INTERNAL ONLY Chairperson-Professor

University of Kansas•Lawrence, KS

24d

About The Position

The Chairperson-Professor leads the Department of Mathematics and is responsible for its operations, including oversight of departmental units and activities. The Chair executes faculty decisions, presides over department and Executive Committee meetings, liaises with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and other University offices, administers the departmental budget, and represents the Department to CLAS and other University entities. The role oversees faculty and staff evaluation, merit salary recommendations, promotion and tenure processes, faculty appointments, support-staff hiring and reviews, personnel matters, and departmental grievance procedures. The Chair also leads long-range planning across teaching, hiring, mentoring, research, and service; oversees unit activities including outreach; seeks external funding; administers undergraduate and graduate programs; develops relationships with University units and external organizations; and implements College and University policy. The position is divided equally between chair responsibilities (0.5 FTE) and faculty responsibilities (0.5 FTE). As a faculty member, the Chair teaches two courses per year in their area of specialty, mentors undergraduate and/or graduate students in research, supervises graduate teaching assistants as assigned, and serves on graduate student committees. The faculty role also includes scholarly research and regular publication and conference presentations, along with service to the home unit, College, University, state, and profession. The appointment is for approximately five years, through June 30, 2032, with possible renewal subject to satisfactory performance. Compensation consists of an academic-year salary, an administrative supplement, and summer salary, as determined by the Executive Dean of the College. The position is not covered by a union agreement. Applications are due November 12, 2026, and review begins November 13, 2026.

Requirements

Tenured appointment in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the rank of Full Professor or Associate Professor; the qualifications also specify the rank of Full Professor.
Demonstrated ability to serve as an academic leader and team builder, developing and enhancing research and educational relationships among faculty and between the unit and affiliated units.
Teaching experience at both undergraduate and graduate levels and commitment to teaching excellence.
Strong scholarly record, including an established research program with promise of continued productivity.
Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills, maintaining civility and respect among faculty, staff, and students.
Excellence in administrative and management skills.
Commitment to interdisciplinary and international scope in teaching, research, and service.
Experience with KU and KUCR administrative procedures.
Experience seeking outside funding and managing multiple projects.
Approachable professional style and understanding of differences among students and faculty.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the operation of the Department of Mathematics and its units and activities.
Execute decisions of voting faculty and preside over Department Faculty and Executive Committee meetings.
Serve as liaison between the Department, CLAS, and other University administrative offices; represent the Department to these entities and report to CLAS.
Administer the Department's budget.
Evaluate departmental faculty annually in consultation with the Executive Committee and Instructional Faculty Evaluation Committee.
Calculate and recommend merit salaries for tenure-line and instructional faculty, and supervise merit recommendations for support staff and graduate teaching assistants.
Initiate promotion and, where applicable, tenure processes; make recommendations to the Dean based on eligible faculty votes; and recommend support-staff promotions.
Initiate faculty appointment processes, supervise support-staff hiring and reviews, and adjudicate personnel matters, including serving as the Department's administrative representative in grievance procedures.
Lead long-range departmental planning for teaching, hiring, mentoring, research, and service in consultation with relevant departmental bodies.
Provide oversight and leadership for departmental activities, including outreach, and seek external funding to enhance unit resources.
Administer the undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
Develop research and educational relationships with other University units and with governmental, public, or private external agencies.
Implement College and University policies within the Department.
Teach two courses per year in the faculty member's specialty.
Mentor graduate and/or undergraduate students in research, supervise graduate teaching assistants as assigned, and serve on graduate student committees.
Conduct scholarly research, publish appropriate peer-reviewed books and articles, and present at professional conferences regularly.
Provide service to the home unit, College, University, state, and profession.