Chair, Department of Agriculture

Fort Hays State University•Hays, KS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is seeking applicants for Chair of the Department of Agriculture. The position is a 12-month appointment. Depending on qualifications, applicants will be evaluated for tenure and the rank of Full Professor upon hire. The successful candidate must have a distinguished record of teaching, research, and service with an understanding and appreciation for on-campus and online delivery systems. The Chair will also have excellent communication and organizational skills, have demonstrated leadership abilities, and understand the needs of faculty, staff, and students. Future directions for the Department will include conservation and precision agriculture, renovation of the agriculture education program, and explorations of new undergraduate and graduate degree offerings and certifications.

Requirements

Earned doctorate in agriculture or closely-related field
A recent record of teaching excellence
Commitment to student success
Research accomplishments
Service to the discipline and community

Nice To Haves

Successful academic administrative experience including both fiscal and supervisory responsibilities, especially within the field of agriculture
Demonstrated success with student recruitment and retention initiatives
Experience with formalized assessment
Record of external funding through grants and/or donor fundraising
Demonstrated success with online education

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction and vision for the department.
Oversee curriculum development, assessment, and continuous improvement considering holistic student success initiatives and program review.
Ensure programs meet regulatory requirements.
Support innovation in teaching, research, and service activities.
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and colleges.
Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, and evaluate faculty members including merit reviews.
Manage promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review processes.
Coordinate faculty workloads and teaching assignments including course scheduling.
Encourage faculty scholarship, grant activity, and professional development.
Address personnel issues, conflicts, and performance concerns.
Monitor enrollment trends and student retention.
Address student concerns and academic issues.
Assist with student recruitment and outreach activities.
Manage the department budget and other financial resources.
Lead student recruiting and retention efforts for the department.
Teach 6 credit hours per semester and 3 credit hours during the summer.
Initiate and facilitate donor fundraising.
Ensure department initiatives align with University and Regents goals and plans.
Participate in college and university service activities.