Definition
A faculty member who draws the short straw and becomes responsible for administrative duties, budget battles, and mediating colleague disputes while still expected to teach and research. It's middle management with none of the corporate perks and all of the academic egos.
Example Usage
As department chair, she spent more time resolving scheduling conflicts and filling out administrative paperwork than doing her own research.
Origin
Position formalized as universities grew and departmental structures developed in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
Fun Fact
Many department chairs receive minimal compensation for the role—sometimes just a single course release—leading to the position being described as 'all responsibility, no authority.'
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “department chair” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator