Council of Chairs
One of the most important leadership organizations at Indiana University of Pennsylvania is the Council of Chairs (COC). The purpose of the Council of Chairs is to provide a forum for discussion of issues, problems, and concerns which IUP chairs are facing. The collective group works to find solutions and strategies for enhancing how academic departments operate and function. The COC also provides training to chairs as well as troubleshooting and support for the most difficult job in all of academia: the department chair!
The COC also acts as a voice for the faculty, collaborating with administration to address faculty needs and to find the best means for delivering high quality academic programs to IUP’s students.
Council of Chairs Membership
The Council of Chairs is made up of department chairs from all disciplines at IUP.
Co-Chairs of the COC
The Council of Chairs has 2 Co-Chairs for the group who are elected by the chairs. Co-Chairs serve for alternating 2 year terms. The Co-Chairs plan and run COC meetings. They also meet separately each month with IUP’s President and IUP’s Provost to bring issues of concern to IUP’s upper administration.
The current Co-Chairs of the Council of Chairs are
- Gian Pagnucci, Chair of Language, Literature, & Writing
- Scott Moore, Chair of History, Philosophy, Political Science, & Religious Studies
Chairs Training
Beginning in 2023, the Council of Chairs was asked to provide hands on training to new and continuing chairs for how to best perform the role of department chair.
COC Advisory Role
The Co-Chairs of COC recommend chairs and other faculty for membership on various committees at the university. COC as a body provides consultation to a wide range of IUP leadership and planning groups, including:
- Academic Affairs Committee
- Academic Computing Policy Advisory Committee (ACPAC)
- President’s Cabinet
- University Budget Advisory Committee (UBAC)
Council of Chairs Meetings
The Council of Chairs meets monthly during the academic year. COC meetings are always held on the first Wednesday of the month from 4:00 p.m.-5:15 p.m. on Zoom.