Chair, Communication Disorders # 20226TTL

Texas State University invites applicants for the position of chair of the Department of Communication Disorders in the College of Health Professions.  Applicants who wish to join this highly collegial and intellectually vibrant faculty of research scientists and clinical  educators that values diversity are encouraged to apply. Texas State University holds a Carnegie classification of Doctoral University-High Research Activity and is a public Hispanic-Serving Institution. The department offers a Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) accredited master’s degree and a bachelor’s of science degree in communication disorders. In the fall of 2020, the department included 19 faculty and staff serving 272 students. The chair has a 12-month appointment, including scholarship and teaching responsibilities.

Texas State Round Rock campus is centrally located in the healthcare nexus of our region, enabling Texas State to offer expanded collaborative opportunities with area healthcare facilities.  The Department of Communication Disorders is housed in the newly built Willow Hall.  Willow Hall is equipped with a state-of-the-art Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, which features 25 therapy rooms, two audiology booths, conference and lab spaces, an electrophysiology lab, and a large faculty lounge shared with the Physical Therapy Department and Respiratory Care Department. Additional information about the university and its nationally recognized academic programs is available at http://www.txstate.edu.

Reporting to the Dean, department chairs are the chief executives of their departments and are responsible for the implementation of the university, college, and department policies and for the development, coordination, and administration of all academic programs and activities within their departments. As representatives of their departments, chairs articulate program aspirations to constituents inside and outside the university community, develop and implement strategic goals, promote research excellence, and provide collaborative leadership in the College. Dynamic leadership, clear communication, strong interpersonal skills, and a keen strategic vision are crucial characteristics required for success.

Drawing on the assistance and advice of the faculty and staff, the chair has the lead responsibility for the administration of the department and the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, including preparing and managing the budget to achieve departmental goals. In addition, the chair is responsible for providing leadership for matters related to accreditation, teaching schedules, recruitment of new faculty, evaluation of faculty and staff performance, support for grant and external development opportunities, student advising, and formulation and implementation of strategic plans and policies. For more information on the responsibilities and role of the department chair at Texas State, please visit: https://policies.txstate.edu/division-policies/academic-affairs/01-02-11.html. All positions are subject to availability of funds.

Required Qualifications          
The department is particularly interested in recruiting an individual who can embrace and enhance the vision of a diverse, collegial, and productive academic environment. Successful applicants for department chair will have the following qualifications:  

• Has a graduate degree in communication sciences and disorders and an earned doctoral degree from an accredited university (i.e., Ph.D., Ed.D., Au.D.) in one of the following disciplines: communication disorders, gerontology, linguistics, psycholinguistics, psychology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, or special education.
• Eligible to hold a valid State of Texas license as a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist and a certificate of clinical competence awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• A minimum of eight years of full-time higher education experience as a core faculty member in a CAA accredited education program at the associate professor or professor rank.
• Demonstrates a record of scholarly excellence evidenced by publication record and internal or external funding commensurate with appointment at the associate professor or professor level in the Department of Communication Disorders.
• Demonstrates a teaching and service record of excellence commensurate with appointment at the associate professor or professor level in the Department of Communication Disorders.
• Experience in the effective administration of a university department to include curricular evaluation and design, programmatic fiscal and personnel management, accreditation, and strategic planning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in any of the following areas: aphasia, cognitive communication disorders, dysphagia, motor speech disorders, and/or voice disorders.
• Experience with reaccreditation, annual reporting, and curriculum design specific to current and upcoming CAA and Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) standards and is motivated to focus on innovative curricular programmatic changes that produce quality clinicians that meet the outcomes/needs of the community and other relevant stakeholders.
• Experience in departmental, university, and professional leadership and/or training as well as a history of building alliances and/or partnerships in academia and business communities.

Application Procedures
Only applications submitted for this specific posting through the Texas State University website will be accepted and considered, https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/35400. 

To ensure full consideration, please submit the following materials by October 1, 2021: 

• Curriculum vitae; 
• An application letter describing how you meet the various required and preferred qualifications; and 
• Names of three references including address, telephone, and e-mail (references will be contacted only for finalists). 

The confidential review of credentials will continue until the position is filled. For inquiries, please e-mail Dr. Matthew Brooks, chair of the Search Committee, at healthprofdean@txstate.edu. Please indicate “CDIS Chair Position” in the subject line of all correspondence. 

The selected candidate will be required to provide official transcripts from all degree-granting universities.

Texas State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, committed to inclusive thought and action in support of our diverse community. Individuals from historically underrepresented groups and all those who share our commitment to inclusivity and passion for the strength of our diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment with Texas State University is contingent upon the outcome of record checks and verifications including criminal history, driving records, education records, employment verifications, reference checks, and employment eligibility verifications.

Texas State University is a tobacco-free campus. Smoking and the use of any tobacco product will not be allowed anywhere on Texas State property or in university owned or leased vehicles.

Texas State University is a member of the Texas State University System.

Why Work at Texas State?

Texas State University is home to more than 38,000 students and 2,000 faculty members in the growing Austin-San Antonio corridor. A member of the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie classification, the university creates new knowledge, fosters cultural and economic development, and prepares its growing population of diverse students for the endless possibilities that await them as citizens of Texas, the nation, and the world.

Bolstered by research with relevance and innovation in creative and scholarly work in a full range of academic disciplines and a spirit of inclusiveness, Texas State seeks outstanding candidates for a variety of faculty positions.