Communication strategies needed for the specific responsibilities of college and university department heads are presented. Each chapter first describes communication strategies useful in handling an administrative task, and then uses real-life case studies to demonstrate their applications in typical situations. Readers are guided through a series of questions and exercises enabling them to participate in the needed analysis, decision-making, and problem-solving. Contents include communication issues and strategies, a series of cases, and case analysis exercises that apply to these tasks: structuring the department mission; enhancing the department climate; defining department ethics; conducting performance counseling; managing conflict; implementing change; working with the dean; building alliances; and promoting the department. An index of cases by higher education issue and administrative task covers such issues as: academic dishonesty, affirmative action, alumni relations, collegiality, crisis management, delegation of duties, department climate, development/fundraising, due process and individual rights, faculty complaints and grievances, governance issues, instructional quality, merit pay, performance counseling, productivity, promotion and tenure decisions, and scientific misconduct. (Contains 24 references.) (MSE)