Position Announcement

Head, Department of Special Education (and Charles Dunn Hardie Scholar)

College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

Position

The Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks a full-time faculty member with a national reputation who is an established scholar with effective leadership and administrative abilities and eligible to be tenured at the rank of Professor, to serve as Head of the Department. This position is 50% research and teaching and 50% administration. As Head, this person will support a strong faculty and continue to recruit and support students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Depending on academic qualifications, the Department Head position may be combined with a scholar position. Information about the Department of Special Education may be found at http://education.illinois.edu/sped/.

The College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is known for its groundbreaking research, innovative approaches to teaching, and service to the global community. The Department, ranked sixth in departments of Special Education in the nation by U.S. News and World Report (2009), is committed to the production and dissemination of new knowledge in special education, gifted education, and developmental disabilities through excellence in research, teaching, and service. Faculty and graduate students employ varied research approaches, work in diverse educational and community settings, and prepare educational professionals at graduate and undergraduate levels.

Responsibilities

As Head of the Department, the successful candidate will be expected to support the mission of this highly regarded and internationally recognized department, which is to address critical issues related to the diverse needs of individuals across the life span. Research that parallels the department's teaching and service activities is focused on the advancement of knowledge and improvement of practices that promote successful early childhood, school, and life outcomes for individuals with and at risk for disabilities and their families. An infrastructure to support access to sponsored projects exists within the College and enables faculty to competitively garner millions of dollars in external funds. This position also involves working in concert with a team of unit heads to collectively foster the achievement of the college mission.

Qualifications

An earned doctorate in special education or a related field is required; teaching or related experience with individuals with special needs; administrative experience in higher education including budget oversight; and a record of scholarly contributions, service to the profession, and experience in securing external support that is commensurate with the position of full professor. Other highly desirable skills are experience in personnel preparation, a record of collaborative partnerships with P-12 education, human service agencies, and university departments, and knowledge of local, state, and federal educational structures and regulatory processes and requirements.

Starting Date and Salary

The starting date is August 1, 2010, or as soon as possible after the closing date. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications.

In order to ensure full consideration, please complete a candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu by October 1, 2009, and submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and names and contact information of at least four references. Applicants may be reviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date.

For more information about the application process, please contact Susan Michaels, Assistant to the Dean, at 217-244-3293 or susanm@illinois.edu. For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Thomas Schwandt, Search Committee Chair, at tschwand@illinois.edu or 217-333-5350.

The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The administration, faculty, and staff embrace diversity and are committed to attracting qualified candidates who also embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.