Job Summary

The College of the Arts at Columbus State University invites applications and nominations for the Alan F. Rothschild Distinguished Chair of Art position within the Department of Art. Reporting to the Dean for the College of the Arts, the Department Chair provides the stewardship, strategic direction, and vision for enhancing the image and viability of a growing art department. This position is eligible for tenure, beginning July 1, 2019.

Offering four (4) undergraduate degrees including a B.A. in Art History and Studio Art, a B.F.A. in Studio Art and a B.S.Ed. and a M.Ed. in Art Education, the Department of Art has recently added tracks in both animation and graphic design. With thirteen (13) full-time and four (4) part-time faculty and uniquely positioned on the University's RiverPark campus in the revitalized Uptown area of Columbus, the NASAD-accredited department has experienced enrollment growth of 20 percent in the last two years.

The Department of Art enjoys facilities considered among the finest in the Southeast, featuring state-of-the-art educational, studio, gallery, and performance spaces positioning Columbus State to be a premier destination for art students from across the region.

The College of the Arts and the RiverPark Campus represent a significant emphasis on the arts, collaboration, community partnerships, and excellent private funding establishing the University as a vibrant presence in the historic city center contributing to urban renewal, sustainability, and a progressive cultural environment. For additional information, please visit our website: www.ColumbusState.edu/art.

Responsibilities

Department Leadership

• Be a visionary leader who understands the role of and possibilities of a 21st-century art program.
• Work with faculty, students, and staff to establish and maintain a long-term vision for the department that is consistent with the departmental, college, and university missions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to excellence in the study and practice of art, shared governance, collegiality, and a willingness to engage faculty in strategic planning and decision-making.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal, written, electronic, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Promote a dynamic teaching environment that exemplifies the highest standards of a creative teaching community.
• Demonstrate success in outreach and engagement with local and regional civic arts and community organizations.

Department Curriculum

• Be conversant in and able to navigate diverse disciplines such as animation, graphic design, art history, art education, and studio arts.
• Have a contemporary knowledge of how technology both influences and changes the world of visual communication.
• Oversee curriculum development and revisions for the department.
• Foster transdisciplinary collaboration and interdisciplinary study within and among disparate colleges at CSU and universities nationally and internationally.
• Promote and support active learning strategies which increase student engagement in the learning process.

Department Operations

• Provide executive financial oversight of the Department of Art, including a comprehensive understanding of the budget and other resource allocations in support of the Department's mission, vision, and strategic planning.
• Manage course schedules that serve program and student needs.
• Engage in fundraising collaboration with the Dean and University Advancement, and provide leadership for a well-established Friends of Art and other support organizations.
• Manage course registrations and instructor assignments.
• Recruit, retain, and manage a diverse, inclusive and supportive faculty cohort, staff, and graduate and undergraduate student body.
• Demonstrate commitment to serving diverse student populations, first-generation, and non-traditional students.

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. or M.F.A. or the equivalent terminal degree; teaching and scholarship to warrant eligibility for a tenured appointment as associate or full professor; administrative experience in a discipline related to art, design or art history; excellent communication skills; and a track record of advanced leadership accomplishments including a demonstrated ability to lead a collaborative department.

Required Documents to Attach

Application materials should be submitted by the target date of January 21, 2019, although expressions of interest may be considered until the position is filled. Nominations and applications will be held in confidence. Applicants must have the ability to meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requirements. Columbus State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to diversity in hiring. A complete application package must be uploaded to the CSU Employment website.

Required Documents to Submit with Online Application:

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application (Outlining background and qualifications for position)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial Transcripts (Official transcripts from all institutions attended must be received prior to campus visit)
• Leadership Philosophy
• Teaching Philosophy
• Examples of professional scholarly work (20 images of professional work for a studio artist/a sample of recent scholarship for an art historian)
• Five professional references with current contact information

All applications and required documents must be submitted using the Columbus State University's online employment site.

About Us

Columbus State University provides a creative, deeply personal and relevant college experience. The University aspires to have faculty and staff reflect the rich diversity of its student body and the Columbus region. Serving the Southeast while attracting students from around the world, Columbus State thrives on community partnerships to deliver excellence for students who want to achieve personal and professional success in an increasingly global environment. Students at Columbus State University find success in a learning environment that both challenges and mentors them. Our academic mission is to engage students in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in, and contribute to, a pluralistic, complex world. Just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, Columbus State University is a proud member of the University System of Georgia, enrolling more than 8,400 students in a wide variety of degree programs, from online degrees to a doctorate in education. Among public regional universities in the South, Columbus State University recently ranked No. 46 in the "Best Colleges" rankings by U.S. News & World Report and No. 1 in the "Best Online Colleges in Georgia" for providing the best opportunities and value for students seeking online training and educational programs by the Affordable Colleges Online.

Columbus State University has a nationally recognized track record of partnership and outreach through efforts such as the Cunningham Center for Leadership Development, Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center, and its own residence - the Spencer House - in Oxford, England. The University has two primary campus locations in Columbus, Georgia: the original campus on 150 acres in midtown Columbus and a beautiful campus in historic downtown Columbus overlooking the Chattahoochee River. The Columbus region, with more than 350,000 residents, is home to world-class enterprises such as Aflac, Synovus, W.C. Bradley Company, TSYS and Ft. Benning, the U.S. Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence headquarters. For additional information about the University visit our website at www.ColumbusState.edu.

Contact Information

All confidential inquiries and questions may be directed to: Dr. Ronald Wirt, Interim Chair, Department of Art, Columbus State University, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907; or email to wirt_ronald@columbusstate.edu.

Conditions of Employment

A successful criminal background check will be required as a condition of employment.