Dean - College of Arts & Sciences #000309

Position Summary

WCU seeks a proven leader who understands the complexities of administering and leading an engaged College of Arts and Sciences in a context of shared governance. The Dean of Arts and Sciences is the chief administrative officer and academic leader of the College and is charged with promoting a student-centered culture of academic excellence, diversity, and inclusion in all programs. Candidates should demonstrate success in higher education administration and possess a record of distinction in teaching, administration, and scholarship. The Dean is responsible for overseeing multiple processes including, but not limited to, budgeting, scheduling and assignment of courses, faculty recruitment and hiring, program assessment, strategic planning, space allocation, infrastructure oversight, policy management, and personnel management (including the collegial review process). Other responsibilities include providing effective management and leadership to enable the College to provide excellence in student learning, scholarship, and public service; pursuing both internal and external development to support College initiatives; serving as an effective advocate for the College’s students, faculty, staff, and programs; representing the diversity of programs within the College to foster the College’s and University’s mission of regional engagement; fostering inclusive excellence through recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff, particularly with regard to growing student, faculty, and staff populations from diverse and underrepresented populations in order to better reflect United States demographics; collaborating with other Colleges to develop well-qualified professionals, support Liberal Studies, and support continual personal development and lifelong learning; maintaining sensitivity to staff and faculty viewpoints and seeking appropriate means for addressing faculty and staff concerns in order to create a healthy, cooperative work environment for faculty and staff and to foster faculty and staff development; ensuring equity for staff, students, and faculty; and responding to institutional initiatives from the Office of the Provost.

The College of Arts and Sciences includes over 221 full-time faculty and 24 full-time staff who serve about 2800 undergraduate and graduate students in 12 departments: Anthropology & Sociology, Biology, Chemistry & Physics, Communication, Criminology and Criminal Justice, English, Geosciences & Natural Resources, History, Mathematics & Computer Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Philosophy & Religion, and Political Science & Public Affairs. Its interdisciplinary programs include Cherokee Studies, International Studies, Global Black Studies, Latinx Studies, Environmental Sciences, Forensic Sciences, and a number of programs in secondary education.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a terminal degree from an accredited institution with an academic record that qualifies for tenure at the associate professor or professor level in one of the departments within the College.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred requirements include a leadership history characterized by openness, collaboration, and shared decision-making; a demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of faculty, staff, students, and community partners; successful experience leading an academic unit, for instance, as a Department Head, Dean, or Associate Dean; excellent communication skills; a proven record of teaching effectiveness; a solid record of scholarly achievement; demonstrated skills in budget management; a record of effective personnel management; experience in institutional change to promote inclusion and success of students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented groups; and a knowledge of challenges and opportunities emerging for regional state universities and an ability to lead and manage within this changing environment.

Position Type

Permanent Full-Time

Number of Hours Per Week

 

Number of Months Per Year

12

Posting Text

Open Date

12/17/2020

Close Date

 

Open Until Filled

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please apply online and include the following:
• A letter of interest describing how applicants’ research, teaching, and leadership and administrative philosophies intersect
• Curriculum vitae
• Three references with contact information;
• Unofficial transcripts.

Hard copy application materials will not be considered. For questions or additional information, please contact Catherine Carter @ 828-227-3931 and/or via e-mail at ccarter@email.wcu.edu.

WCU is committed to inclusive excellence and therefore increasing the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students while strengthening the sensitivity to diversity throughout the institution.

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

Credential Verification

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

AA/EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Additionally, the University promotes the realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program.
Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

  1. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. List of references
  4. Unofficial Transcripts

Optional Documents

None

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
    • HigherEdJobs.com
    • Inside Higher Ed
    • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
    • Website - Jobs.wcu.edu
    • Indeed.com
    • Personal Referral
    • Agency Referral
    • Other