Fort Hays State University is seeking applicants for Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the Professor or Associate Professor rank. The position is a 12-month, tenure-track appointment. The successful candidate must have a distinguished record of teaching, research, and service in the biological sciences with an understanding and appreciation for on-campus and online delivery systems. The Chair will also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, value diversity, have demonstrated leadership experience, and understand the needs of faculty, staff, and students. Women and members of other underrepresented groups (as defined by the National Science Foundation) are encouraged to apply.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Earned Ph.D. in biology or other closely-related field;
- Successfully earned tenure at a regionally-accredited institution;
- Recent record of teaching excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
- Recent record of research accomplishments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Record of academic administrative experience including both fiscal and supervisory responsibilities;
- Experience with student recruitment and retention initiatives;
- Experience in formalized assessment;
- Demonstrated commitment to STEM-related diversity initiatives;
- Record of external funding through grants and/or fundraising;
- Experience with online education;
- Experience supervising graduate-student research.
Rank: Professor or Associate Professor
Appointment Date: July 1, 2021
Priority Application Deadline: November 1, 2020
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Benefits: Competitive benefit package http://www.fhsu.edu/humanresourceoffice/Prospective-Employees/
Responsibilities:
The Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences reports to the Dean of the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics. The Chair is responsible for the overall management and operation of the department, including:
- Management of the department budget and other financial resources;
- Overseeing course scheduling and curriculum management;
- Initiating and facilitating new, high-quality academic programs, certificates, partnerships, and other on-campus or online education opportunities;
- Leading annual program assessment;
- Performing faculty and staff performance and merit reviews;
- Leading student recruiting and retention efforts for the department;
- Promoting inclusion and diversity within the department, college, and university;
- Teaching an average of 3 credit hours per semester, including the summer. Courses may include introductory courses as well as advanced courses in specialized areas, and they may be taught on-campus or online;
- Initiating and facilitating externally funded grants and fundraising;
- Ensuring department initiatives align with University and Regents goals and plans;
- Participating in college and university service activities;
- Engaging in original research.
Application Process: To apply for this position, please https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.
Required Application Documents:
- Cover letter addressing job responsibilities, qualifications, and how the applicant is suited to the position;
- Current curriculum vitae;
- The names and contact information of at least three professional references.
Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.
If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:
Name: Ms. Hilary Gillock
Email: HHGillock@fhsu.edu
About the Department:
The Department of Biological Sciences has 16 full-time faculty members whose areas of expertise span human, plant, animal, and microbial biology, including animal physiology, ecology, ichthyology, genetics, mammalogy, microbiology, ornithology, paleontology, plant physiology, range management, and virology. The department offers an M.S. in Biology (10 GTAs, 4 research fellowships, 2 curatorial assistantships through the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, and 4 assistantships through the Kansas Wetland Education Center) and a B.S. in Biology with broad emphases in general biology, health professions, natural resources, and secondary education. Numerous sub-emphasis curricula are available for students. In addition to instructional lab spaces and mediated classrooms, department resources include a microbiology and molecular biology research lab, extensive aquatic and terrestrial sampling equipment, excellent computing and GIS facilities, outstanding technical support, a 35-acre tract of native prairie, greenhouse, and other related resources. The department is housed in Albertson Hall, which includes fully mediated classrooms and laboratories. The department employs a full-time office manager, and a half-time greenhouse manager. Please visit www.fhsu.edu/biology for more information about the department.
The Biology department maintains close ties with both the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, which holds large collections of plants, insects, vertebrates, and paleontology specimens available for research, and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms, a 41,000 acre prairie marsh ecosystem, located in a naturally occurring basin in the central Kansas mixed-grass region.
About the College:
The Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics was formed in 2015 by bringing together the departments of Agriculture, Applied Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physics. The Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Kansas Wetlands Education Center are also units within the college. The college has 76 full-time faculty, about 1800 undergraduate majors, and 50 graduate students. It also makes significant contributions to the university’s General Education program and to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, which is an early-college program for high-achieving high-school students. Undergraduate students participate in technical, classroom, field, and lab experiences that many schools would reserve for graduate students. Our academic programs are innovative and our facilities are outstanding.
About Fort Hays State University:
Founded in 1902, FHSU is a leading, forward-thinking university of the Midwest, with student enrollment of more than 15,000 (including 4,000+ on the Hays campus, a unique China partnership program with enrollment of 4,000 students, and online enrollment of nearly 7,000). Over 400 faculty and more than 500 professional staff support and guide degree and certificate programs for the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s programs, and for the Doctorate of Nursing Practice, representing 31 departments within these academic divisions:
- College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship
- College of Education
- College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
- Peter Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics
- Graduate School
Fort Hays State University provides exceptional opportunities for students from Kansas, the region, and the world. The University attracts goal-oriented students who want premier learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom, combined with one-on-one attention and support. FHSU students graduate with the knowledge, professional skills, and confidence to have a competitive edge in their chosen careers. Upon graduation, 95% of FHSU students find a job or placement in graduate school.
About Hays, Kansas:
Candidates will discover a locale where professional satisfaction and career achievement are paired with an optimal quality of life. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas, a vibrant, growing community of over 20,000 that takes great pride in the University’s presence. Hays is a celebration of historic and contemporary contrasts, evidenced in its frontier roots highlighted throughout the city and local museums and in its redeveloped downtown area where residents enjoy one-of-a-kind restaurants, unique shopping, and a vibrant arts scene. This community’s commitment to the future inspires Hays businesses to reinvest locally.
A welcoming and family-centered community, Hays offers premier healthcare services, a growing high-tech and retail business community, and excellent Pre-K and K–12 schools in both the private and public sectors. The City of Hays has long been known as a safe community, and the FHSU campus is recognized by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2018 as one of the Top 100 Safest College Campuses in America. For entertainment, recreation, education, employment, or simply for a comfortable place to live, residents of all ages will find in Hays the elements that contribute to a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling lifestyle.
Notice of Non-discrimination:
Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race,
religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.
Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.
Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.