Job Title: Department Head (Communication Sciences & Disorders)
Location: Valdosta State University
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 256646
About Us

As a comprehensive institution of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is a welcoming, aware, and vibrant community founded on and dedicated to serving our communities’ rich and diverse heritages. Through excellence in teaching, basic and applied research, and service, VSU provides rigorous programs and opportunities that enrich our students, our university, and our region. As such, the VSU mission consists of three interrelated parts that includes a student mission, university mission and regional mission. The university is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity and citizenship. As members of this community and proud Blazers we strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University. VSU is proud to have a highly diverse student body and we are seeking to recruit and retain outstanding candidates who exhibit a clear commitment to diversity and inclusion and who will enhance the diversity of our faculty and staff.

Job Summary The Dewar College of Education and Human Services seeks applicants for a tenure track administrative faculty position in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders beginning July 1, 2023 . The position is tenure earning and rank will be either associate or full professor and is dependent upon credentials and qualifications. The Department Head is responsible for directing and participating in the teaching and other functions of an academic department and will also function as the program director for the Master’s program.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs. These include the B.S. Ed. Degree with a major in Communication Disorders, the M.Ed. Degree with a Major in Communication Disorders (accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), and the SLPD, Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

The department is home to the vibrant Valdosta Speech and Hearing clinic that serves as a training facility for students and provides state-of-the-art treatment and evaluation to individuals of all ages in our region. In addition, the program partners with the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia to support and administer the RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders where students work alongside faculty to provide dyslexia evaluations and interventions to help school-age children improve their language and literacy skills.

Finally, the department houses a grant that supports the delivery of services through Babies Can’t Wait, Georgia's statewide interagency service delivery system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families.

Review of completed applications will begin May 1, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. For more information about the department visit https://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/education/communication-sciences-and-disorders/. For more information regarding the position, contact Dr. Kate Warner, Search Chair, via email kwarner@valdosta.edu.

Responsibilities Supervisor Expectations

Reporting directly to the Dean, the department head is responsible for the overall day-to-day functions of the department and serves as its primary spokesperson and advocate. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Hire, manage, and evaluate faculty and staff members in the department;Conduct regular departmental meetings;Foster a positive department environment that supports excellent teaching, scholarship and service;Establish a collaborative department vision and agenda that is aligned with the university and college mission and strategic plans;Schedule classes and sections for each faculty member in each academic semester;Support students through mentoring, overseeing internships and providing an outstanding curriculum;Teach necessary courses throughout the fiscal year;Participate in research and scholarly activities;Attend required conferences, including discipline and accreditation related events;Support experiential learning activities, including undergraduate and graduate research and clinical experiences;Facilitate curriculum reviews to maintain excellence and align with accreditation requirements;Participate in College Executive Committee meetings, monthly Council of Department Heads meetings, and events that sustain the life of the university, like commencement and awards ceremonies;Serve as program director for the master’s program;Serve as the Budget Manager for the department.

Typical Allocation of Duties

Teaching and scholarship - 30%
Teach classes and conducts/presents research in the employee's academic discipline.

Recruit and supervise - 20%
Recruit and supervise the work of full- and part-time faculty and staff. Evaluate the work of faculty and recommend faculty for tenure and promotion.

Curriculum development - 20%
Coordinate the development of department curriculum, courses, and schedules. Oversee clinical programs as appropriate.

Administrative functions - 20%
Direct the department's business and administrative functions.

Student services - 10%
Coordinate the delivery of student services within the department.

Required Qualifications

Doctoral degree in Speech Pathology;Licensed or eligible for licensure in Georgia as Speech Language Pathologist; Hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology from ASHA;A record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service; A record of progressively responsible and relevant leadership experience;Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, as well as scholarship; Commitment to diversity and inclusion; A demonstrated awareness of current trends in higher education & communication disorders and a commitment to innovation in teaching and learning; Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; A commitment to shared governance and a consultative leadership style; Experience working with clinics or internships that train students and provide services to the public.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with grant writing and extramural funding; Record of successful outreach to community; Experience with faculty evaluation and promotion and tenure processes; Experience with preparing annual CAA in Speech Language Pathology program reports; Experience with the CAA accreditation process; Experience as a department head.

Proposed Salary

Salary commensurate with experience.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Position May Require Credit Check (if using P-Card, working with Cash, etc.).

Position Requires completion of VSU’s Annual Compliance Training course (such as State Business Transactions, Drug Free Workplace, Anti-Harassment Policy, Introduction to Information Security, Workers Compensation, Motor Vehicle Policy, USG Ethics Policy, Conflict of Interest/ Outside Activities Policy, Leave Procedures for Faculty and Staff, Georgia Open Records Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and Contracts 101. Supervisory positions require training in FMLA and Worker’s Compensation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Valdosta State University is an Equal Opportunity educational institution and has a strong institutional commitment to diversity and inclusion. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to minorities and individuals with disabilities. Valdosta State University has a non-discrimination policy that includes sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, and veteran status.

Other Information

VSU reserves the right to:

• View social media outlets
• Check references at any point during the search process
• Shut down a posting without additional notification.

Background Check

• Position of Trust + Credit

Accommodations

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings, apply for a job on this site, or participate in the search process as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Catherine Wills, in the Office of Human Resources at croark@valdosta.edu.