Overview
The College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) at Northern Illinois University (NIU) seeks a Department Chair, the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions (SIHP), to build a collaborative and inclusive community. The Chair will be accountable directly to the dean of the college for all aspects of the operation of and planning for the school. The Chair is responsible, consistent with principles of shared governance, for developing and administering effective operating policies and practices for the school/consistent with college and university provisions; for making budget, curricular, and personnel recommendations (in accordance with applicable university, college, and school/department bylaws and policies). The Chair responsibilities include managing resources assigned to the school/department; defining the school’s scope, mission, and objectives within institutional guidelines and priorities, enrollment management strategies, and within the resources available; and assuring and, whenever possible, improving the school/department’s capacity to carry out its mission and accomplish its objectives with distinction.
The school is composed of undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including the degrees in B.S. and M.S. in Health Sciences, the B.S. in Rehabilitation and Disability Services, and M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling, a minor in Addiction Studies, a minor in Rehabilitation Counseling and the graduate certificate in Health Professions Education. In addition to administration responsibilities, the Chair will assume an academic and scholarly role within the school, maintain professional/disciplinary currency, further the development of advocating for the academic programs in the school, work to maintain accreditation for programs, serve as a member of the college senior leadership team, foster excellence in teaching and scholarship, encourage proposals for external and internal funding, teach courses, and oversee graduate research as appropriate.
NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a diverse and international student body of approximately 16,000. NIU is included in the Research Universities – High Research Activity and Community Engaged Institution categories by the Carnegie Foundation and is a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling holds CACREP accreditation.
There are 12 faculty and 3 staff members in the school and approximately 20 graduate students and 850 undergraduate students enrolled in
SIHP degree programs. Visit the school website at
https://chhs.niu.edu/interdisciplinary-health/ for information regarding the school’s faculty, students, and offerings. The school has alliances with community- based organizations and other health services organizations. Visit the College website at http://www.chhs.niu.edu/index.shtml.
NIU is located in DeKalb, IL, offering a small-town environment with all of the benefits of a large university. For information about DeKalb, visit
http://www.niu.edu/visit/dekalb.shtml.
Position Summary
The Chair is the spokesperson of the school in all official transactions with school members, as well as with other units of the university, and is responsible for the proper functioning of the school as an instructional, research/artistic, and public service unit.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The chair is responsible, consistent with principles of shared governance, for developing and administering effective operating policies and practices for the school/consistent with college and university provisions; for making budget, curricular, and personnel recommendations (in accordance with applicable university, college, and school/department bylaws and policies).The chair responsibilities include managing resources assigned to the school/department; defining the school’s scope, mission, and objectives within institutional guidelines and priorities, enrollment management strategies, and within the resources available; and assuring and, whenever possible, improving the school/department’s capacity to carry out its mission and accomplish its objectives with distinction.
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Relevant terminal degree in an area related to the discipline(s) of the school, tenure, qualifications consistent with the rank of associate or full professor;
- Mentorship and leadership experience;
- Knowledge of discipline-related issues;
- Accomplishments in teaching, research/scholarly activities, and service;
- Evidence of skills related to the position such as, but not limited to, budget planning and decision-making, personnel supervision and management, curriculum and program development, and program accreditation and program outcomes evaluation.
Additional Requirements
Preferred Qualifications
- Evidence of the ability to hold full professor status;
- Experience with professional accreditation and credentialing processes;
- Experience with interprofessional education;
- Experience with student recruitment and retention.
Physical Demands Summary
Able to work in an office environment. For more information regarding physical demands and requirements please contact Human Resources.
