Longitudinal Analysis of Department Chair Employment Announcements: Changing Qualifications, Roles, and Responsibilities

​Sweeping changes in the structures and functions of higher education have occurred in the past 10 years.  Scholars have estimated that department chairs make more than 80% of departmental academic decisions that impact a wide array of stakeholders.  This document analysis study examined the content of department chair employment announcements published in the Chronicle of Higher Education in 1995, 2005, and 2015 (N=72) by institution type and discipline.  Findings identify shifting values of required and preferred qualifications as well as chair responsibilities across year, institution type, and discipline.  The findings also suggest a growing disconnect between the experiences and characteristics of the chair sought by departments and the expectations of the role.