Chair, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Closing Date - October 19th, 2014
The Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS). The School consists of nine dynamic and award winning faculty, including the Chair, and has a two-year MLIS program accredited by the ALA until 2020. The School also offers its MLIS degree online. In addition, SLIS offers a three-year combined degree program with the Faculty of Arts leading to an MLIS and an MA in Humanities Computing, and a three-year combined degree program with the Alberta School of Business leading to an MLIS and an MBA.
Currently there are roughly 200 full- and part-time students enrolled in the School's master's programs. SLIS also accepts qualified PhD students into individual interdisciplinary doctoral programs with a cooperating department. Considerable detail about SLIS is available at: http://www.slis.ualberta.ca/
Qualifications for applicants include, but are not restricted to: a doctorate in a relevant discipline; a record of scholarly excellence and teaching competencies within the broad areas of the SLIS curriculum; knowledge of trends in higher education; proven leadership abilities; and a record of major institutional and professional service. Qualified applicants must have senior level academic and administrative achievement and experience commensurate with the awarding of tenure. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the trends and changes in the LIS field and be capable of articulating a vision for SLIS and for the profession.
SLIS is a student-centered school, places a high value on collegial governance, and is very closely integrated with local scholarly and professional communities. The successful candidate must be willing to work within this ethos.
SLIS is one of the five teaching and research departments in the Faculty of Education and its Chair reports to the Dean. The Chair is responsible for providing leadership to and overall administration of the School, including: budgetary oversight; faculty support and evaluation; curriculum planning, assessment and development; fund development; and serving the various interests of a diverse student body. Normally, the Chair teaches one course a year in the MLIS program. The Chair is supported by a team of academic and administrative staff including an associate chair, an educational developer responsible for leadership in online pedagogy and course design, a senior administrator, a graduate student services administrator, and an office administrator. The Chair represents the School in Faculty and University planning and development, and is expected to be active in appropriate scholarly and professional communities at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.
For over 40 years, the School of Library and Information Studies has offered the only ALA-accredited MLIS program on the Canadian prairies. The School joined the Faculty of Education in 1991. Both SLIS and the Faculty of Education embrace the four cornerstones of the University of Alberta's Academic Plan, Dare to Deliver (2011-15): Talented People; Learning, Discovery and Citizenship; Connecting Communities; and Transformative Organization and Support.
The Chair's term of appointment is five years, commencing July 1, 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter, and is renewable upon review.
Applications will be reviewed immediately after the closing date. Applicants for the position should submit online a complete and current curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of at least three referees.
How to Apply
Please go the following link on the University of Alberta's web site and apply online:
http://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A107524636/
Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight MST of October 19, 2014.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons.