Department Chair (EXPIRED)

The University of West Georgia Department of English and Philosophy invites applicants at the rank of Associate or Full Professor to serve as Department Chair beginning July 1, 2020. We are looking for an active scholar of either English or Philosophy to provide vision and leadership for a multi-faceted department; area of expertise is open. Candidates should have a record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and administration.

 The Department of English and Philosophy offers undergraduate degrees in English, English Education, and Philosophy and an MA in English. The department also houses several minors, including Creative Writing, Religion, and Literary Studies; provides support for interdisciplinary minor programs including Film Studies and Africana Studies; and offers a certificate in Publishing and Editing. The department includes 64 full-time faculty and three staff members; it also oversees the University Writing Center. 

UWG embraces diversity and inclusion, recognizing the valuable contributions of each member of our faculty, staff and student body. Our individual differences generate a collective strength that expresses our values and beliefs. We value every member of our community not in spite of but because of our differences in age, color, creed, education, ethnicity, gender expression, national origin, physical and cognitive ability, race, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, and veteran status. We strongly encourage applicants who will enrich our diverse community.Therefore, applicants should describe in their cover letter how their scholarship, teaching, and service contribute to diverse communities.

UWG is less than an hour from Atlanta, a thriving metropolis that has recently become the third largest filming location in the country. In fall 2018, 35 percent of all 13,733 undergraduates identified as African American, 7 percent as Hispanic/Latinx, and 3 percent as two or more races. The city of Carrollton, Georgia, with a population of about 26,500, is 30 percent African American and 14 percent Hispanic/Latinx. The University of West Georgia is an equal opportunity employer and supports the needs of dual career couples with a Dual Career Opportunities Program which assists relocating spouses and significant others with job searches.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in the field, rank of Associate or Full Professor, tenure eligibility.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in academic administration.
• Proven record of scholarly achievement.
• Demonstrated excellence in and commitment to undergraduate teaching.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds.

English & Philosophy Department Chair’s Duties

The Chair provides vision, direction, and support for the department as a whole while overseeing and facilitating its diverse operations. They cultivate vital relationships across the university and the community.  

• Oversee department budget with assistance of budget manager.
• Facilitate curriculum evaluation and modifications. 
• Work with faculty to articulate and implement a vision that ensures the department’s vitality and safeguards its values; update policies and practices in keeping with the landscape of contemporary higher education.
• Oversee recruitment to the English and Philosophy majors.
• Evaluate all department members annually and assess faculty for purposes of promotion and tenure.
• Recruit, hire, and supervise limited-term instructors and adjuncts with Associate Director of First Year Writing; appoint search committees for tenure-track hires and interview finalists on campus.
• Schedule, set agendas for, and conduct regular department meetings; attend department committee meetings as relevant or necessary.
• Appoint and supervise departmental directors and committee chairs.
• Supervise and evaluate department’s administrative assistants.
• Advocate on behalf of the department and its needs to other levels of the administration. Serve as liaison between faculty and upper administration.
• Resolve conflicts between students and faculty; field grade appeals in cooperation with Associate Chair.
• Roll out annual Engage West survey results and oversee discussion and implementation of resulting annual goals.
• Coordinate assessment of operations and student learning outcomes. 
• Work with University Advancement on fundraising.
• Initiate, manage, and support department work on various University System of Georgia academic initiatives.
• Teach classes.
• Serve as the public face of the department.

It is the policy of the University of West Georgia to follow federal law in regards to affirmative action and equal opportunity. The University of West Georgia’s affirmative action program and related policies are developed in compliance with Executive Orders 11246 and 11375, as amended; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Sections 503 & 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II) and their implementing regulations; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as it amends 38 U.S.C. 4212.

Please be advised that should you be recommended for a position, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents policy requires the completion of a background check as a prior condition of employment.

UWG is a qualifying employer under the Department of Education Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). This program provides student loan repayment and forgiveness for qualifying loans for eligible full-time employees. See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more information.