Aaron Ettinger, Carleton University I’d never laughed with joy at a student presentation before. Usually, any amusement while grading arises from some malapropism or logical leap that only an undergraduate could construct. But this was different. My delight came from an exquisitely selected YouTube clip that was embedded in online presentation, submitted as part of…
Kerry F. Crawford, James Madison University Leah Cathryn Windsor, The University of Memphis Colleges and universities in the United States are desperate to “return to normal” after three semesters of teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty, staff, and students have weathered all the disruptions, challenges, and stress that accompany the effort to carry…
Robin Kolodny • Temple University Click Here to Download the complete Department Chair Quarterly. I’ve been asked to write about how chairs might best use their time over the summer. This suggests you have free time (!). Still, most of us do have a moment when the email requests slow down, and you can take…
Steven Rathgeb Smith • American Political Science Association Click Here to Download the complete Department Chair Quarterly. Greetings! I hope you and your family are healthy and OK in these challenging times. I am grateful for the opportunity to update you on programmatic developments at APSA, especially as it pertains to the concerns and priorities…
Phillip Ardoin • Appalachian State University Click Here to Download the complete Department Chair Quarterly. Completing the annual evaluation of faculty is one of the most important responsibilities of a Department Chair. The annual evaluation impacts faculty merit pay and is a critical role in a faculty member’s tenure and promotion process. While the role…
Melissa Michelson • Menlo College Patricia Stapleton • RAND Corporation Click Here to Download the complete Department Chair Quarterly. The discipline of political science and academia more generally continue to evade fully realizing gender equity. Women are disproportionately burdened with service commitments, experience systematic bias in their student evaluations of teaching (SETs), and face institutional…
Cammy Shay • Houston Community College Click Here to Download the complete Department Chair Quarterly. The shocks of the pandemic can color the way we reflect on the experiences of the past 16-months. Still, without sounding too Pollyannaish, I’ve considered the constructive lessons we’ve learned in my department after being thrust into the new—and completely…
Henrike Lehnguth • University of Maryland, College Park Jenny Wüstenberg • University of Maryland, College Park This essay originally appeared in the Political Science Educator’s December 2006 edition. Ask any college teacher about the global awareness and knowledge displayed by his or her undergraduates and you will likely receive a response rife with frustration. A…
The Challenge We have all stared into it: the black boxes of indifference as we lecture on the past and present lessons of political science. Virtual teaching and learning can be tedious and dry at times. Even when the subject matter is compelling, students may still be apprehensive to participate in class because of a…
What is critical pedagogy? How do political science educators address identity, race, class and sexuality in the classroom? How and what materials do we bring to the political science classroom to encourage students to make connections and see themselves in the world? And how does our own identity as political science educators influence our decision…