Applications are sought for the Executive Director of the Center for Service and Learning at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). IUPUI is one of the outstanding public urban research universities in the United States, located in the heart of Indianapolis, just blocks from the Indiana Government Center and Fortune 500 companies. IUPUI serves over 30,000 students, including approximately 21,000 undergraduate students. It grants Indiana University and Purdue University degrees in more than 200 programs and offers the most comprehensive range of academic programs in the state. It is Indiana University’s home campus for statewide programs in medicine, law, dentistry, philanthropic studies, nursing, health and rehabilitation science, and social work. IUPUI is also the home of Purdue programs in Engineering, Technology, and Science. IUPUI takes seriously its commitment to civic engagement and has become a national leader in promoting civic engagement, particularly through service learning. IUPUI has been nationally recognized for its work in civic engagement, including three Presidential Awards for Community Service, the 2006 Carnegie Foundation Classification for Community Engagement, two Saviors of our City citations, recognition in Colleges with a Conscience, and US News and World Report recognition for service learning each year since 2002.
The Center for Service and Learning (CSL) is one of three IUPUI learning-based centers that also include the Center for Research and Learning and the Center for Teaching and Learning. CSL is in Academic Affairs, and its executive director reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The mission of CSL is to engage students, faculty, staff, and community members in educationally meaningful service that promotes learning and development, advances best practice and research, achieves community goals through partnerships, and furthers the civic engagement mission of IUPUI. As a primary advocate for civic engagement, CSL collaborates with campus academic and support units to promote, develop, and assess civic engagement activities.
CSL is comprised of four offices: Service Learning, Community Service, Neighborhood Partnerships, and Community Work-Study. The CSL has established a strong record of accomplishments (e.g., awards, recognitions, scholarship) and has 12 full-time professional staff plus graduate students, Senior Scholars, and Faculty Fellows. IUPUI has provided excellent opportunities for CSL to flourish with award winning first-year success courses, learning communities, institutional strengths in assessment and institutional research, emerging technologies including electronic student portfolios, and a faculty culture that acknowledges the importance of civic engagement in undergraduate, graduate, and professional education.
The Executive Director (ED) will provide vision and leadership to the CSL, exercise fiscal responsibility over budgets and grants and provide oversight for the operations of the Center, its staff and programs. The ED’s portfolio includes two Associate Directors who serve as part of the leadership team, as well as ten additional academic, professional and support staff. In addition to their formal Center management responsibilities, the ED will collaborate with other campus units on teaching, research and service as it relates to civic engagement, conduct research on issues related to civic engagement in higher education, as well as expand campus capacity to assess and conduct scholarship on civic engagement. The ED will also promote CSL’s work on campus, nationally and internationally.
This is a full-time position in CSL with the expectation that the successful candidate will assume a tenured, senior faculty appointment (associate level and above) in an appropriate academic discipline. During the term of the directorship, the Executive Director’s salary will be covered by campus funds. The faculty appointment will be covered by the academic unit in which the individual holds tenure at the end of the directorship. Required qualifications consist of a Ph.D. in an academic discipline (or equivalent terminal degree), and experience with programs focused on service learning, community service, academic aspects of professional service, and community partnerships. At least five years of supervisory, program leadership, and/or academic administrative experience in a related or relevant position is expected, as are experiences in working closely with academic and support service units, appreciating and advocating for diversity, inclusion, and equal access to educational opportunity. The successful candidate will have teaching experience (including service learning courses), faculty development experience, and a strong record of scholarship including the development of significant grant proposals and success in securing external funding.
Candidates are invited to submit an electronic application that includes:
- a letter of application stating their interest and experience,
- a philosophy statement that frames the candidate’s views on how to advance civic engagement and transformative campus-community collaborations in higher education and as part of IUPUI’s campus culture,
- a curriculum vitae, and
- The names and contact information of three references to Dr. Mary Fisher, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at mlfisher {at} iupui(.)edu.
- NOTE: Paper applications will NOT be accepted.
Review of applications will begin October 1, 2011, and continue until the position is filled. The starting date for the successful candidate is on or before July 1, 2012. IUPUI is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/D.
Applications should be sent electronically to Ms. Susan Christian, Academic Support Specialist, Office of Academic Affairs, at suechris {at} iupui(.)edu. Questions regarding the position should be addressed to Dr. Mary L. Fisher, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at mlfisher {at} iupui(.)edu, or 317-278-1846.
