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Professor of the Practice (Open Rank) - MSW Program Director
University of Kansas
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Professor of the Practice (Open Rank) - MSW Program Director

University of Kansas

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Details
Posted:
March 8, 2025
Location:
Lawrence, Kansas
Position Overview
The University of Kansas (KU) School of Social Welfare (SSW) is seeking candidates for an open-rank professor of the practice position to serve as the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program director and faculty in the SSW. The rank will be commensurate with the final candidate's credentials and experience. The role consists of 0.5 FTE as MSW Program Director, with 0.5 FTE dedicated to curriculum instruction.

Professor of the Practice
The professor of the practice for the SSW is a non-tenure track faculty member who possesses expertise in a particular field of practice and has demonstrated success in professional instruction. This is a 12-month position. With .50 FTE dedicated to curriculum instruction, the professor of the practice will teach three to four 3-credit-hour courses per year, with 10% effort devoted to each course for a total teaching effort of 30-40%. The number of courses taught over a calendar year may vary to meet other instructional needs of the school and the demands of the MSW Program Director position. Service duties should not exceed 10-20% effort. Located on the Lawrence Campus, this position is a limited term. It may be appointed for up to an initial three-year period with an opportunity for extension/renewal after a comprehensive review.

The instructional portion of the position will involve organizing and planning course syllabi according to a standardized syllabi guide, textbook acquisition, and media/technology needs and equipment requests; planning and organizing courses; developing and organizing course management software; and/or mentoring graduate teaching assistants and adjunct instructors. Teaching responsibilities could involve teaching in our MSW and BSW programs. Qualified candidates with a doctoral degree may be able to teach in our online DSW program. Our online courses are a 50/50 blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction and content. Faculty candidates should have experience in and a desire to teach across any of the school's curriculum areas: social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; social welfare policy; theory at all levels of social work; applied research; social, racial, economic, and environmental justice; and electives in the individual's expertise.

MSW Program Director
The MSW degree program prepares graduates for advanced social work practice in one of two broad specializations -- clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and groups or social work macro practice aimed at social service administration, social policy development, and social advocacy. KU's MSW program is available on campuses in Lawrence, Overland Park, and Salina and online through Jayhawk Global. The MSW Program Director is responsible and accountable to the Dean for the MSW program's planning, development, and administration. The Director works closely with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs regarding administrative tasks.

The MSW Program Director is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for the MSW program, including academic planning, program development, curriculum design, and assessment. The Director chairs the MSW Program Committee and coordinates the committee's ongoing efforts to determine priorities and oversee MSW curricular development, implementation, and student advancement policies and procedures.


Job Description
The MSW Program Director and Committee should be in tune with the social work workforce's needs and organized to continuously evaluate and enhance the quality of the MSW program and curriculum. This includes routinely addressing the fit of the program with the school's vision, mission, and guiding principles; assessment and evaluation of the program for internal and external purposes, such as ensuring compliance with CSWE accreditation standards and university-level program assessment requirements; and creating and maintaining a welcoming and supportive educational environment and experience for MSW students and instructors. Administrative duties and responsibilities of this position fall into three categories: Admissions, Curriculum, and Student Advancement. Specific responsibilities and effort allocations are provided below under the Job Description.

About The School of Social Welfare

The KU SSW is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive educational environment for all students, faculty, and staff. We also encourage our school community members to serve the broader community to promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to social work values and the School of Social Welfare's mission, vision, and guiding principles.

As a nationally accredited School of Social Welfare within a comprehensive, premier research university, we continually strive to innovate, transform, and educate through quality education, research advancement, and community engagement. The main campus of the KU School of Social Welfare is in Lawrence and offers BSW, MSW, and PhD degree programs. The KU Edwards Campus is in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City, and offers BSW and MSW courses. The MSW program is also provided at our partnership site at Kansas State University-Salina and, along with our DSW program, online.


About The University of Kansas

Founded in 1865, the University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship, and creative endeavor. The University of Kansas is the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), a select group of 62 public and private research universities that represent excellence in graduate and professional education and the highest achievements in research internationally. The university enrolls more than 28,000 students, offers approximately 5,000 courses, more than 400 degree and certificate programs, and employs 2,800 faculty members, many at the top of their fields. In KU's dynamic, cross-disciplinary research and learning environment, students exchange ideas, discover new ways of processing the world, and address society's grand challenges.

KU's excellence results from the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other's success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Position Description

This is not a remote position. The selected candidate will work in person on the Lawrence Campus in Green Hall. The anticipated workload is below. All faculty members have the potential for their workload to shift in discussion with the dean and in accordance with university guidelines and the SSW's workload policy. Rank and salary will be commensurate with the final candidate's credentials and experience.


50% Administration
Administrative duties and responsibilities fall into three categories: Admissions, Curriculum, and Student Advancement.

