Department Chairperson - 12 MONTH

University of Arkansas System•Little Rock, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

UA Little Rock invites applications for chair of the Department of History. The chair will lead an award-winning faculty in furthering the department’s academic programs, supervising personnel, managing finances, and maintaining classrooms, offices, and technology. Chairs work under a 12-month contract and may serve in this role as associate or full professors. The chair reports directly to the dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education and represents the department in college and university meetings and in public appearances with external stakeholders. The department currently enrolls approximately 100 undergraduate history majors in the university’s main and online campuses, as well as 25 graduate students in its public history program. This position is governed by state and federal laws and institutional policies.

Requirements

PhD in history with no preference for expertise
Rank of associate or full professor at current or previous institution
Established record of excellence in teaching, research, and service, as well as administrative experience at the department or college level
Ability to teach courses that will complement the department’s current offerings
Commitment to defending and upholding academic freedom
Commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and intellectual curiosity in all students
Active listening skills for diverse audiences of faculty, students, and external stakeholders
Excellent oral and written communication skills with diverse audiences of faculty, students, and external stakeholders
Leadership style that invites collaboration, growth, and improvement among faculty and students
Ability to troubleshoot technology and navigate software in an academic setting
Self-motivated, responsible, and able to work with minimal direct supervision
Proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment

Nice To Haves

Experience as an academic program coordinator, department chair, or school director
Experience with academic advising for undergraduate and/or graduate students
Experience with online teaching
Experience in attracting external funding and collaborating with a development office in support of academic programs
Experience with serving nontraditional and first-generation students in an academic setting
Experience with supervising theses or thesis projects for graduate students in a history or public history program
Experience with Workday and/or other student information systems
A history of community outreach, as UA Little Rock is a community-engaged institution in a metropolitan setting

Responsibilities

Facilitate clear communication between the dean’s office and department
Follow personnel procedures as outlined in the department bylaws
Oversee the maintenance of classrooms and office spaces
Conduct academic advising as needed
Engage with external stakeholders and the development office
Oversee technology needs for classrooms and faculty
Oversee department personnel and budget matters
Prepare course schedules that serve students and equitably distribute work among faculty
Prepare reports as requested by the dean, provost, or chancellor
Recruit adjunct instructors for undergraduate and graduate programs
Represent the department in public and university settings and collaborate with other campus units, including other departments or schools, advising, admissions, financial aid, student records, procurement, facilities management, and security
Support department efforts in curriculum development and program assessment
Other duties as assigned by the dean, provost, or chancellor