Human Resources

Summary

The Department of Humanities at Michigan Technological University seeks an experienced scholar and leader committed to interdisciplinarity to serve as department chair at the rank of associate or full professor. The chair will lead our collaborative, multidisciplinary department in implementing a shared vision for excellence in scholarship, creative work, and teaching. The chair will be responsible for developing and supporting new departmental initiatives as well as ongoing efforts to foster innovative interdisciplinary research and advance graduate and undergraduate programs.

Our department offers undergraduate degrees in Communication, Culture and Media; English; and Scientific and Technical Communication, as well as graduate degrees in Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture. (For a complete list of our major and minor degree programs, please go to: https://www.mtu.edu/humanities/). Our faculty specialize in communication, composition, creative writing, gender studies, literature, media studies, modern languages, philosophy, rhetoric, visual studies, technical communication, technology studies, and user experience, which are all integral to our university and broader community. The department houses the Composition Program, which prepares first-year students for reading, writing, and information literacy in and beyond the university. It also hosts the Humanities Digital Media Zone, a unique media-production, computing, and language-resource center, and The Writing Center, both vital resources for students across campus. The chair is supported by two administrative staff, a director of graduate studies, director of composition, and directors of the undergraduate degree programs.

Michigan Tech’s campus hosts many research centers and institutes that support our vibrant campus research culture. Our campus also supports innovative mentoring and partner engagement programs for faculty. Students participate in a range of activities and programs, from campus (and community) traditions such as the Parade of Nations, K-Day, and Winter Carnival to hands-on learning experiences in Michigan Tech’s Enterprise programs.

Michigan Tech is a hub for cultural activity in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, hosting the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, The McArdle Theatre, and an excellent Visual and Performing Arts department that produces events reflecting the uniqueness of the region, like New Music in the Mine. The Humanities department also hosts the regionally acclaimed 41 North Film Festival and a Modern Languages Film Series.

Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan. We enjoy four seasons of outdoor beauty where you can pick wild blueberries and thimbleberries in the summer; enjoy vibrant colors of the mixed northern hardwoods in fall; ski, snowshoe, snowboard, or sled in our 250” of annual snowfall; visit rushing waterfalls in spring; and watch the northern lights from the shores of Lake Superior during much of the year. Our university forest includes 70 miles of single-track trails for hiking and biking, as well as groomed cross country and skate ski trails accessible from campus. Michigan Tech’s alpine ski hill is only a five-minute drive from the office. Reach out to us to learn more about how you can join our team of innovative educators and researchers.

Michigan Tech attracts world-class faculty and staff who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Applicants who are committed to promoting a sense of belonging and contributing to an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all are strongly encouraged to apply (Engagement and Belonging.).

Responsibilities 

Departmental Leadership
● Represent the department on the College Council and work collaboratively with the Dean, Associate Deans and other College Chairs.
● Foster departmental excellence in research/creative work, teaching, and service.
● Promote a culture of diversity and inclusion.
● Promote interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond the department.
● Advance the strategic plans of the Department, the College, and the University.
● Advocate for departmental goals with administrators, other units, and alumni.
● Supervise department faculty and staff: make recommendations on reappointment, tenure, and promotion cases; and conduct performance reviews of department faculty and staff.

Departmental Educational and Research Programs:
● Lead recruitment of undergraduate and graduate students to department programs.
● Support faculty teaching and scholarship development.
● Contribute to university advancement activities by cultivating relationships with prospective and current donors and pursuing funding from various agencies.
● Oversee the review and assessment of academic programs within the Department.
● Provide leadership for the continued promotion of exchange agreements and collaborative programs with domestic and international universities.

Departmental Operations:
● Manage a diverse teaching and learning community.
● Actively mentor faculty and staff.
● Foster shared governance and transparency.
● Manage the department's finances responsibly and strategically to achieve short- and long-term goals.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

PhD in a Humanities related field.

Required Experience

Qualifications commensurate with the rank of associate or full professor at Michigan Tech.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

Ph.D. in a field represented in the Humanities department.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

● Experience in an academic leadership position (including but not limited to leadership within a department, program, research center/institute, or professional organization).
● Strong record of research/creative activity.
● Documented excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

● Demonstrated advocacy for humanities and humanities programs in higher education and/or on a STEM facing campus.
● Proactive leader with demonstrated excellence in promoting teamwork and effective organizational strategies.
● Experience working effectively within a structure of shared governance.
● Demonstrated leadership in interdisciplinary research and/or pedagogy.
● Demonstrated success in advocating for or collaborating on projects from multiple disciplines.
● Demonstrated excellence in leading successful undergraduate and/or graduate programs.
● Success in securing and leading externally funded research projects.
● Experience engaging with prospective students, alumni, and corporate representatives.
● Experience managing organizational budgets.
● Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

The work environment is that of a typical office and/or classroom setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. This is not an E-Verified Position.

1

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

11 months

Shift

Pay Rate/Salary

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Title of Position Supervisor

College Dean

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

The position will remain open until filled; review of applications will begin December 1, 2024.

Applicants will need to upload the following documents:
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Statements of Research Interests, Educational Philosophy, and Administrative Philosophy
• Contact information for three professional references

We strongly encourage applicants to address the required and desired qualifications in their cover letter along with an explanation of how they will contribute to the Vision and Mission of Michigan Tech.

Additional Information

Michigan Tech is Michigan’s flagship technological university and will be a Carnegie classified R1 institution in 2025. The university provides its graduates with an extremely high return on investment through its academic rigor and focus on experiential learning.

Located in Houghton, in the heart of Upper Michigan's scenic Keweenaw Peninsula, the university is just a few miles from Lake Superior. The surrounding area is perfect for enjoying outdoor activities throughout the year.

Michigan Tech is proud to be an ADVANCE Institution that has thrice received National Science Foundation support to increase diversity, inclusion, and the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented individuals in STEM. 

Michigan Tech recognizes the importance of supporting faculty members’ partners; candidates selected for on-campus interviews will be invited to bring a guest. Additional details on our Partner Engagement Program can be found at https://www.mtu.edu/provost/programs/partner-engagement/.