Dean of the Honors College

West Virginia University ( the state’s flagship university, invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Honors College. The Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Honors College and reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs of West Virginia University. The Dean is responsible for the leadership and management of the College.

The West Virginia University Honors College provides Honors courses and co-curricular activities for approximately 2000 high-achieving undergraduate students. First-year Honors students are eligible to reside in the Honors College residence hall. Honors College activities are designed to support students as they become independent, creative, and self-motivated learners. Students are challenged to “think beyond the textbook” and are assigned authentic, real-world tasks that provide them with opportunities to use the professional skills and knowledge they will need in graduate school and in their careers. Honors students are urged to conduct independent research in their fields, participate ininternships, study abroad, and engage in civic service in their community.

The Dean of the Honors College will have the opportunity to implement a revised and expanded vision of the role and functions of the Honors College that includes facilitation of campus-wide services and opportunities for all high-performing and intellectually adventurous students as well as delivery of two focused Honors programs for qualified students.The Honors College will host, facilitate, and sponsor opportunities for extraordinary undergraduate activities that enrich, supplement, and guide all interested students from across campus toward academic excellence, regardless of their Honors College status.The Honors College will also provide Honors programs utilizing a two-part structure, including distinct admission standards, requirements, and services for students in the first two and last two years of their undergraduate careers.The Honors College will provide a combination of academic enhancement and social community experiences for all Honors College students, and a pervasive focus on the role of the land-grant universityand service to the state of West Virginia in selected honors activities and opportunities. The Dean will play a pivotal role in developing these new programs and in developing an expanded administrative structure for the College.

Founded in Morgantown in 1867, West Virginia University is a public land-grant university. It is ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as having high research activity, and it is the largest provider of higher education, research, and service in the state. Fall 2014 main campus enrollment is 29,175 (22,563 undergraduate, 5,001 graduate, and 1,611 professional) students in 191 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs supporting many multidisciplinary centers and projects, including health-sciences disciplines and a nationally recognized hospital. WVU’s tradition of academic excellence is evidenced by the number of Goldwater, Rhodes, and Truman scholarships awarded to its graduates. More information about the University is at about.wvu.edu.

Morgantown and its suburbs have approximately 150,000 residents. It has been ranked as the “No. 1 Small City in America” by BizJournals.com. Business Insider names Morgantown the 9th best college town in America. Other recent rankings include Kiplinger.com –10 Great Places to Live; Sporting News – Best Sports Cities; Forbes – 5th Best Small Metro; Inc. – Hottest Small City; Kiplinger’s – 50 Smartest Places to Live; and Forbes – 2nd Best College Town for Jobs. In addition to being a great place to live and work, Morgantown provides easy driving to many major metropolitan areas, including Pittsburgh (1 hour), Washington, D.C. (3½ hours); Columbus, Ohio (3½ hours), Philadelphia (5 hours), New York City (6½ hours), and Chicago (8 hours).

QUALIFICATIONS

West Virginia University seeks a dynamic academic leader with the ability to guide the Honors College successfully. This individual should possess the leadership skills, organizational abilities, commitment, and energy needed to address the programmatic and technological challenges of a 21st century Honors College.Salary is nationally competitive.

Candidates will be expected to have the following qualifications:

  • a terminal degree (at the master’s or doctoral level, depending on field) and established record as an exceptional teacher and scholar or comparable professional achievement meriting appointment as a tenured professor in a department or discipline within the University;
  • at least 2 years prior administrative service with demonstrated ability to work effectively in a leadership capacity with faculty, staff, students, and administrators in an environment of shared decision-making and governance;
  • demonstrated skills in fiscal management and strategic planning;
  • strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills;
  • strong commitment to enhancing the undergraduate educational experience;
  • demonstrated understanding of the roles and mission of a land-grant Institution;
  • ability to foster multidisciplinary collaboration throughout the University;
  • ability to relate effectively to a variety of internal and external constituencies;
  • commitment to community, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

APPLICATIONS

Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least five references. Review of applications will begin February 15, 2015, and continue until the position is filled. Applications will be kept confidential during the initial screening of candidates.The appointment is expected to begin July 1, 2015.

TO APPLY, go to: jobs.wvu.edu

Click on “Non-Classified” and choose “Dean of the Honors College.” Scroll to the bottom of the ad and click “Apply Now” to complete the registration form and upload the required application documents.

All nominations should be sent to ith subject line: HONORS DEAN.

West Virginia University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff and students, and invites applications from all qualified individuals, including minorities, females, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.Meeting the needs of today's professional couples is a critical factor in WVU's success in recruiting and retaining new faculty and senior staff. Our Dual Career Program assists couples in your employment search. WVU belongs to the OH/Western PA/WV Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). Please visit dualcareer.wvu.edu and ohwpawvherc.org for more information and job postings.