Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number FAC - VA - 25011

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Brett Gunnink at 406-994-5783, bgunnink@montana.edu

or

Julie Heard at 406-994-4373, jheard@montana.edu

Classification Title

Working Title Dean, College of Letters and Science

Brief Position Overview

Montana State University invites applications, nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences.

Faculty Tenure Track Yes

Faculty Rank Full Professor

Position Number 4B5162

Department College of Letters & Science

Division College of Letters & Science

Appointment Type Faculty

Contract Term Academic Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Contract Type MUS

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

Montana State University invites applications, nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Dean of the College of Letters and Science.

Faculty and staff in the College of Letters and Science embrace Montana Sate’s land-grant mission and excel in all areas of teaching, research and outreach. Offering more than 50 majors and 25 minors, (www.montana.edu/lettersandscience/) the college helps students to think critically, solve problems, communicate clearly, understand various disciplines and cultures, and develop a commitment to engage with their communities in ways that will foster life-long learning and leadership. Many of its faculty members are well-known nationally and internationally for contributions to their respective fields. Moreover, College of Letters and Sciences faculty have amassed an impressive record for winning highly competitive national grants to support research and scholarship, significantly contributing to MSU’s$230 million in research grant expenditures (FY 2023). The Carnegie Classification for Institutions of Higher Education has designated Montana State University as having “Very High Research Activity” among doctoral-granting universities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The College of Letters and Science seeks a strong and visionary leader who will collaborate with faculty, students and staff in addressing the opportunities and challenges facing the college and will lead the college toward the following strategic priorities:

Providing effective management, administration and leadership for the college

The dean will make timely decisions and respond directly to issues of importance and will ensure the smooth operation of the college, the departments and affiliated offices. The dean will effectively contribute to and enhance the tripartite land-grant mission of Montana State University.

Foster a culture of continuous improvement

The strength of the College of Letters and Science begins with the faculty, staff and students. The college’s reputation is founded on its unique array of respected and high-quality academic and research programs. The new dean will focus on continual enhancements of faculty-student engagement measures and curriculum streamlining of academic programs to the advancements of student persistence and degree completion efforts. The dean will work with department heads and faculty to enhance the research enterprise, to grow scholarly and creative products, and to broaden the impacts of research to the people and communities of Montana. The dean will contribute to MSU’s institutional reputation by helping faculty set and meet the highest standards of teaching and research and will ensure that new faculty hired into the college are dedicated to furthering the three pillars of the tripartite land grant mission. The dean must also be able to communicate the value of these programs to a broad constituency that includes students, colleagues and Montana University System administrators.

Advocate for interdisciplinary collaborations

Within the college, university and community, there are myriad opportunities for partnerships and collaborations. The new dean will work with the administrative team, faculty and dean colleagues to develop initiatives that benefit all stakeholders.

Ensure positive accreditation outcomes

Implicit in the dean’s responsibilities will be to meet and exceed professional accreditation standards in individual programs, as well as overall university accreditation with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Improve student retention and grow enrollment with an emphasis on student success

The dean will lead initiatives and decisions to support steady growth in student enrollments and will champion faculty-student engagement, mentoring, retention and timely graduation. A particular area of emphasis is the continued growth of graduate student enrollment.

Represent the College of Letters and Science

The dean will be an enthusiastic and articulate spokesperson for both CLS and MSU with internal and external constituencies, while continually advancing the college’s mission and its innovative academic and research programs.

Secure external funds in support of the College of Letters and Science

The dean will raise external funds for college initiatives. This will involve intensive planning with the President, Provost and the MSU Foundation, as well as with department heads/chairs, faculty and staff, to establish fundraising priorities, identify potential grants, friends and donors, and encourage their engagement support of CLS initiatives and programs. Through this process, the dean will establish current and future fundraising goals for the college and will monitor its success in meeting those goals.

Nurture, celebrate and support the primary responsibilities of faculty in the areas of teaching, research and scholarship

The dean will articulate the value and role of research and scholarship consistent within the broader context of MSU’s Carnegie Classification of “Very High Research Activity”. The dean will support efforts of faculty to attract external funds for essential research activities. Likewise, the dean will encourage and support faculty efforts to educate students in ways that will allow them to succeed in their academic programs and careers. Moreover, the dean will support professional development of staff and faculty and foster shared governance in the development of college policies and procedures.

Contribute to the University’s mission

The dean will advance the strategic direction of Montana State University by serving on the university’s leadership team and on university committees under the direction of the Provost and President. The dean’s contribution to MSU’s future will be advanced through engagement with academic governance on the Provost’s Academic Council, university governance on the President’s Leadership Council and the University Council, and through positive interactions with deans, vice presidents, the executive vice president for academic affairs, and the President.

Build a bright future for the College of Letters and Science

To be successful, the dean will be an ethical, compassionate, creative, communicative, energetic and engaging leader—one who can join forces with the diverse constituencies of CLS to build upon its national and international recognition. Personal integrity and a collegial style are required traits for this position.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

The successful candidate will :

• Possess an earned doctorate from an accredited institution

• Have an exemplary record of research/scholarship activities, teaching and service to university and broader communities

• Qualify for tenure within an academic unit in the College of Letters and Science at the rank of full professor

• A broad-based record of administrative and scholarly experience in research university settings, with direct supervisory experience for academic units, along with significant budget management experience

• A strong ability to communicate effectively as exemplified by the candidate’s writing, speaking and listening skills

• Ability to foster teaching, research/scholarship, service and professional development of faculty in a student-centered environment

• Experience with and responsibility for faculty development, faculty performance assessments, and evaluation of promotion and tenure

• A demonstrated understanding of and support for the broad range of programs comprising the college and within the unique mission of a land-grant university

• A demonstrated experience of leading with sound fiscal management

• A demonstrated commitment to shared governance and collaborative leadership

• The desire to share, support and successfully articulate the President’s/Provost’s vision for the strategic direction and administration of the University

• Evidence of commitment to the land grant mission

  Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

In seeking its next dean, the College of Letters and Science will give preference to candidates who demonstrate:

• Leadership skills that include experience in an academic program that offers baccalaureate and graduate degrees

• Experience in effective strategic planning and assessment

• Experience in dealing with multiple constituencies—internally and externally

• An understanding of research and the opportunities for research/scholarship within a broadly diverse college environment

• A demonstrable record of developing external resources through fundraising, grants and contracts

• A record of positive staff and personnel relations and interactions

• A creative and approachable manner that kindles the innovative spirit of others

• Evidence of leading transformational change

• Demonstrated accomplishments in innovative partnerships

• A strong team player in terms of university governance

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at the university, state and national level

• Demonstrated ability/success in fundraising

• A broad understanding of the philosophy and challenges of a land-grant university, and an appreciation for rural culture and values.

  The Successful Candidate Will

The College of Letters and Science’s next dean will possess a combination of professional experiences and personal qualities appropriate to the strategic priorities listed herein. The successful candidate will demonstrate integrity of the highest order, an intellectual curiosity and self-confidence balanced with humility, authenticity of character and a strong work ethic.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed in this description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

The Department

The College

https://www.montana.edu/lettersandscience/

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Upon successful completion of search

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on October 1, 2024 ; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.