The Search for Dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering Kennesaw State University Dean 1
2 The Opportunity Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Computing and Software Engineering. Review of candidate materials will begin on January 14, 2015. It is anticipated that the new Dean will assume office by July 1st, 2015 or soon thereafter. The College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) is located at the Marietta Campus of Kennesaw State University. The Dean of the CCSE reports to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and provides leadership and support in a variety of curricular and administrative activities.
3 The College of Computing and Software Engineering, Yesterday and Today The CCSE offers degree and certificate programs in all aspects of computing, including computer science, information technology and software engineering. The College combines hands-on experience with a thorough grounding in underlying theory, thereby enabling students to apply computing, software engineering techniques, and information technologies in their quest to solve current and anticipated problems. The College also supports scholarly research in all aspects of computing, including computing education, and provides service both to the local and professional community. Approximately 12 years ago, the School of Computing and Software Engineering was established. During that time, it developed undergraduate and master s level programs of study. Beginning January 2015, with the consolidation of Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University, the School is converting to the College of Computing and Software Engineering. In January 2015, the CCSE will be organized into three departments Information Technology, Computer Science, and Software Engineering and Gaming, each one with its own chairperson.
The CCSE also serves non-traditional students: those with baccalaureate degrees in other majors as well as part-time students by offering evening as well as online courses. Academic programs are currently offered in the following disciplines: computer science,information technology, software engineering, and computer game design and development. The programs that have the largest enrollments are the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and the Masters degree in Information Technology. At the undergraduate level, the following degrees are offered: Bachelor of Science in Computer Game Design and Development(ABET Accredited) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: (ABET accredited) Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology Bachelor of Science in Information Technology: (ABET accredited) Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (ABET accredited) Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science At the graduate level, the following degrees are offered: Master of Science in Computer Science Master of Science in Information Technology Master of Science in Software Engineering Graduate Transition Certificate in Computer Science Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering Kennesaw State University Dean 4
5 The CCSE has established Industry Advisory Boards for all academic programs to seek feedback from industry practitioners and strive to remain competitive in the marketplace. Representatives from companies such as Cisco, NextGen, and Georgia Pacific are active on the Industry Advisory Boards. The College has been proactive in building relationships with local business, which has led to internships and employment opportunities for many students. The CCSE is particularly proud of the excellent academic advising support provided to the students. In keeping with the mission of the Marietta campus, every class has a hands-on experiential component. The College has a unique game design and development program in the state of Georgia and recently hosted a Game Jam which attracted more than 500 participants. CCSE s Strategic Plan ICCSE promulgated a strategic plan in February 2008. The plan was used as a guideline as the College moved forward to the fulfillment of its vision and the achievement of its mission. The 2008 strategic plan contained the following key goals: Increase the number of CCSE graduates who are well prepared for work and life to better serve the community; Increase the awareness of computing and its highly dynamic nature among the other disciplines; Increase the visibility of CCSE in the community; Recognizing the highly dynamic nature of computing, secure additional resources to help CCSE achieve its mission; Encourage faculty and student research into all aspects of computing and its applications.
6 In assessing the attainment of the goals listed above, the following positive outcomes should be noted. Faculty members are active in various professional organizations, including ABET CAC, ASEE and the Georgia Game Development Association. They also participate in the Science Olympiad, and the Games for Learning Project. Resources have increased as a result of successful grant applications, as well as increases in donations, tuition income, sponsorships and alumni support. Faculty members have successfully begun securing grant funding from several federal and state agencies. The CCSE is clearly ready for the development of a new strategic plan that will take into account the consolidation and the impact of becoming one of the largest public institutions in Georgia. The new strategic plan will also significantly expand the College s extramural outreach for key grants and contracts supporting research and scholarship activities within all aspects of its academic and professional programing. Faculty members and their students are actively engaged in laboratory and field research. They are also actively publishing their research in peer reviewed publications. Also, many CCSE faculty members have sought to collaborate with faculty from other colleges across campus to develop inter-disciplinary research projects and multi-disciplinary academic programs. The College s student enrollment has been trending upward with a 20% increase of degree seeking students over the past few years. A concern however, is that attrition rates, particularly at the undergraduate level, have increased. A number of strategies such as careful monitoring of course success rates and more targeted advising policies have been implemented. Another area of concern is the diversity of the student population. While it is a national issue, the College is committed to addressing these matters and looks to the new dean to play an active role in strengthening student diversity. While the ethnic make-up of the student population is becoming closer to reflecting the population in the catchment area, gender diversity remains problematic with females accounting for only 14% of the undergraduate student population and 32% of the graduate student population.
