Job Description

The Humanities and Social Sciences Department Chair is a 12-month, full-time staff position within the School of Arts and Sciences. Under the direction of the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, this position is responsible for the development, delivery, and management of all Humanities and Social Sciences programs. The Chair acts as a mentor, coordinator, and facilitator for the Humanities and Social Science faculty while carrying out the vision, mission, and goals of the College. The Chair maintains a climate of open communication, collegiality, and teamwork within the department, and actively supports the professional growth and development of the faculty.  The Chair ensures the availability of quality learning opportunities for students, and is the first line of support for student complaints and grievances.  The Chair has responsibility for teaching, curriculum development, faculty assignment, course scheduling, and program review, student learning outcomes assessment, student advising and scheduling, professional development, institutional service, community service, and community relations. In addition to instructional responsibilities, the Chair has supervisory and administrative authority over the full time and adjunct faculty in their area. This individual serves as a liaison among students, faculty, staff, administration, and the community at-large.

Job Duties

·         Teach 15 SHC per year (Typically, 6 SCH in both fall and spring semesters, 3 SCH in the summer term) in a discipline within humanities or social sciences.  

·         Promote quality in learning and instruction by using student-centered principles in leadership, management, hiring, scheduling, evaluation, and professional development.

·         Supervise, mentor, and evaluate department faculty.  

·         Coordinate professional development for Department faculty.

·         Coordinate and oversee the recruitment, selection, contracting, and evaluation of part-time faculty for the department.

·         Coordinate the evaluation of part-time faculty by the department’s peer mentors.

·         Coordinate the development of a student-centered course schedule, ensuring appropriate availability and sequencing of existing courses.

·         Actively support pedagogical innovation in seated and distance instruction; encourage the use of technology within the learning environment.

·         Provide leadership in program review and student learning outcomes assessment.  Annually update and assess program improvement plans.

·         Coordinate the development, implementation, and evaluation of new courses, ensuring appropriate availability and sequencing of new courses.  

·         Participate in developing recommendations for the department budget, including forecasting anticipated budgetary needs for staffing, equipment, and supplies; monitor departmental expenditures.

·         Actively participate in school and college committees and activities and school or college-related community activities and events.

·         Actively participate in student recruitment and retention activities, admissions, advising, and registration activities. 

·         Actively participate in grant prospecting, authoring, editing, evaluation, and reporting.

·         Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with appropriate community stakeholders in support of programmatic and institutional advancement.

·         Demonstrate a high-level of professionalism, innovation, collaboration, and institutional commitment in all actions.   

·         Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs/Chief Academic Officer.