Dean of University College

Transcription

1 The Search for Dean of University College 1

2 The Opportunity Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the University College. Review of candidate materials will begin on January 14, It is anticipated that the new Dean will assume office by July 1st, 2015 or soon thereafter. Kennesaw State University s (KSU) University College is a leader among the cluster of university colleges focused on promoting academic excellence and student success throughout the undergraduate experience. The Dean of the University College (UC) reports to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and provides leadership and support in a variety of curricular, co-curricular, and administrative activities. UC collaborates with the Division of Student Success and other units to ensure outstanding support services for students at KSU, including advising, orientation, and special student support initiatives. 2

3 One of ten academic colleges at KSU, UC is an innovative academic college that promotes student success through both curricular and co-curricular initiatives and programs. It is the home of two academic departments and the Center for Student Leadership. The Department of First-Year and Transition Studies provides interdisciplinary seminars for first-year and transfer students, administers the learning communities program, and teaches the university s digital literacy course. It also offers a master s degree in First-Year Studies. The Department of University Studies offers a bachelor s degree in Integrative Studies (with a track in General Studies) and an undergraduate certificate in Leadership Studies, while housing essential academic success programs such as Learning Support and Supplemental Instruction programs and services. UC emerged as a natural response to KSU s commitment to student success and the University s commitment to the unique needs of students in transition. Additionally, the College was envisioned as an entity to provide integrated and select aca-demic interdisciplinary programs and coursework. Kennesaw is an institution that has enjoyed national recognition for its first-year curricular and co-curricular initiatives and one that has long demonstrated its emphasis on undergraduate students. KSU s first-year seminars and learning communities program are the foundation for the University s nationally recognized First-Year Experience, which has been featured in U.S. News & World Report s America s Best Colleges listings for 11 consecutive years. The Master of Science in First-Year Studies, a fully online degree program that is the first of its kind, is also housed in the Department of First-Year and Transition Studies. 3

4 Background UC was established in Fall 2004 in order to ensure a more seamless and centralized experience for all KSU undergraduate students by building on the collaboration between the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Student Success and Enrollment Services (SSES). The visibility of UC was raised across the campus when the Department of First-Year Programs received the Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Program Award in Also laudatory was the selection of Dr. Katherine Kinnick, professor of communication and Director of Pre-College Programs, to receive the Distinguished Professor Award, the University s highest award. 4

5 University College Today UC is distinct in several important facets. It offers curricular and cocurricular initiatives to challenge and support students from their first day on campus through commencement. UC serves a large majority of KSU s undergraduates through its first-year seminars, transfer student seminars, Senior-Year Experience courses, Leadership Studies courses, and academic support services like the Math Lab and Supplemental Instruction. While UC is proud to have its own majors, it is focused on ensuring student success for all KSU s undergraduates. It is also interdisciplinary, serving as a model for colleges of the future as it develops innovative curricular, co-curricular programs and high impact educational practices. The Department of First-Year and Transition Studies is an interdisciplinary department dedicated to fostering the success of first-year college students and other students in transition. A nationally recognized leader in the emerging discipline of First- Year Studies, the department is home to the firstever graduate program in First-Year Studies. The department offers high-impact curricular initiatives such as first-year seminars and learning communities, as well as co-curricular initiatives such as First-Year Convocation and a Common Reading Program all of which are designed to contribute to the success of students entering and progressing through the University. In the academic year, Kennesaw State University s First-Year Seminar Program received the University System of Georgia s highest annual honor for teaching excellence among departments and programs at the system s 35 member institutions. KSU was also named one of 12 founding institutions in a project called Foundations of Excellence in the First Year of College by Dr. John Gardner and the Policy Center on the First-Year College Experience. 5

