The Administrative Leadership Team (ALT) is comprised of the Departmental Administrators in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. ALT meets monthly to discuss administrative issues across the college, receive updates, provide feedback, and facilitate training for administrative staff.

The Role of the Departmental Administrator

The Departmental (or Unit) Administrator provides strategic operational oversight and is the highest-level administrative staff member for their department. They are responsible for ensuring operational stability, structure, and continuity. They work closely with the Departmental Executive Officer (DEO) to advise on and implement strategic priorities, manage special projects, troubleshoot issues, build an inclusive and positive environment, and ensure that policies and procedures are followed. They are responsible for the staff and staffing structure, as well as for managing the administrative needs and daily operations for the department. The Department Administrator oversees functions related to human resources, finance, facilities, information technology, and marketing and communications. As such, they serve as a key liaison with stakeholders across the college and university.

Expectations of the Administrator

Operations                                                                                                                          

  • Manage administrative functions
  • Manage curricular planning and understanding of degree-specific programs, accreditation standards, community engagement
  • Ensure deadlines are met and policies and procedures are followed
  • Delegate duties and special projects

Staff Leadership

  • Organize and develop staff to meet departmental needs
  • Conduct performance reviews of direct reports
  • Lead and supervise staffing structures within area and oversee the staff merit raise review process

Strategic Planning

  • Provide strategic leadership and partnership to DEO
  • Implement departmental strategic plan
  • Support departmental review procedures

Human Resources

  • Oversee appointments, terminations, and other HR transactions
  • Provide guidance and resolution on HR issues
  • Manage processes for faculty and staff reviews, promotion and tenure, and searches
  • Serve as liaison with CLAS HR

Finances

  • Oversee budget management and development
  • Ensure financial compliance
  • Communicate financial information to faculty and staff
  • Serve as liaison with CLAS Accounting, Grant Accounting, and UICA

Marketing and Communications

  • Support implementation of marketing plan 
  • Manage access to department-specific communications channels (e.g. website, social media, Dispatch email client, etc.)
  • Ensure unit communications follow university brand guidelines and policies
  • Serve as unit liaison with CLAS Marketing and Communications

Information Technology

  • Ensure departmental technology needs are met
  • Serve as liaison with CLAS IT

Facilities

  • Oversee departmental spaces, including building coordination and oversight of departmental centers. 
  • Serve as liaison with CLAS Facilities Manager and Facilities Management

Key Areas of Responsibility 

Each classification of the Administration (PA) job function has the same six key areas of responsibility (KARs). The KARs represent the Departmental (or Unit) Administrator job and further amplify how the role of the administrator may vary from classification to classification. Those key areas of responsibility are:

  1. Operational Support and Management
  2. Human Resources (HR)
  3. Financial Responsibility
  4. Strategic Planning
  5. Information Management
  6. Communications Management