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Organizational Communications Program Lead/Asst.Prof.of the Practice

Employer
The University of Kansas
Location
Lawrence, KS

Job Details

Position OverviewKU’s Organizational Communications graduate program is designed for working professionals. The program includes an MA in Organizational Communications as well as graduate certificates designed as standalone programs or add-ons for KU students in a variety of graduate degree programs.

All Professor of Practice positions, regardless of rank, are non-tenured positions appointed for a three year period. Contracts are renewable, based on results from annual performance reviews.

This position serves as the program leader for this academic program, with primary responsibility for program leadership with teaching responsibilities in the program. This is a 12-month, non-tenured position.

This position serves the educational needs of a JCERT program. Specific percentages of effort for JCERT are determined each year.

About the School of Professional Studies:
The University of Kansas School of Professional Studies facilitates social mobility and equity by providing high-quality academic programs, research activities and engaged learning initiatives to meet local workforce, economic and student needs.

This academic unit is dedicated to serving the needs of transfer and nontraditional students, a growing sector of post-secondary enrollment for higher education both nationally and in the Kansas City metro area. The school provides these working professionals and transfer students with critical, in-demand programs to meet the talent needs of employers in the Greater Kansas City area and beyond.

The school offers a variety of disciplines, course formats, class schedules, student services, aid and more to meet the needs of diverse students who may work full-time, have considerable commitments outside of the classroom, have prior college-level education or otherwise need a different approach to earning academic credentials.

Based at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, which has predominately served nontraditional students since 1993, the school is uniquely positioned to offer pertinent programming and expert instruction aided by close ties to area employers and industry experts. Here’s a snapshot of KU Edwards Campus students.
  • 51% undergraduate students, 49% graduate students
  • 52% female, 38% male, 10% did not identify
  • 64% work part-time, 36% work full-time
  • Average student age is 27 years old
  • 31% identified as an ethnic minority
  • 25% were first-generation college students
At the University of Kansas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our culture and university strategic plan. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are encouraged, noting the value that differences bring to our organization, students, staff, faculty, and community. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment. Job Description75% Teaching:

Serve as an instructor in the Organizational Communications Program. This position is responsible for teaching six courses annually, typically three in the fall, two in the spring and one in the summer. The courses must conform to the curricular needs of the program. In addition to teaching courses, the incumbent should be available to students for advising, consultation, and research supervision.
  • Develop and teach six courses each year focused on the current Org Comms curriculum and potential new courses
  • Develop assignments, design class activities, respond to and evaluate student work in a timely manner, assign grades. Adhere to department, college, and university policies.
  • Hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught. A minimum of three posted offices hours each week is required.
  • Work collaboratively with faculty in the School of Professional Studies to ensure that that curriculum continues to meet the needs of our students, school, university, and transfer pipelines.
  • Some teaching time may be used to supervise students involved in internships, practicums, independent research, and/or directed readings.
25% Administration/Service:

The Program Director will be responsible for providing leadership, supervision, and administrative support for the Organizational Communications Program.Program Coordination and Campus Leadership (5%):
  • Course Scheduling: In consultation with School of Professional Studies leadership, coordinates the development of the course schedules with Edwards Campus student needs in mind. Promotes best practices in course scheduling based in part on student feedback. Collaborates with the Academic Support Center and with directors of partner programs for core courses, electives, and KU Core offerings both in terms of semester offerings and time scheduling. Drafts a two or three year course rotation plan for the degree program.
  • Participates on the School of Professional Studies Academic Council.
  • Provides leadership for program planning including the annual review each year.
  • Course Staffing and Supervision (10%):
  • Develops plans for staffing of the courses to be taught with the appropriate mix of faculty (teaching profession, professor of practice, lecturer, GTA). Responsible for overseeing the hiring of lecturer positions.
  • Supervises faculty within Organizational Communications program.
  • Promotes an inclusive team atmosphere for the program and the campus by encouraging and inviting participation of the Organizational Communications program faculty in professional development opportunities and social events from the Edwards Academic and Faculty support center, facilitating the communication of program faculty with the Edwards Campus administration and staff, facilitating communication within the program between faculty to ensure course and program objectives are being met and that student progress is being assessed.
  • Coordinate practicum supervision
  • Coordinate internship expectations and support for students
  • Teaching Quality (5%): Teaching quality; ensures that course curriculum and pedagogy adheres to the School of Professional Studies standards and expectations. Post-degree professional preparation and student needs are also a priority for consideration of teaching quality.
  • Collaborates with Edwards Campus faculty governance and the Academic Support Center to deliver Edwards Campus based teaching improvement programs.
  • Ensures that teaching provides students both theory and practical exposure to the discipline, including guest speakers, service learning, internships, etc.
  • Ensures continued relevance of the curriculum to meet student needs and develops mechanisms to receive consistent feedback from the relevant professional communities in the Kansas City metro area, including advisory board and participation in professional associations.
  • Ensures that program objectives are being met through developing and implementing program-level assessments and measures of student success within and after completion of the program.
  • Oversees elective approvals.
  • Recruitment and Advising (5%): Oversees student recruitment activities in collaboration with the academic success coach. Defines professional career path advising and works with KUEC’s Career and Experiential Learning Program Manager to provide career services to student.
  • Defines coordinated recruitment messages for the program and audiences.
  • Determines enrollment goals and tracks data in relation to these goals.
  • Participates in the development of recruitment plans.
  • Participates in recruitment and orientation activities coordinated by the recruiter/advisor and Edward Campus staff.
  • Provides mentoring for students on career and educational choices.
  • Advises students on job hunting and professional networking.
  • Required QualificationsFor Assistant & Associate Professor of the Practice, the following are the required qualifications:
    1. A Ph.D. in Communications Studies, or closely related field, is expected by the start date of the appointment.
    2. At least one year experience teaching Organizational Communication in higher education.
    Applicants will also need the following for:
    Assistant Professor of the Practice
    1. At least three years experience doing communications, organizational communications or Human Resources work.
    Associate Professor of the Practice
    1. At least five years experience doing communications, organizational communications or Human Resources work.
    Preferred Qualifications
    1. Administrative experience in higher education/
    2. Demonstrated engagement with the organizational communications or HR industry and community partners.
    Contact Information to ApplicantsA complete application consists of:
    • A cover letter addressing how required qualifications are met
    • Resume/CV
    • 3 Professional References
    Incomplete applications will not be considered.
    • Application review will begin Monday, July 15th, 2022 and will continue until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
    In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicant will be presented the following questions at the time of each application. Each response must be within 4,000 characters or less.
    • Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
    Advertised Salary Range$70,000- $85,000 Application Review Begins15-Jul-2022 Anticipated Start Date15-Aug-2022

    Organization

    Working at the University of Kansas 

    Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.

    The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.  

    The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.

    KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.

    Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 

    The University of Kansas is committed to a learning and workplace environment that is representative of our nation and global society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and understands that our multiple differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation, professional excellence and distinction. KU must be a place where all people feel they belong and have access to resources and support that help them attain their educational and professional goals.

    We recognize there are inequalities and privileges generated by historical and persistent intersecting differences by race, ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, abilities, religion, regional background, veteran status, citizenship status and nationality. And we hold ourselves accountable for policies, processes and programs that appreciate these and other differences and create more fair, safe and just learning, working and living environments for KU students, faculty and staff.

    Instruction 

    KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.

    Research 

    The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.

    Service 

    The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.

    International Dimension 

    KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.

    Values 

    The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.

    Our City and State 

    KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.

    Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.

    Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.

    Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.

    Making KU Your Home 

    Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.

    At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.

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