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Dear Faculty Relations: I’m leaving my role as department chair after six long (but good!) years. I’m confident in my successor, but I also know there’s a steep learning curve. What should I do to prepare them? —Paying It ForwardÌý

Dear Paying It Forward: First of all, thank you for thinking about leadership transition! Universities experience a lot of turnover in academic leadership, and as you point out, the learning curve is steep.ÌýÌý

Here are a handful of easy-to-follow steps for a smooth transition:Ìý

• Create weekly meetings from now until the handover. Make a list of your responsibilities and create simple agendas that cover each of these. Part III of the PRR is a good place to start as it outlines the roles and responsibilities of academic leaders.ÌýÌý

• Share unit records. You’ve undoubtedly kept records about scheduling, leave requests, personnel issues and all of the minutiae that it takes to run an academic unit. Your regular meetings with the incoming chair are the perfect time to teach them how to maintain them.Ìý

• Cc the incoming chair on emails. Help them out by showing them how and about what you’re communicating with colleagues. This is especially important if you are making decisions that they will inherit this summer.ÌýÌý

• Include them in meetings. Their schedule likely won’t allow them to attend every meeting you attend as chair, but if they can sit in on, say, scheduling meetings with staff, all the better.ÌýÌý

• Speak with them candidly about personnel issues. Every unit experiences interpersonal conflict and less than perfect behavior. As the PRR (III.C.1.i) makes clear, it’s vital that you communicate with the incoming chair about these issues.ÌýÌýÌý

• Recommend they attend the Academic Leaders Institute orientation for new leaders. New leaders will receive an invitation as part of the transition.Ìý

• Share your wisdom. Okay, ‘wisdom’ may be an elevated term, but you’ve learned something, and that something is important! Offer your advice.ÌýÌýÌý

Most importantly, Paying It Forward, wish your incoming chair well and if you’re comfortable doing so, offer to serve as a resource for them as they grow into their role. They will thank you, and the university thanks you for the time you’ve given your unit.ÌýÌý