The Chair of a department shall be a faculty member who has the respect and confidence of the members of the department and the skill and initiative to guide and manage the department. During the period of appointment, Chairs must make the interests of the department their paramount concern. Chairs should be appointed because of their dedication to teaching, research and service; their intellectual, professional and administrative abilities, and their leadership skills. Chairs should ensure that the decision-making process includes full discussion with interested persons and they should be adept at reconciling differing viewpoints.

51.14 The term of appointment for a Chair will normally be either three or five years.

51.15 Search processes for Chairs are advisory to the Vice-President, Academic.

51.16 There are three possible processes for selecting a Chair:

51.16.1 Full search (internal and external candidates): requires a Search Committee

51.16.1.1 If a department wishes to include external candidates in the search there must be a further consultation in the department involving the Dean and the Vice-President, Academic. The Vice-President, Academic makes the final decision. 

51.16.1.2 The Search Committee will prepare a description of the position and the position will be posted and filled according to Article 23: Continuing Academic Appointments.

51.16.1.3 Faculty members, professional and support staff and students in the department will be formally consulted regarding qualities and attributes needed for the leadership of the department and invited to submit nominations.

51.16.2 Internal search: may require a Search Committee

51.16.2.1 In a search that is not to include external candidates, a candidate for ratification from within the department will be identified through one of the following procedures, in order of preference:       

51.16.2.1.1 An election supervised by the Dean

51.16.2.1.2 Another procedure suggested by the department and approved by the Dean

51.16.2.1.3 A search using a search committee as described in Article 51.16.1, Full Search above

51.16.3 Renewal of the current Chair: requires a ratification vote

51.16.3.1 A Chair may stand as a candidate for a subsequent term. If a Chair agrees to go forward for renewal, there will be a ratification vote as outlined below.

51.16.3.2 Detailed procedures for appointment of Chairs are contained in University Policy A13.02, Appointment of Department Chairs and Directors of Schools.

51.17 If a Search Committee is required, faculty members will make up the majority of the committee. The Dean of the Faculty will chair the search committee. As with all search committees, gender diversity must be demonstrated.

51.18 In all cases a ratification vote of the recommended candidate will be held.

51.19 The vote will be organized by the Dean's office and the vote will be counted in the presence of a faculty scrutineer. 

51.20 A positive ratification is one where a majority of those voting support the recommended candidate. 

51.21 The Dean will forward a recommendation concerning the appointment to the VicePresident, Academic. 

51.22 Appointment of an Acting Chair for a period of four months or less can be approved by the Dean and does not require ratification by the Department. An appointment of an Acting Chair for more than four months must be ratified by the Department and must be approved by the Vice-President, Academic on the recommendation of the Dean.

In the case of an Acting Chair, less than four months, only Dean approval is required on the Academic-Administrative Appointment form. Provide the completed form to Faculty Relations.