Hallmarks of a Healthy Department
A. Purposeful Vision
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Ability to articulate the future goals of the department - vision statement
Focus on a common cause - shared vision
What is it that the department needs to achieve/time frame
Why
How
B. Practices Optimism-Hope-Trust
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Vision provides a sense of future to a department - provides hope and momentum
The best of the best
Provides a forward focus for energy
Builds a sense of trust in the community-someone is taking care
Builds trust through clarity and consistency
C. Values People
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Faculty, staff and students are all valuable members of the community
All have an important role in the functioning of the department
Dictates appropriate and respectful relationships - does not tolerate exploitation
Mentoring is natural and valuable
Celebrates the success of others - realizing their success is my success
Knows what members of the community are passionate about
D. Provides Appropriate Boundaries
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Knowledge of policies and procedures (campus, college, department)
Acknowledgement of roles and rules
Consistent application of rules
Set of standards that guide decisions
E. Effective Communication Strategies/Systems
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Keeps people involved and aware of current issues and circumstances
Provides for deliberate and thoughtful messages
Outbox-inbox flow of communication
Members of community listen to one another - respectful rules of engagement
Room for decent
F. Spirit of Cooperation
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Looks outward - Part of a greater community
Reaches out to other departments/units etc.
Provides opportunities for collaboration/health competition
Ethic of shared success
Service mentality
G. Values Diversity
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Values differences in thought, background, experience
Inclusively vs. diversity
Acknowledgement of behavior that impedes members of the community
Ability to listen and reflect on differences and debate these differences respectfully
and thoughtfully
H. Sets and Adheres to High Standards
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Expects the best out of all community members
Holds people accountable
Demands the best while understanding life sometimes interferes
Provides necessary support to members of the community in their efforts to attain
success in teaching, research and service
I. Practice Reflection and Renewal
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Allows for downtime - time to catch one’s breath
Annual performance reviews - required and important
Revisit vision statement - celebrates achievements of past year