Admissions:
  • Collaborate with the Graduate Student Services Coordinator (for Lawrence and Edwards campus) and Director of Marketing and Communications regarding recruitment efforts, including college fairs, information sessions, campus visits, orientation, and recruitment materials/publications.
  • Assist with recruitment efforts to ensure a substantial pool of applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. This may include hosting information sessions, meeting prospective students, and responding to phone calls and emails.
  • Oversee the admissions process through screening, training appropriate staff, and making admission decisions.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Graduate Admissions regarding admission processes and deadlines.
  • Review transcripts and syllabi to determine transfer credit.
  • Assist with the orientation events for all programs, including advanced standing and traditional MSW programs at all locations and online.

Curriculum:
  • Serve as chair of the MSW Program Curriculum Committee. Responsible for the agenda, convening meetings, and reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs as appropriate.
  • Take a leadership role in curriculum development and in providing curriculum oversight.
  • Provide program evaluations to assure student attainment of program objectives, report the results to the faculty and CSWE, and facilitate and monitor needed changes.
  • Make recommendations to the Associate Dean regarding faculty teaching assignments.
  • Oversee the policies governing the MSW program to ensure compliance with the School of Social Welfare policies and the university.

Student Advancement:
  • Oversee student advancement policy, including student progress, academic probation, and recommendations for dismissal, convening Academic Review Committees as needed.
  • Coordinates student needs with the Director of Practicum and other administrative personnel.

Miscellaneous:
  • Consult with the Associate Dean regarding MSW program needs, including enrollment management and resource allocation.
  • Assist with the Graduation Ceremony.
  • Serve on the School Scholarship Committee.
  • Work with the Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure the website and all MSW publications are up-to-date and accurate.
  • Assist in the annual editing of the MSW Student Handbook.
  • Represent the School in a variety of forums at the university, state, and national level.

30-40% Teaching
  • Teach three or four 3-credit courses per year across any of the school's curriculum areas: social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; social welfare policy; theories of change at all levels of social work; applied research; social, racial, economic, and environmental justice; and electives in the individual's expertise.
  • Plan and organize assigned courses, including preparing syllabi based on a standardized syllabus guide, acquiring textbooks, addressing media/technology needs and equipment requests, and maintaining the course web-based learning management system.
  • Administer exams and assignments, including grading assignments and reporting course grades to the Office of the University Registrar.
10-20% Service
  • Mentor graduate teaching assistants and adjunct faculty
  • Serve as a professional mentor to students
  • Participates in faculty and school business meetings
  • Serve on elected and appointed committees


Required Qualifications
  1. A master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Demonstrated commitment to social work values and KUSSW's mission, vision, and guiding principles
  3. Demonstrated strong written and oral communication skills as evidenced by application materials and interview process.
  4. Work experience within a social work academic context (accredited BSW and/or MSW degree programs).
  5. Knowledge of or experience with the CSWE accreditation process.
Assistant Professor of the Practice: all the above and at least 2 years of previous independent teaching experience, in person and/or remotely, and at least 5 years post-MSW practice experience in social work.

Associate Professor of the Practice: all the above and at least 5 years of previous independent teaching experience, in person and/or remotely, and at least 8 years of post-MSW practice experience in social work.

Full Professor of the Practice: all the above and at least 5 years of previous independent teaching experience, in person and/or remotely, and at least 15 years of post-MSW practice experience in social work.

Preferred Qualifications
  1. PhD or DSW degree (which would allow the candidate to teach at the DSW level).
  2. Prior experience with CSWE accreditation.
  3. Prior organizational leadership experience

Contact Information to Applicants
Meredith Bagwell-Gray
Associate Professor and Faculty Search Committee Co-Chair
meredith.bagwell-gray@ku.edu
785-864-4293
Additional Candidate Instruction
A complete application package will include:
  • Online application
  • Cover letter addressing interest in the position; qualifications; professional alignment with social work values and the School of Social Welfare's Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles, and Values; and candidate's anticipated contributions to KU and the SSW.
  • Curriculum vitae or resume
  • A Teaching, Mentoring, and Advising statement describing teaching philosophy, including attention to how the candidate's teaching and mentorship recognize and support students' varied backgrounds and interests; evidence of responding to student feedback and evaluations; courses taught; interests in teaching at KU.
  • List of three professional references
Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on Monday, April 7, and will continue as needed to collect a pool of qualified applicants. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for April and May 2025. To ensure consideration, applicants should apply before the application review begins on April 7, 2025.
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
07-Apr-2025
Anticipated Start Date
01-Aug-2025
Primary Campus
University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
FTE
1.0
Reg/Temp
Regular
Employee Class
F-Faculty
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.

Internal Number: 5081340
About University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $1.4 billion endowment and a faculty of 2,600. Current enrollment is 28,500 (19,000 undergraduate), with students drawn from 110 nations and all 50 states. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 95,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City and 30 minutes from the state capital, Topeka.. Lawrence has a thriving community with a wide range of activities/events
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