7 Consolidation In November 2013, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia announced the consolidation of Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University. The consolidated institution, named Kennesaw State University, is estimated to enroll nearly 33,000 students, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The main campus will be KSU s current campus in Kennesaw, Georgia (Cobb County), which will be home for KSU s existing ten colleges. SPSU s current campus called the Marietta Campus, is less than ten miles away in Marietta, Georgia (Cobb County), and will be a full-service campus of the consolidated KSU.
8 The consolidated KSU will have 13 colleges that offer 139 degrees. More specifically, the institution will offer 82 undergraduate degrees, 39 master s degrees, 8 specialist s degrees, and 10 doctoral degrees in education, business, nursing, and humanities and social sciences. The 13 colleges are Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering & Engineering Technology, College of Architecture and Construction Management, College of the Arts, Michael J. Coles College of Business, College of Computing and Software Engineering, College of Continuing and Professional Education, Leland and Clarice C. Bagwell College of Education, Graduate College, WellStar College of Health and Human Services, Honors College, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, and the University College. 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. The CCSE is the largest of the 3 colleges located on the Marietta campus, which are the College of Architecture and Construction Management and the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineeing and Engineering Technology. There are approximately 2700 majors in computer science in both the undergraduate and graduate student population. Approximately 6,700 students study at the Marietta campus, with student representation from 36 states and 64 countries. The Marietta campus is located on 203 acres of naturally wooded landscape in the historic and vibrant city of Marietta, just 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta.
9 Qualities and Qualifications The Dean will be a passionate and persuasive advocate for the College in acquiring resources needed to accomplish established goals. The Dean shall work collaboratively with the KSU leadership team to develop resource solutions that will provide broad benefits to the College from both internal and external sources. KSU and CCSE seek a dynamic leader who has the personal characteristics and professional experiences/capability to lead the College as it merges the cultures and personnel of the two campuses and continues to grow in new and innovative ways. As the chief academic officer, the Dean will provide outstanding academic and administrative leadership for the CCSE and will have a key role in articulating, building support for, and leading the effort to achieve a compelling vision for the College within the broader context of Kennesaw State University. The Dean will have an extraordinary opportunity to shape a distinctive College incorporating a range of progressive academic programs in computing and software engineering disciplines. The new Dean must be able to collaboratively work with external constituencies in both industrial and professional domains. The Dean will guide and expand the continuing contribution of the College to the economic vitality of its citizens and taxpayers in Georgia and the U.S. The success of the new College hinges on the new Dean s ability to create a supportive environment enabling its faculty to achieve high levels of extramural grant and contract activity throughout the College s academic programs, while also leading its faculty in high-level teaching, scholarship and research.
10 Required Earned doctorate (Ph.D. preferred) in computer science or a related discipline and eligible to serve at the rank of a tenured professor at KSU in one of the College s departments Record of scholarly success in generating extramural funds, particularly grant and contract funding preferably from multiple sources Dynamic, creative, visionary and entrepreneurial leader who has situational and people awareness, and a willingness to understand the broader environment A minimum of five years administrative experience in the U.S. Work collaboratively with faculty, staff and administration to move the College forward during a time of change Strongly Preferred Leadership experience in higher education Record of scholarly success in peer-reviewed and high-level publications Familiarity with ABET accreditation processes and guidelines Familiarity with industry s needs and practices and the ability to partner with U.S. industry and the private sector Commitment to integrity and building trust through shared governance Effective management and budgetary skills Effective communicator Ability to establish and maintain the trust and respect of the students, faculty and staff Understand and appreciate the delivery of career-focused professional programs in higher education Experience in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan Experience in effective online education to, e.g., enable non-traditional students to achieve their full potential Proven record of successful collaboration with/accomplishment within the private sector U.S. Citizenship
11 Application Procedure Dr. Charles Amlaner, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College, chairs the Search Committee, which will begin to review applications in mid-january 2015. The Search Committee expects to conduct neutral-site interviews in early March, and plans to invite finalists to campus in late March/ early April. We plan to conclude the search with 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 e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word to: ccsekennesaw@academic-search.com. These materials should include a reflective letter of interest addressed to Dr. Amlaner 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/cv and the names and current phone numbers 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. For full consideration, applications should be received by January 14, 2015. 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) 380-9195, and Mac may be contacted mas@academic-search.com and (614) 582-5622. Please visit the CCSE website at http://www.spsu.edu/collegecse/index.htm for more information.
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. Kennesaw State University Dean 12