Program Chair

Job Description:

About The Chicago School

The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities. We enroll over 6,000 students across 40+ academic programs culminating in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree or a professional certificate, and our unique approach to impact-focused education has made us a leading nonprofit university for over 45 years. 

As an employee at The Chicago School, you can become a member of an inclusive community committed to excellence. At The Chicago School, we celebrate individuals of all backgrounds and identities for who they are and what they can contribute. We take pride in hiring and retaining the most dynamic, talented, and passionate professionals who will help us continue to innovate for decades to come.

Position Summary:

The Program Chair of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is appointed by and is directly responsible to the Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, or the College Dean dependent upon the staffing within the college for the program. The Program Chair is a member of the faculty as an Administrative Faculty member and is responsible for partnership/networking/outreach for new student enrollment, recruitment of faculty, scheduling and course sequencing, and student affairs within the program(s), student review process. The Program Chair works closely with the  Academic Leadership Team as well as with the Student Support and Admissions Teams.

In addition to department meetings, the Program Chair participates in institutional and departmental committees, provides academic leadership, and performs duties as assigned by the Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, or College Dean.  As an administrative faculty member, the Program Chair is a member of the Faculty Council. 

Main Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Growth

*Develop and execute a plan for community engagement in support of expanding awareness and driving new student enrollment at The Chicago School.

• Recruit, hire, and manage qualified and diverse faculty in alignment with budget allowances and university need as well as support student recruitment.
• Collaborate with the admissions team to ensure timely review of admissions files and development of materials to support achievement of new student recruiting goals.
• Develop and execute a plan for community engagement in support of expanding awareness and driving new student enrollment at The Chicago School.
• Partner with university leaders in mitigating student attrition.

People Management

• Build and manage a faculty team that is inclusive and welcoming of diverse voices, new perspectives, and innovation. Mentor, supervise and evaluate the teaching, advisement, and other duties performed by Faculty members to meet program academic goals.
• Develop and apply a structured, data-driven system for mentoring, supervising and evaluating the teaching, advisement, and other duties performed by faculty members to ensure student achievement of program and institutional learning outcomes.
• Ensure department faculty remain active in scholarship and service as evidenced by membership in institutional committee work, professional organizations, publications, presentations, and colloquia.

Academic Quality & Innovation
• In coordination with the university academic leadership, conduct regularly scheduled curriculum reviews and revisions to ensure currency and alignment with competencies desired by employers by leading efforts with scheduling and curriculum planning, as well as managing course lead system and co-teach model for high-risk courses.

• Lead student development efforts (monitoring satisfactory academic progress, supervising Department efforts to support student development through Academic Development Plans, and representing the Program at various institutional committees, with the goal of supporting student progress through the curriculum and timely degree completion.
• Lead, in collaboration with academic affairs leaders, the department with any accreditation, department review, or assessment(s) required of the department including participation in research and writing for any necessary self-study or department-related reports to maintain ongoing accreditation and good status with accreditors  (e.g., submitting appropriate interim and annual reports and being in compliance to CEPH programmatic standards).

• Ensure student concerns are effectively addressed in a timely and responsive manner in support of student satisfaction and retention.
*Teach up to 12 credits per academic year, depending upon the level of appointment and scope of administrative responsibilities.

Academic Operations & Budget Management
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the program to ensure quality student experience and faculty performance expectations are maintained.
• Direct course scheduling in a manner that supports the student experience via ensuring adequate class size and assigning faculty who are properly credentialed and trained to deliver assigned course content. • Represent the department at meetings, student events, and other related events to facilitate collaborative decision making, student engagement, building program and university awareness in the community.
• In collaboration with university academic leadership, lead the development of strategic academic and budget plans for the department, including recommendations from the assessment and department review process to inform student enrollment growth targets and program staffing needs.
• In collaboration with the university academic leadership, seek and implement opportunities to integrate emerging instructional technology into the curriculum delivery model/s with consideration given to expanding opportunities for distance learning.

 

Position Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

• A doctoral degree in health-related discipline.
• Academic administration experience (3-5 years) including working with students at the undergraduate level, and professional experience are strongly desired.
• The candidate should have a strong scholarly background in research and publications, presenting at conferences, conducting program assessments, and having experience with accreditation, to help lead the program in these efforts as well as guide students with scholarly and professional work in the field.
• The Program Chair must be able to balance institutional priorities with program needs and initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A strategic thinker who is able to offer innovative solutions to aid the department in its continued growth and expansion. The candidate should have an entrepreneurial and business-savvy mindset to grow the program and network in the professional field.
• The Program Chair must be an optimistic, action-oriented leader who can motivate faculty to maintain as well as increase student engagement outcomes.
• The candidate should be technologically savvy and well-versed with social media platforms to present on public health and health-related topics to a wider audience.  For example, remain current in knowledge of instructional technology (e.g., AI) to support ongoing innovation and instructional excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/career-opportunities/

The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note: For the protection of faculty, staff, students, and all who enter our facilities, The Chicago School strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per CDC guidance.