Professor and Director, School of Education

The University of Illinois Springfield is searching for a Director for its newly established School of Education at the senior (Full Professor) level who will come in with tenure beginning July 1, 2022. 

Responsibilities: The Director of the School of Education will lead the unit in meeting all state and federal accreditation requirements through analysis of candidate data, program redesigns, and timely reporting.  Build relationships and maintain positive working relationships within the School of Education, the college, university, outside stakeholders, school district partners, and professional education organizations and associations.  With support from staff and under direction from the Dean, set schedules, review budgets, and monitor student progression.  Additional expectations include program marketing, developing and achieving recruitment, retention and enrollment goals, community engagement, and ensuring curricular programming is current, engaging, and high-quality. The Director will also, under the direction of the Dean, supervise and evaluate School of Education faculty, staff, and graduate assistants, review and make recommendations on faculty reappointment and tenure, and provide advice to the Dean on staffing needs.  The teaching load will be at least one course per semester or a total of two per academic year.

Qualifications: Candidate is required to have a Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree, currently hold or have held tenure status at an accredited institution of higher learning and is eligible for Full Professor at UIS.  The ideal candidate will demonstrate a record of high-quality instruction, curriculum development, understanding of education/licensing rules and regulations, and scholarship.  Although the specialization is open, preference will be given to someone with experience in Curriculum and Instruction.  The individual will have experience in working with a diverse group of individuals, possess strong interpersonal and management skills, and be committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.  Experience with online learning and grant writing is preferred.

Application deadline: 12/22/2021

This is a full-time, on-campus, tenured academic appointment.  UIS tenure-system faculty are expected to be available and engaged in the campus community, with assigned professional responsibilities for teaching, scholarship, and service.

About the School: The School of Education at UIS currently offers five bachelor’s programs, one minor, initial and post-baccalaureate licensure in elementary, middle and secondary education in four different middle and secondary areas: English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, two master’s programs in administrative leadership and education with additional certificates and endorsements in Administrator-Principal, Superintendent, CSBO, LBS1, ESL, Education Technology Specialist, Higher Education Online Pedagogy, and Leadership and Learning.  All programs are governed by the University of Illinois statutes with licensure and endorsement programs approved (accredited) by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Students who wish to become licensed teachers through the School of Education can major in Elementary Education, Secondary Education in English, History or Mathematics, Middle Grades Education with endorsements in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science, or minor in Secondary Teacher Education and those who have already attained bachelor’s degrees may take the same courses for a licensure sequence.  Those who complete one of the Teacher Education pro1/3grams and subsequent testing are recommended to the Illinois State Board of Education for licensure. 

The M.A. in Educational Leadership provides for a carefully planned set of experiences designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for elementary and secondary administrative leadership positions.  The Master of Education (MAE) online degree is characterized by educators who excel in their teaching situations and in non-administrative leadership roles in their organizations. 

The Certificates of Advanced Study include a superintendent’s endorsement designed to meet the professional growth needs of Illinois educators who are prepared for central office leadership positions and the Chief School Business Official (CSBO) endorsement designed to prepare Illinois educators for advanced study and preparation in the organization and administration of the management of fiscal, physical, and human resources of a public school district in Illinois. Additional endorsements and graduate certificates are available in Learning Behavior Specialist I, English as a Second Language, and Technology Specialist.

About UIS: Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves approximately 4000 students in 21 graduate and 31 undergraduate programs. The academic curriculum offers students a strong liberal arts core, a wide range of professional programs, and close faculty interaction. Making the most of its location in the state capital, UIS is broadly engaged in public policy and service. Its diverse student body includes traditional, non-traditional, and international students. Twenty-five percent of majors are in 17 undergraduate and graduate online degree programs and the campus has received several national awards for its implementation of online learning. UIS faculty are committed teachers, active scholars, and professionals in service to society. The University emphasizes excellence in teaching, and faculty are also expected to provide a balance of scholarship and service activities to meet requirements for tenure and promotion. You are encouraged to visit the university web page at http://www.uis.edu and the College of Education and Human Services’ web page at https://www.uis.edu/cehs/.

To Apply: Click the "Apply for Position" button below, create or update your profile, complete the online application, and upload a cover letter addressing the responsibilities of the position, current curriculum vita, unofficial transcripts of terminal degree (official transcripts required if hired), and the names and contact information (email address and phone number) for three professional references. Priority will be given to those applicants who complete the online application and upload all required materials by the 12/22/2021 application deadline; incomplete applications will not be evaluated. To maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the search process, applicants are asked to upload their own materials. Formal review of applications will begin 01/03/2022 and continue until the position is filled or the search is terminated.

More About UIS & Our Springfield Community

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) is a premier public university that provides students with a high-quality liberal arts education, exceptional public affairs opportunities, and outstanding professional preparation programs. UIS is one of three universities of the world-class University of Illinois system and has been ranked by US News & World Report as one of the top 10 regional public universities in the Midwest.

UIS celebrates its diversity with a campus comprised of students and faculty of various ages, backgrounds, and ethnicity. Faculty members are accomplished teacher-scholars, and UIS has a national reputation for innovation in teaching and excellence in online education. Located in the state capital, UIS has established a reputation for Leadership lived, based upon four core strengths: the educational richness of its teaching-focused academic experience; the abundant opportunities it provides for students to collaborate with faculty and gain practical experience through institutional partners; the right-sized supportive community it offers; and its tradition of educating public servants and leaders in private and public sectors. UIS is a community-engaged campus whose students contribute over 66,000 hours of community service each year.

The surrounding Springfield community offers a wonderful quality of life. A lively entertainment scene includes jazz, blues, community theatre, municipal opera, comedy, and live music, including downtown music festivals. Additional cultural and sporting attractions are conveniently located a few hours away in St. Louis, Chicago, and Indianapolis. With a population of about 117,000, Springfield offers great restaurants, shopping, and other city amenities while retaining the friendliness and affordability of small-town living (and without the heavy traffic). The area also has a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including biking and hiking trails, ice rinks, sports complexes, and several first-class golf courses. Lake Springfield offers fishing, boating, and other recreational water activities. Springfield is also home to a wildlife sanctuary, zoo, lakeside memorial gardens, botanical gardens, and one of the world’s largest carillons.

Springfield was home to Abraham Lincoln, our nation’s sixteenth president and one of its most famous political figures. A historical downtown area features the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, the Old State Capitol, the Lincoln historical district, historic reenactments and events, the Illinois State Museum, and a variety of specialty shops and restaurants which make Springfield the most prominent tourist destination in central Illinois.

Springfield is also home to the second Illinois Medical District (the first being in Chicago) and includes two major medical centers, Memorial Health Systems and HSHS St. John’s Health Systems, as well as the Southern Illinois University School of medicine. The medical community and state government are the two largest employers in Springfield.

Springfield offers daily Amtrak service to St. Louis and Chicago as well as to points beyond. A regional airport offers daily service to major hubs in Chicago and Dallas. City bus service is provided from the UIS campus to various locations around the city.

Read more about Springfield, Illinois

UIS is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive campus community. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment.  Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State Universities Retirement System.

• You don't pay Social Security taxes and your earnings won't be on your Social Security record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages.)
• Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your
  • Social Security benefitand
  • Social Security benefit as a spouse.