How to Respond to Low Faculty Morale

When you become department chair, you are likely to gain a new perspective on faculty morale in your unit. As a regular faculty member, you may not have known how deep the feelings ran or how pervasive the malaise was. The hard work of administration can seem even harder when faculty morale is low. Even normal operations seem burdensome to everyone. Creative thinking, investment in positive outcomes, and problem-solving may seem impossible in such a context. Your job as department chair is tough enough, so address faculty morale if you can. Do this early, before the new normal of your administration takes root.