Department Chair Conversation Series
The Office of Faculty Affairs continues its Conversation Series to help department chairs more effectively lead and respond to challenges they confront in their departments and/or units. We look forward to another year of robust and engaging conversations about departmental life at UB.
About the Department Chair Leadership Program
Over this academic year, our office will be sponsoring a series of monthly lunch-time seminars to discuss various issues related to academic leadership. We will address issues related to effective communication, budgets and resources, mentoring and work/life balance, faculty and student diversity, recruitment and hiring, tenure and promotion to name a few.
Conversation Series are:
- held monthly as 2 hour lunch-time seminars from 12:00 to 2:00 pm (food and refreshments provided)
- held every 2nd Wednesday of each month during the fall and spring semester
- intended to be interactive and responsive; your feedback and requests drive the conversation and future planning
Conversation Series for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semester will be held in person. Location in Capen Hall, North Campus.
Questions? Please email BB Bakavoli (bbmahdib@buffalo.edu) or call: 716-645-3594
Fall 2024 Conversation Series
WEDNESDAY, September 11, 2024
The first session in our Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Department Chair Conversation Series will bring together experienced chairs from across the university to discuss their victories, challenges, transformations, and impacts on their professional lives. This session is designed to provide a space for these chairs to reflect on their experiences so as to offer newer department chairs the opportunity to gain perspective from those experiences.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
In this session of our Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Department Chair Conversation Series, we will review data and the processes involved in preparing dossiers for tenure and promotion. Case studies will be used to explore how chairs evaluate the performance of faculty members. Topics will include:
• Overview of the process and timing
• Effective dossier preparation
• Leading departmental reviews
• Making difficult decisions
• Concerns regarding promotion to full professor
• Preparing the chair's letter
• DEI in tenure and promotion
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
This session, presented by members of the Division of Finance and Administration, will unpack the university's budget process, clarify the various funding sources and their uses, and explore higher education finance. The session will also provide an overview of the following:
- University Governance
- Higher Education Finance
- State Education Law
- UB Resources
- UB's Annual Resource Planning Process (ARPP)
Presenters:
Beth Corry Associate Vice President for Business Services and Controller
Jennifer Pesany Assistant Vice President, Financial Management
Joseph Lewandowski Assistant Vice President, Resource Planning
Spring 2025 Conversation Series
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
This event in Department Chair Conversation Series will focus on faculty mentoring. This session will explore the university’s mentoring policy and provide a platform for attendees to share best practices and unit initiatives that support effective mentoring. Additionally, a demonstration of MentorNet, a new tool designed to connect mentors and mentees, will be featured. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how mentoring can enhance professional development and foster a more supportive academic environment.
wednesday, march 12, 2025
Wednesday, april 9, 2025
TBA
Past Workshop Presentations
Requests for past workshop PowerPoint presentations should be directed to Faculty Affairs (ubvpfacultyaffairs@buffalo.edu)