The School of Design within the College of Arts & Sciences at South Dakota State University invites applications for the position of Director and Associate/Full Professor. The Director of the school will work collaboratively with faculty to provide visionary leadership for the unit; to enhance the overall quality of teaching, research, and service; and to work effectively with university administrators, the Dean of the college, and the rest of the college’s leadership team. The Director will supervise faculty and staff, manage budgets, and plan, develop, and implement programs and services that meet the continually evolving needs of students. SDSU actively seeks to increase the social and intellectual diversity among its faculty and staff. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The appointment will begin no later than August 22, 2018.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities include planning, organizing, and managing all school resources, including fiscal resources, in a manner that advances the mission of the unit. The Director will manage the curriculum and oversee accreditation efforts. The Director will be expected to promote and represent the school’s programs through an active agenda of outreach. In addition to administrative responsibilities, the Director will have limited but regular teaching duties, will be expected to maintain an appropriately active program of research and scholarship, and will serve the college, university, discipline, and community.

REQUIRED (MINIMUM) QUALIFICATIONS:

• Earned terminal degree in a discipline represented within the school;
• Hold at minimum the rank of Associate Professor, and be eligible for tenure according to the university’s standards for tenure and promotion;
• Evidence of strong potential for leadership in higher education, which can include but is not limited to: Department Head or Chair experience; Program Coordinator experience; active engagement with faculty governance; and departmental, institutional, or professional organization leadership/service suggestive of leadership ability;
• Documented record of excellence in teaching;
• Design portfolio demonstrating a record of peer-reviewed scholarship and/or creative activity;
• Demonstrated effective written communication skills; and
• Demonstrated effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience as a Department Head/Chair or Assistant Department Head/Chair;
• Experience with student recruitment and retention;
• Demonstrated commitment to mentoring faculty at all ranks;
• Experience with instructional technology and distance learning;
• Experience with accreditation procedures; and
• Demonstrated fluency across design disciplines.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

This system will guide you through the electronic application form. This employment site will also require the attachment of four documents: 1) a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a reference page with the contact information for three professional references; and 4) a portfolio in PDF format featuring professional and student work or a URL link to an online portfolio (20 slides/pages maximum). Additional materials may be requested from finalists. Please contact SDSU Human Resources at (605) 688-4128 if you require assistance with the electronic application process. Email applications will not be accepted.

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including, but not limited to, a criminal background check.

Formed in 2015, the School of Design represents the leading edge of a revitalization of the liberal arts at South Dakota State University, fostering a collaborative teaching and research environment that values cross-program and interdisciplinary initiatives. Its faculty and students collectively believe that the difference is design. The school grants the BFA in Graphic Design, Studio Art, Interior Design, Architecture, and Art Education, the BLA in Landscape Architecture, and the MArch in Architecture. These programs combine for approximately 400 undergraduate students and 20 students pursuing the Master of Architecture degree. The school employs 27 full-time faculty members, a full-time professional advisor assigned to the school, and three full-time staff members. All programs are either currently accredited or are seeking accreditation by their national accrediting body. The school occupies facilities located in McFadden Biostress Lab, Wagner Hall, a new Architecture, Math and Engineering building, and Grove Hall, home of the Ritz Gallery. The university and college have invested heavily in providing state of the art equipment and facilities for the design disciplines. In its short time, the School of Design has already established itself as a regionally-prominent center for design disciplines. It is expected that the Director will continue the school on its trajectory, making it the destination of choice for students seeking professional careers in art and design.

UNIVERSITY/COMMUNITY:
SDSU is a land grant institution and the state’s largest institution of higher education with an enrollment of approximately 13,000 students. SDSU is located in Brookings, South Dakota, a community of approximately 22,100 near the east central border of South Dakota on Interstate 29. The city has an excellent K-12 education system, is accessible to major medical facilities, has an active cultural and social environment, and has numerous lakes and parks within driving distance. It is 50 miles north of Sioux Falls, a city of 200,000.

South Dakota State University is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its faculty, staff and students.
Women, veterans, persons with disabilities and minorities are encouraged to apply. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing HR@sdstate.edu. SDSU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other protected class in the offering of all educational programs and employment opportunities. Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007. Phone: (605) 688-4128.

For questions on the position, contact Search Chair, Jason McEntee at (605) 688-5191 or Jason.McEntee@sdstate.edu.