6 The Department of University Studies focuses on student success through services such as the Senior-Year Experience, the English as a Second Language Study & Tutorial Center, the Math Lab, Learning Support Programs, and Supplemental Instruction. UC s first degree program, the custom-designed Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies, is administered through University Studies and produced its first graduate in Although the degree program is designed to serve a select number of students who are interested in a custom-designed degree with a General Studies track, the program boasts more than 50 graduates each year. The Department also offers a Leadership Studies Certificate. These unique course offerings provide a competitive edge to students seeking more from their college experience. It is anticipated that the number of students graduating from this program will increase substantially in future years. UC is the academic home for the Center for Student Leadership and its myriad of co-curricular and extracurricular programs and activities including the Thrive program, a year-long opportunity for HOPE-eligible first-year students to gain leadership skills while focusing on academic success strategies and community engagement. In fact, every program in UC is designed to promote student engagement while ensuring progress toward graduation. UC is also the home of the Office of Orientation and Transition Programs (OTP) and First-Year and Undeclared Advising Services (FYUAS). The programs and services offered through OTP include new student orientations, parent orientation programs, the off-campus extended orientation camp, and a myriad of other programs and services supporting the needs of students in transition. FYUAS is the central academic advising hub for all first-year and undeclared students. Beyond advising, FYUAS assists students with their initial adjustment to the University and facilitates connections between students and the academic department of their major. In Fall 2015, KSU s UC will offer a fully online graduate degree program in First-Year Studies. The M.S. in First-Year Studies will equip participants with the knowledge of the transitions that first-year students face to prepare them to design, manage and deliver both curricular and co-curricular programs to help first-year students succeed. This new degree will encompass the theory and study of factors affecting the initial college experience, including foundations of students transitional experiences and research on various programs that promote a successful transition. 6

7 UC works collaboratively with the other academic colleges, the Division of Student Success, the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, the Institute for Global Initiatives, and the Provost s Office to provide interdisciplinary programs and services designed to enhance the college experience for all KSU undergraduates. Consolidation In mid-january 2015, KSU will consolidate operationally with Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) located in Marietta, Georgia, which is about ten miles from Kennesaw. With about 33,000 students, the consolidated KSU will be one of the largest universities in the United States. The combined research productivity of the new KSU at official consolidation in January 2015 will have a combined $30,500,000 grant and contract portfolio with approximately $14,000,000 annual research expenditures in the KSU Research and Service Foundation. Postconsolidation, UC will extend its services to the Marietta campus, which will continue to be the academic home for more than 6,700 students in STEM fields as well as architecture, computer science, construction management, digital writing, information technology, and media arts. Organizational Structure The Dean oversees all UC responsibilities including strategic planning, budgeting, new and existing degree programs, global education, and personnel. In addition to a number of administrative staff, direct reports include an assistant dean, a department chair for University Studies and a department chair for First Year and Transition Studies. UC has exemplary faculty and staff who are dedicated to placing students at the center of teaching, research, creative activities, and professional service. Approximately 70 full time faculty members and staff, including a number of tenured full professors from a variety of disciplines are housed in UC as are approximately 73 adjunct faculty members and part-time staff. 7

8 Qualities and Qualifications The successful candidate will be an energetic, accomplished and visionary leader, bringing a combination of professional capabilities and personal qualities that will enable him or her to address the opportunities and the challenges that exist for UC and the consolidated KSU. Required Earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution Outstanding record of achievement in teaching excellence and scholarly activities which would qualify for tenure at the rank of full professor Minimum of five years of academic administration, including management of personnel and budget, evaluation of academic programs, and assessment of student learning outcomes Strongly Preferred Experience as an effective department chair or equivalent Demonstrated success in a leadership position, especially during major institutional restructuring, or operational change Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners and foster community engagement Ability to work effectively across both campuses Commitment to shared governance Evidence of commitment to diversity Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Experience with innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, including online education Evidence of success in grant writing and/or external resource acquisition Demonstrated success as a scholar/practitioner 8

9 Application Procedure Dr. Valerie Whittlesey, Associate Vice President for Curriculum, chairs the 8-member Search Committee, which will begin to review applications in mid-january The Search Committee expects to conduct neutral-site interviews in early March, invite finalists to campus in late March/early April, and to conclude an appointment by mid to late April. The successful candidate would assume office during the summer of 2015; some flexibility on the start date is possible. To apply, candidates should send the following required materials as an attachment in Microsoft Word to com. These materials should include a reflective letter of interest addressed to Dr. Whittlesey that discusses how the candidate meets the desired characteristics and his/her background in relation to the challenges and opportunities described above. Applicants should also submit a current resume and the names and contact information of at least five professional references (they will be called at a later, semi-final stage with the advance consent of the candidate). Letters of nomination are welcome but not required. The search committee would like to receive applications by the end of January Kennesaw State is assisted by Ms. Maya Kirkhope and Dr. Mac A. Stewart of Academic Search, Inc. in Washington DC. Maya can be contacted at mrk@academic-search.com and (703) , and Mac may be contacted mas@academic-search.com and (614) Please visit the University College website at for more information. 9

10 Kennesaw State University, a member of the University System of Georgia, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and/or veteran status. Georgia is an open records state. 10