Winter 2026

Department chairs and school directors are responsible for directing the tenure and promotion processes within their units. The process can be challenging and, although procedural problems are rare, they have serious implications for colleagues and the institution.

Join us for a supportive open discussion with experienced chairs as well as the FAUW Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee Chair and the AVP Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism. Topics will include promotion among tenure and teaching stream faculty, as well as considering diversity in scholarship and service. 

Crises—whether global, institutional, or discipline-specific—present complex challenges for academic leaders. While formal crisis management typically resides with senior administration, department Chairs and program Directors remain essential sources of guidance and stability for their colleagues and students. 

Please join us for a session with Dr. Richard Florizone, former President of Dalhousie University and Special Advisor to the President of the University of Waterloo, along with a panel of senior academic leaders. The discussion will examine the particular challenges of academic leadership during periods of significant disruption. Participants will gain practical frameworks for crisis leadership and identify resources to strengthen their units' resilience for future challenges. 

Topics will include: 

• Maintaining academic continuity amid uncertainty 

• Balancing institutional priorities with departmental needs 

• Supporting faculty, staff, and students through crisis periods 

• Aligning unit-level decisions with institutional values and protocols 

• Developing preparedness through strategic relationship-building