in your area, others a bit more general, usually full prof’s – college committees others a bit more general, usually full prof’s – college committees looks for big names from top universities; Some internal letterslooks for big names from top universities; Some internal lettersP&T committee writes up evaluation. Candidate has opportunity to P&T committee writes up evaluation. Candidate has opportunity to respond. respond. Department level discussions and recommendation. Variation in Department level discussions and recommendation. Variation in exact process. exact process. To college-level review -- divisional review committee looks at To college-level review -- divisional review committee looks at research case -- college ExCo makes decision based on this research case -- college ExCo makes decision based on this review and overall case – Dean vs College ExCoreview and overall case – Dean vs College ExCoProvost (usually pro forma)Provost (usually pro forma)Negative decisions – dept vs college level; appeal?Negative decisions – dept vs college level; appeal?