Department Chair Survey

World Languages Department- Raul Gaston

Please provide honest responses on how you feel I'm doing after my first year as Department Chair. I want to make every improvement I possibly can to provide the department the best leadership available. I am fully aware that there is a lot of room for improvement, but I need to focus my areas of growth and your input is vital to me. Thank you for taking the time to provide me with your input. I will share all the results with everyone after the survey is complete.

Raúl Gastón.


  1. Part I.

    The list below describes some responsibilities, which many department chairs pursue. Rate the performance of your department chair over the past school year on each of these by selecting which response best represents your judgment. If you feel you have an insufficient basis for making a rating on a given responsibility, mark the box to indicate omit response.

    1. Guides the development of sound procedures for assessing faculty performance
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Takes the lead in recruiting promising faculty
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Attends to essential administrative details (e.g., class scheduling, budget preparation, promotion and tenure documentation)
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Fosters good teaching in the department (e.g., encourages course updating, use of appropriate technology, attending to student feedback
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Facilitates obtaining grants and contracts from external sources
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Leads in establishing and monitoring progress on annual or biannual department goals.
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Communicates the department’s needs (personnel, space, monetary) to Administration
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Develops collegiality/cooperation among departmental faculty members
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Fosters the development of each faculty member’s special talents or interests
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Improves the department’s image and reputation within the York community
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Sees to it that new faculty and staff are acquainted with departmental procedures, priorities, and expectations
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Guides curriculum development
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Establishes trust between himself/herself and members of the faculty
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Understands and communicates expectations of the administration to the faculty
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Part II.

    To what degree do the items below, represent a “strong point” or a “weak point” of the department chair? Select the box that best corresponds to your judgment. Omit if you feel unable to make a valid judgment.

    15. Stimulates research and scholarly activity in the department
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Excellent   Poor  


  1. Interpersonal skill
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Problem solving ability
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Appreciation for department’s history
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Patience in implementing change
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Honesty
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Practical judgment
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Willingness to listen
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Flexibility/adaptability in dealing with individuals/situations
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Accessibility to faculty
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Fairness
     
      1 2 3 4 5     Omit Response
    Strength  Weakness  


  1. Part III.

    Indicate how frequently each of the following statements is descriptive of your department chair by
    selecting the best statement corresponding to your judgment. Omit items where you feel unable to make a valid
    judgment.

    26. Allocates faculty responsibilities in an effective and equitable manner
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Assists faculty in developing their own goals and priorities
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Makes sound suggestions for developing/changing departmental directions/priorities
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Is easy to understand
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Tries out new ideas with the faculty
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Works without a plan
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Is more a reactor than an initiator
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Treats all faculty members as her/his equal
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Gains input from faculty on important matters
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Explains the basis for his/her decisions
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Puts faculty suggestions into action
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Facilitates positive relationships between faculty
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Encourages teamwork among members of the faculty
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Encourages faculty ownership of a vision for the department
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Tries to learn about each faculty member’s interest, talents, and aspirations
    Almost Always (very descriptive of Dept. Chair)
    More Than Half the Time
    About Half the Time
    Less Than Half the Time
    Hardly Ever (not at all descriptive of Dept. Chair)


  1. Part IV.

    Open-ended Comments

    41. What are the department chair’s main assets?


  1. What reservations do you have about this person as a department chair?


  1. What changes (e.g., in priorities, style, organization, policy) would do most to improve the department chair’s effectiveness?


  1. Please provide any open comments you would like to share about the World Language Department.


  1. Please provide any open comments you would like to share about the World Language Department Chair.





Sr. Raul Gaston
Department Chair/Spanish Teacher
York Community High School
Elmhurst, IL