Dean for the Social Sciences
Hope College

*As of 02/20.2008, applications are no longer being accepted

Hope College seeks a dynamic, visionary, and collegial leader to serve as Dean for the Social Sciences beginning July 1, 2008. Strong candidates will demonstrate previous academic leadership, a record of excellent teaching and scholarship, and a commitment to the liberal arts in the context of the historic Christian faith.

The Dean for the Social Sciences is responsible for overseeing the programs and activities of 7 departments including: Education; Economics, Management and Accounting; Communication; Kinesiology; Political Science; Psychology; and Sociology and Social Work. In addition, the dean oversees three programmatic areas: The Carl Frost Social Science Research Center; the Children’s After School Achievement (CASA) program; and the Upward Bound program. The Dean is a member of the Deans’ Council which consists of the Dean for the Natural & Applied Sciences, the Dean for the Arts & Humanities, the Dean for the Social Sciences, the Dean for International and Multicultural Education, the Dean for Academic Services, and the Director of General Education and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in curriculum development, review of curricula, and evaluation of proposed curricular changes
• Oversee faculty recruitment for approved positions
• Oversee appointment of part-time faculty and paraprofessionals
• Select departmental chairpersons in consultation with the Provost
• Support personnel development, particularly that of departmental chairpersons
• Review and approve departmental budget requests and monitor budgets
• Monitor and approve teaching assignments
• Allocate space assigned to the division and provide direction in planning for future space needs
• Participate in the evaluation of faculty and make recommendations for salary increases, promotion, tenure, leaves of absence, and grants
• Formulate and control the faculty travel fund budget allocated to the division through discretionary funds and the dean's office budget
• Participate in fund raising, especially by providing leadership for seeking grants and for preparation of proposals for programmatic funding for the division
• Provide leadership in the development of research programs and assistance to faculty applying for research opportunities and grants
• Other responsibilities assigned by the Provost

Candidate Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate
• Teaching and scholarship commensurate with appointment at the rank of professor in one of the Social Science departments
• Previous successful administrative experience in the setting of a liberal arts college
• Demonstrated support for and engagement with multicultural and global education
• Personal commitment to the Christian faith and the college’s mission with an ability to articulate how the Social Science division fits into the overall mission and vision of the college

Desired personal characteristics and experiences:

• A visionary, collegial, and servant-leadership style supported by positive communication skills
• Ability and willingness to articulate the value of a liberal arts education
• Ability to represent and advocate both internally and externally for the wide range of programs represented in the Social Science division
• Demonstrated connections at the national level that will assist in promoting the division and the college
• Appreciation of cultural and economic diversity and commitment to academic programs that foster cultural expertise
• Commitment to hiring personnel who enhance cultural diversity
• Commitment to developing students as world citizens
• Demonstrated excellence as a teacher and productive scholar
• Demonstrated support for and understanding the value of student collaborative research, experiential learning, internships and service learning
• Demonstrated success in securing external funding
• Ability and willingness to nurture and mentor faculty, especially younger faculty, and promote continuous faculty development opportunities
• Ability to work in a team environment with integrity and civility
• Understanding of national issues in higher education and ability to advocate for accreditation and assessment initiatives
• Experience with managing budgets and the ability to be creative in resource allocation
• Understanding of and ability to articulate the importance of participation of social science faculty in staffing Hope’s general education program

Type of Appointment and Reporting Structure:

• This is a 12-month administrative staff appointment with faculty rank commensurate with education and experience.
• The position reports to the Provost

HOPE COLLEGE is a Christian, coeducational, residential liberal arts undergraduate college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America; has over 3,000 students (3,045 FTE) and 248 FTE faculty; is a member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association; is accredited by the North Central Association and has 11 accredited programs (NCATE, ACS, NASAD, NASD, NASM, NAST, CCNE, CSWE, ABET, and CAAHEP. Hope is located in Holland, MI, a city of 35,000 enriched by a significant Latino, Asian and African-American population in a rapidly growing urban area of over 100,000 near Lake Michigan and within short driving distance of Grand Rapids (over 500,000), and relatively close to Ann Arbor and Chicago. Additional information can be found on the web at http://www.hope.edu/.

Hope College places a high priority on sustaining a supportive environment that recognizes the importance of having a diverse faculty in order to best prepare our students for successful careers in our multicultural nation and global community. Applications from qualified persons with diverse backgrounds and cultures, including women and persons of color are, therefore, especially welcomed. Hope College complies with federal and state requirements for nondiscrimination in employment.

Nominations or applications should be submitted electronically to the Dean Search Committee, deansearch@hope.edu.

Applications must include the following materials:

• A cover letter indicating how you meet the desired qualifications and personal characterics described above.
• Resume and a list of at least three references including their relationship to you and contact information
• A statement describing your leadership style and how you would contribute to the implementation of the college’s mission to be a nationally recognized liberal arts college in the context of the historic Christian faith.

Review of applications will begin in February, 2008 and will continue until the position is filled.