Director of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Associate/Full Professor

University of Kansas•Lawrence, KS

12d

About The Position

Liberal Arts and Sciences (LA&S) offers a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS), a minor in Digital Cultures and Methods, and two graduate degree programs in Leadership Studies, serving over 200 students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) at KU. The position directs the LA&S degree programs, with particular focus on the BGS program, and is a tenured professor in the College. It provides a critical link between the College Dean’s Office and the students served by LA&S. The administrative Director position is limited term through June 30, 2032, and is tied to the selected faculty member’s current rank. The role is allocated 50% to program direction and 50% to regular faculty obligations. The Director provides oversight and leadership for LA&S activities, including program planning, course scheduling and staffing, coordination with other campus units, curriculum development, student advising and communication, supervision of instructors and staff, assessment, policy implementation, and representation of LA&S to the College and University. The faculty portion includes teaching and advising, research, and service. For tenured faculty, the allocation is 20% Teaching/Advising, 20% Research, and 10% Service. The faculty member teaches in their specialty, advises and mentors students, may supervise graduate teaching assistants, participates in committees evaluating student progress, conducts and disseminates scholarly research, and provides service to their home unit, the College, the University, the state, and the profession. This position is open only to KU faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. It is not covered by a union agreement and is not represented by United Academics of KU, AAUP, or AFT.

Requirements

Be a tenured faculty member in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Hold a terminal degree in a liberal arts and sciences field from an accredited university.
Have university teaching experience and a commitment to teaching excellence.
Demonstrate effective communication skills and the ability to manage interpersonal relations while maintaining civility and respect among faculty, staff, and students.
Be a KU faculty member in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; the position is open only to such faculty members.
Provide a letter of application describing work and educational experiences, a CV documenting accomplishments and productivity, previous teaching evaluations or other evidence of teaching excellence, and information from three professional references.

Responsibilities

Provide oversight and leadership for all LA&S activities.
Administer program planning, including course scheduling, course staffing, coordination with other campus units, and development of a two- or three-year course rotation plan.
Lead curricular development for LA&S degree programs to ensure curricula serve student needs and provide appropriately structured, broad-based training in liberal arts and sciences.
Collaborate with Jayhawk Academic Advising to advise and mentor LA&S students on educational and career choices.
Maintain regular communication with majors, including welcome letters, information about scholarships and job opportunities, campus events, and a spring graduation event.
Supervise and review LA&S instructors and staff.
Oversee LA&S assessment, including academic program reviews and annual KU degree-level program assessment.
Execute College and University policies in LA&S.
Represent LA&S and report to CLAS, and represent LA&S to other University entities.
Teach courses in the faculty member’s field of specialty.
Advise and mentor students, including providing directed readings.
Supervise graduate teaching assistants, as assigned.
Serve on committees that supervise and evaluate student progress.
Conduct scholarly research, publish appropriate peer-reviewed books and articles, and regularly present papers at professional conferences.
Provide service to the home unit, College, University, state, and profession.