Position Announcement
Chair
Department of English
Languages and Literatures
College of Liberal Arts
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of English Languages and Literatures. The College of Liberal Arts is the largest college at the University of Minnesota, with nearly 15,000 undergraduate students, more than 2,000 graduate students, 550 faculty, 400 instructors, and 560 staff.
The Department of English is among the largest departmental units in the CLA. The scholarship and other creative work and teaching of English faculty cover a broad range that includes literature, language, creative writing, literacy and rhetorical studies, linguistics and cultural inquiry, as well as the theories and documents that inform and critique these disciplines. The department offers the B. A., M. A., and Ph.D. in English and the M.F.A. in creative writing and serves more than 6,000 students each year.
For further information about the Department of English Languages and Literatures and the College of Liberal Arts, please visit the web sites below:
The College of Liberal Arts values diverse cultures, experiences, and perspectives as key to innovation and excellent education.
Duties/Responsibilities
The chair, in collaboration with the faculty and the college, is expected to play an academic leadership role in charting the future development of the department. The chair also serves as the chief administrative officer of the unit with responsibility for department operations, budget, and personnel, and represents the department to the college and the larger community.
In addition to faculty responsibilities for research/creative activity, teaching, and service, the chair is expected to:
- lead the department in strengthening its programs in literary studies, language, and creative writing to ensure excellence and innovation in creative work, scholarship, and teaching;
- ensure an effective undergraduate and graduate curriculum that serves students from across the University of Minnesota;
- enhance the intellectual community that supports the development of faculty, students, and staff;
- assist with the recruitment, development, and retention of outstanding faculty, students, and staff;
- work closely with faculty and programs across the humanities;
- promote and maintain a multicultural environment that enhances and nurtures diversity;
- pursue an active agenda of fund-raising and development.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential Qualifications
- Ph.D. in English or related field (e.g., Comparative Literature, Rhetoric, Film Studies, American Studies), or an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.
- Distinguished record of academic achievement (scholarly research or other creative work, teaching, and service) that satisfies the criteria for holding an appointment with indefinite tenure in the Department of English Languages and Literatures at the University of Minnesota.
- Demonstrated effective leadership experience in a liberal arts college or large research university.
- Evidence of success in teaching and advising graduate and undergraduate students.
- Commitment to building and maintaining a strong, diverse community of faculty, students, and staff.
- Demonstrated success in creating collaborative relationships.
- Strong communication skills.
The Department of English Languages and Literatures is highly interdisciplinary and encourages scholarship in a wide range of fields.
Candidates will be evaluated according to the overall quality of their academic preparation and scholarly and/or creative/artistic work, evidence of their commitment to teaching and skills as a teacher, evidence of their academic administrative leadership skills, and the strength of recommendations.
Terms of Appointment
This is a 100%-time position holding both a faculty appointment and an administrative appointment. The faculty appointment is a 9-month academic year appointment at the rank of professor with tenure, consistent with existing collegiate and University policy. The administrative appointment is a 12-month appointment at the rank of chair (with faculty rank); the initial term of the administrative appointment is for three years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional three-year term. The position will begin as early as 1 July 2010, but no later than 31 August 2010. Salary is competitive. A 9-month base salary is attached to the faculty appointment; a 12-month administrative augmentation is attached to the administrative appointment.
Application Instructions
Application materials must be submitted online. Materials to be submitted online include:
- letter of application referring specifically to this search and describing your:
- current scholarly research and/or other creative work;
- teaching philosophy;
- administrative experience;
- commitment to and past engagement with issues of multiculturalism and diversity.
- current curriculum vitae;
- one sample of published scholarship or creative work;
- names and addresses of three to five references who may be contacted by the search committee.
To be considered for this position please visit the employment requisition for this position on the University of Minnesota's employment web site and follow the application instructions.
Additional application materials, including letters of recommendation and/or letters of external evaluation may be requested by the search committee or hiring authority at a later date.
The position will remain open until filled. The search committee will begin reviewing applications on 30 November 2009. For additional information or questions about the application process, please contact the Office of the Associate Dean for Faculty, at clafclty@umn.edu or (+) 612-624-9839.
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Date of posting 21 October 2009