Bethlehem, PA DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES POSITION SPECIFICATION December 2010
THE OPPORTUNITY Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Lehigh University seeks a candidate who will provide leadership and articulate a vision for a dynamic, growing, multifaceted liberal arts college the largest of four colleges within a highly selective research university. Potential candidate should have strong scholarly credentials, demonstrated administrative skill, and commitment to teaching, diversity, and the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarship for the position of the Herbert and Ann Siegel Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. More information about Lehigh University and the College of Arts and Sciences dean search can be found at www.lehigh.edu/casdeansearch. LEHIGH UNIVERSITY: AN OVERVIEW Lehigh is an independent, nondenominational, coeducational institution located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (50 miles north of Philadelphia and 75 miles southwest of New York City). The university community is an integral part of the greater Lehigh Valley, home to a diverse economy and a population of 750,000 people the third largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania. Founded in 1865 by railroad entrepreneur Asa Packer, the university includes 4,781 undergraduates, 2,270 graduate students, 463 full-time permanent faculty, and 1,209 staff. Undergraduates come from every state and U.S. territory and more than 50 other nations. Lehigh ranks 37th among 262 national universities in U.S. News and World Report's 2011 America's Best Colleges. Mission Lehigh University is dedicated to excellent, innovative undergraduate and graduate teaching and distinguished scholarship. Lehigh University s new strategic plan will fulfill our mission of teaching, research, and service, build upon our foundational strength in turning theory into practice, and broaden recognition of Lehigh as a premier residential research university of international distinction. The university offers undergraduates a broad spectrum of disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs, emphasizing involvement in research and practical experience across the curriculum. The university has a strong legacy of research and scholarship reflected in a wide range of graduate programs. Organizational Structure Lehigh University's four colleges are the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Education, and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. The four deans report to the provost and vice president for academic affairs, who is the chief academic officer of the university. The deans are responsible for academic
programs within their respective colleges and for creating partnerships across college boundaries. The provost and senior non-academic officers report to the president. Visit the dean s search web site for an organizational chart of Lehigh University and a number of other candidate resources at www.lehigh.edu/casdeansearch. Lehigh and the Community Since Lehigh University first opened its doors in 1865, it has been inextricably tied to South Bethlehem, the City of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley region. Rich in history and steeped in cultural tradition, the area continues to be an outstanding home for the university, which derives much of its inspiration and enthusiasm from its neighbors. Lehigh s students, staff and faculty are committed to helping the community invigorate its neighborhoods, redefine economic prosperity and address a full range of critical social issues. Already deeply entrenched in the community, Lehigh strives to be a good neighbor and a partner in the renaissance of Bethlehem. In fact, more than $1 million worth of community service is contributed annually through the 50,000 hours volunteered by members of the Lehigh community. As an institution, Lehigh remains committed to providing an educational and experiential environment for our students as well as the community. We are an open campus and invite those throughout the greater Lehigh Valley to participate in university programs, attend the myriad of free lectures hosted throughout the year, take in an art exhibit or musical performance, and cheer for the Mountain Hawks at Lehigh athletic events. More information on Lehigh University and the neighboring community may be found at its web site: www.lehigh.edu/communityaffairs. The College of Arts and Sciences As Lehigh s largest college, the College of Arts and Sciences is home to the social sciences, arts, humanities, and natural sciences. With 1,800 undergraduate students, 500 graduate students, 225 full-time permanent faculty and 75 professional staff, the college is comparable in size and offers the intimacy of a liberal arts college, yet benefits from the resources of a research university. Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are accomplished scholars, artists, and writers. They are recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in their fields and share a commitment to integration of teaching and scholarship into innovative, dynamic curricula set in an intellectually diverse environment. Faculty pursue a rigorous agenda of scholarship and applied research to advance the limits of knowledge, promote innovation, and transform theory into practice. Much of this work is cross-disciplinary, with expertise being drawn from across the college's 18 academic departments and 22 interdisciplinary programs. This diverse approach to research is exemplified by Lehigh s new STEPS initiative, an $85 million program that bridges the scholarly work of faculty and students in engineering and the natural and social sciences in the areas of science, technology, environment, policy and society. Whether their focus is on probing the practical applications for nanotechnology, examining biodiversity through the world s fastest evolving invertebrate, chronicling the history and development of Asian cultures, or exploring global opportunities to expand social entrepreneurship, faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences integrate discoveries that redefine
our views of the world with experiential learning to provide students with learning opportunities found at few other universities. Visit Lehigh s College of Arts and Sciences web site at http://cas.lehigh.edu to view the breadth of programs across the college. Undergraduate and graduate programs prepare students to anticipate and lead change, to view challenges as opportunities, to turn knowledge into action, and to make a difference in the world. The college seeks to maximize student growth and development while placing the individual in the broader context of human culture and the natural world. THE ROLE OF THE DEAN The Dean of Arts and Sciences will join a dynamic university that seeks the best faculty, students and programs. In that context, the dean's primary role is to: Promote a vision for the College of Arts and Sciences across the full range of the liberal arts at the undergraduate and graduate levels; Provide creative and innovative leadership for the college and the university in scholarship, academics, and service; Raise the national and international profile of the college as a leader in learning, innovation, and creativity. In addition, we are seeking a leader with the following qualities and qualifications: Administrative experience: Readiness to manage a large and complex unit within a dynamic university; Academic leadership and vision: Ability to articulate a compelling shared vision for the college and within the university, and to engage others in its implementation; Possess the academic stature, credentials and intellectual gifts that earn the respect of the academic community: Candidates must qualify for a tenured appointment as professor in one of the departments of the college; Commitment to outstanding faculty and programs: Capacity for building the strength and diversity of the faculty and staff through recruitment, retention, evaluation, and advancement; Broad understanding of the liberal arts: A firm grasp of the distinctive issues faced by the arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences; Educational excellence: Commitment to building outstanding academic programs that attract excellent faculty and staff members, and strong students; Fundraising skill: Enhance the development of resources through active participation in fund-raising; Sophisticated resource management: Capacity to manage a variety of resources toward the goal of enhancing the full range of academic programs of the college;
Personal qualities: Integrity, creativity, intellectual curiosity, flexibility, and stamina. PROCEDURES FOR CANDIDACY Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Candidates should provide a cover letter detailing their interest in and qualifications for the position in the context of the themes outlined above, along with a curriculum vitae. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout the search process. Please send nominations and applications to: casdeansearch@lehigh.edu. Materials that cannot be sent electronically may be mailed to: Lehigh University College of Arts and Sciences Dean Search Committee c/o Ms. Patricia A. Mann, Administrative Director Lehigh University Office of the Provost 27 Memorial Drive West Alumni Memorial Bldg. Bethlehem, PA 18015 For full consideration, materials should be received by February 1, 2011. Lehigh University provides comprehensive benefits including partner benefits. Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.