Director for School of Communication

Title: Director for School of Communication
Employee Classification: Director
Division Name: Academic Affairs
College/Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Department: School of Communication
Campus Location: Normal, IL

The School of Communication at Illinois State University invites applications for the position of School Director to begin July 1, 2024.

To be considered, applicants will hold a doctorate in Communication or a related discipline, an active research agenda, an established teaching record, and successful administrative experience commensurate with the rank of Professor or Associate Professor. Applicants should have at least three (3) years of administrative experience at the department/school, college, and/or university level and demonstrate oral proficiency in the English language, as mandated by state law.

The School of Communication seeks a dynamic Director, supportive of the faculty’s diverse research, teaching, and service contributions and who fosters a collegial atmosphere supporting the School’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. The Director administratively leads a comprehensive and diverse program of research, teaching, and outreach, manages the budget, facilitates development/fundraising activities, supervises and manages personnel, engages with alumni and other external bodies, and demonstrates fiduciary responsibility to the School. The Director works with other unit leaders and administrators to advance the School’s vision and mission, optimize school resource needs, and promote the School and College with local, state, national, and international organizations.

The director role also includes supervising academic Area Coordinators in Communication Studies, Journalism, Mass Media, and Public Relations; the Director of the master’s program; and the supervisors of the co-curricular entities of WZND student radio, TV-10 student television, The Vidette student newspaper, the student Forensics Union, the Social Media Analytics Command Center, and the Communication Innovation Center. The ideal candidate is an outstanding interpersonal communicator, can both lead and delegate, values student, faculty, and staff success, and has a vision for advancing the goals of the School of Communication.

The mission of the School of Communication is to enhance the State of Illinois' societal and economic conditions by providing comprehensive undergraduate and graduate degrees, research, and service initiatives that are at the cutting edge of theory and translate into viable applications.

The School of Communication is committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. ISU recognizes that a diverse faculty, staff, and student body enriches the educational experiences of the entire campus and greater community. Within the School, we foster this through a commitment to the three Cs of Climate, Culture, and Community. Candidates who have experience working with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students and who can contribute to the climate of inclusivity are especially welcome to apply. Women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and people of color are encouraged to apply.

The position is a twelve-month tenured appointment. The salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience. A competitive comprehensive benefits package is included. The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

School of Communication

The School of Communication is comprised of approximately 25 tenure-line professors, 20 instructors, and 10 civil service and administrative/professional staff members. The School serves over 700 undergraduate students, offering degrees in Communication Studies, Journalism, Mass Media, and Public Relations (CEPR accredited program) and minors in Communication Studies and Mass Media. The School also serves nearly 60 graduate students through its master's degree in Communication. The School has research and graphics computer labs, a Communication Innovation Center (CIC) and a Social Media Analytics Command Center (SMACC), the internationally recognized WZND LPFM 103.3 (student radio), and high-definition television station (TV-10) with daily live newscasts and entertainment programming. A variety of active student co-curricular organizations are promoted, including Lambda Pi Eta, Black Communication Association, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Association for Women in Communications, Student Television Workshop, Foxtail Film Festival, and the Documentary Project. For more information about the School, faculty, and programs, visit https://communication.illinoisstate.edu/about/ .

Illinois State University

Illinois State University http://www.illinoisstate.edu , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois. There are approximately 21,000 students in the six colleges of Illinois State University. In our most recent strategic plan, Educate ∙ Connect ∙ Elevate , we have committed our resources to realizing seven core values: Learning and Scholarship, Diversity and Inclusion, Respect, Collaboration, Individualized Attention, Civic Engagement, and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our University being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. Also, visit the University’s metrics of excellence at (http://illinoisstate.edu/pointsofpride/ ).

Bloomington-Normal Community

Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems and citizens’ high educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreation, health care, vibrant fine arts scene, job growth, economic opportunity, historic sites, and low crime rates. SmartAsset ranked Bloomington IL, in the top 20 of the most livable cities in the U.S. (2022). Zippia named Bloomington, IL, as #1 on their “Happiest Cities” list (2020), and Best Choice Schools listed the area on its “30 Small College Towns with Great Quality of Life” (2020). Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis, two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis, and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield; many of these locations are accessible from Bloomington-Normal via the Amtrak located one block from ISU’s campus. For more information on our community, please visit (http://visitbn.org/ ).

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

1) Must hold a doctoral degree in Communication or related disciplines, with academic achievements in both scholarship and teaching that merit appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor.
2) At least three (3) years of administrative experience in the department/school, college, and/or university level.
3) Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with faculty, students, staff, administrative colleagues, alumni, and/or professional communities served by the School of Communication.
4) Significant record of research and teaching excellence, demonstrated leadership abilities, and commitment to shared academic governance.
5) Must be able to demonstrate oral proficiency in the English language as a requirement for this position, as mandated by state law.

Varies

July 1, 2024

1) Cover Letter,
2) Curriculum Vitae,
3) Statement of Administrative Philosophy (1-3 pages),
4) Statement of Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (1-3 pages),
5) Service Statement (1-3 pages),
6) Statement of Teaching Philosophy (1-3 pages),
7) Research Statement (1-3 pages), and
8) Names and contact details of three references.

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

For full consideration, applications should be received by December 15, 2023. Review of applications will begin immediately after and continue until the position is filled.

Search Committee Chair:
Dr. Christopher Gjesfjeld ([email protected])

Human Resources:
Michelle Klunke ([email protected])

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383 . The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311 .