Subordinate leaders should support new campus leaders: Opinion

New campus leaders need support from subordinate leaders within their institution, write Steven Baule, Ray Martinez, Joel Traver, and Rhea Walker. The authors write that leaders such as the chairs of departments, divisions, or centres should help new leaders such as deans, provosts, or presidents by seizing opportunities to communicate the missions, visions, programs, and outcomes of their units. The authors recommend that chairs meet formally with the new leadership, review the institution’s overall structure, and communicate gaps between the institution’s mission, vision, and goals and reality. Baule, Martinez, Traver, and Walker also recommend that rather than relying on the dean to facilitate proactive communication, departments take initiative to communicate with new deans and set expectations about meetings.