Faculty Leaders' Resources
Department chairs, school directors, and associate directors for faculty (ADF) play a critical role in the success of their academic departments/schools, their students and faculty, and the broader institution. They serve as the primary leaders of their departments, overseeing day-to-day operations, managing budgets, mentoring faculty, guiding curriculum development, and ensuring student success. These faculty leaders also act as key communicators between their departments and higher administration, offering faculty insights to administration and helping to align departmental goals with institutional priorities. Their leadership and decision-making shape the department’s culture, foster excellence in teaching and research, and maintain a supportive environment that benefits faculty and students and the university overall.
In schools that do not have departments, the associate director for faculty serves a role similar to that of the chair in many respects.
Faculty Leaders Council
The Faculty Leaders Council at Montclair State University (previously Chairs Council) is a regular forum composed of department chairs and equivalent academic unit leaders that provides a structured space for academic leadership to collaborate, share information, and engage with senior university administration. It functions as a venue for department chairs, school directors, and ADFS to represent their departments/schools in discussions about university policy, academic priorities, and institutional initiatives, and regularly receives communications from the Provost and other University leaders. Participation in the Faculty Leaders Council is considered a core leadership responsibility for chairs, school directors, and ADFS and is linked to the articulation and implementation of university policy and representation of academic units in broader governance conversations.
Council activities and agendas are organized by the Chairs of Chairs and the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs. The Chair of Chairs in AY27 are: Kathleen Kelley (Theatre and Dance) and Jessica Restaino (Writing Studies).
AY27 Council Meetings:
Fri., Oct. 2, 2026, 1:30pm - 4pm, Cole 340
Fri., Dec. 4, 2026, 8-12, Cole 340
Fri., Feb. 5, 2027, 8-12, Cole 340
Fri., May 14, 2027, 8-12, Cole 340
Opportunities for Faculty Leaders
Find full details and registration for the upcoming schedule of Lunch & Learns and virtual information sessions designed for chairs, school directors, and Associate Faculty Directors (ADF). (Topics subject to revision)
Lunch and Learn (12-1:15)
- Tues., 9/22: Lunch and Connect
- Wed., 11/4: Managing in a Unionized Environment
- Mon., 2/22: Dealing with Challenging Situations
- Wed., 4/7: Ensuring the Quality of Online Courses
"Faculty Leaders Must Know" virtual sessions
- Wed., 10/14, @11 am: AI for Faculty Leaders' Administrative Tasks
- Mon., 11/16, @ noon: Faculty Leaders' Role in the Academic Dishonesty Process, with Christopher Trautman
- More TBA!