Procedures for nominations of heads of department

In accordance with the changes to the Appointments Committee's terms of reference (agreed 7 June 2006), nominations for heads of department/ heads of institute will in future be submitted to the Director. Heads of Department are required to put the nomination in writing to the Director, with a short justification, to be discussed as part of the Director's annual meetings with Heads of Department

Heads may wish to note that the 3 May 2006 Heads of Department Consultative Forum agreed that the professorial contract should include acting at some stage as head of department/ head of institute. The 'Further particulars' section of all chair appointments will in future include this. The LSE role profile for professors also includes activities when acting in the role of head of department/ head of institute.

In very exceptional circumstances, a non-professorial head of department/ head of institute may be appointed in departments/ institutes where there is more than one professor but where leave entitlement and other commitments make it difficult for a professor to assume the role of head of department. In these circumstances a reader or a senior lecturer may be appointed to act as head of department/ head of institute. Such a person will, while s/he is head of department/ institute, be a member of the Appointments Committee, but will not be eligible for membership of the Promotions Committee.

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