Interim Chair/Academic Rank

The English and Modern Languages department at Pittsburg State University is accepting internal department only applications for the Interim Chair/Rank TBD. The Department Chair serves as the chief administrative officer of the department. The Chair provides leadership for the department and is responsible for the academic, personnel, facility, and financial affairs of the department to ensure that the activities of the department meet the University, College, and Department missions and goals. The Administrative assignment is at the pleasure of the President.  

Duties and Responsibilities of Position 

Administrative Duties – 50% (Essential) 

• Plan and conduct departmental business, including faculty appointments, promotion, contract renewal, tenure, salary increases, and dismissals. Provide leadership in the development of departmental curriculum. Develop schedules. Assign faculty and staff workloads and assignments. Facilitate departmental meetings. Oversee the department’s assessment efforts and review, and long‐range planning. Coordinate accreditation and/or approval activities. Assign special projects as needed to ensure the department’s mission and goals are achieved. 
• Promote and provide leadership in mentoring and development of faculty, including completion of Annual Performance Appraisals, and student recruitment and retention. 
• Promote and enhance the image of the department 
• Supervise administrative staff, including completion of Performance Reviews, in accordance with university, college, and department policies and procedures. 
• Manage the departmental budget and expenditures, including General Use, Foundation, or other funds used for Other Operating Expenditures (OOE), scholarships, and other special uses (e.g. grants and travel). 
• Promote and provide leadership in community/university relations. Work with PSU Foundation and participate in planned giving and fundraising activities as well as the solicitation of gifts. 
• Act as a liaison between faculty in the department and upper‐level administrators. 
• Oversee the physical spaces used by the department and work with physical plant to meet facility program needs. 
• Promote a collegial department atmosphere. Respond to concerns of staff, faculty, students, and other stakeholders (parents & alumni). 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

 Teaching – 25% (Essential) 

• Engage in academic program planning and development, instruction, evaluation, and student academic advisement. The appropriate teaching load is determined in consultation with the Dean. 

Service – 15% (Essential) 

• Engage in institutional, professional and community service activities. Individual service plans are established each year through the Unclassified Performance Management Process. 

 Scholarly Activity – 10% (Essential) 

• Engage in research, scholarship, or creative endeavor. Individualized plans for scholarly activity are established each year through the Unclassified Performance Management Process. 

Education And Experience

    Required Education and Experience at Hire - 

• Terminal Degree in a field within the purview of English or Modern Languages 
• 5 years of experience teaching, scholarly/creative productivity, and service at the collegiate level  
• Tenured or tenurable in the Department of English and Modern Languages 
• Demonstrated academic leadership and administrative skills 
• Appointment at a senior faculty level at PSU (associate or full professor) 
• Demonstrated positive professional relationship skills with organizational and external constituents 

Candidate's must hold a terminal degree in English and Modern Languages discipline or related field. This degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level. 

Screening Services (Background Checks):  Your employment with Pittsburg State University is contingent on a satisfactory criminal background and sex offender check.

Job Type:  Unclassified

• Appointment Duration: 12 month Fiscal Year appointment for one year
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Application Documents Required*:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• *Consolidate documents into a maximum of 2 uploads. 
• This is a internal PSU department only search.
• Open Until Filled with first review  date of October 10, 2025.
• Search Committee Chair: Kyle Thompson  (mkthompson@pittstate.edu)
• Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
• PSU will only accept applications submitted through this process.

Pittsburg State University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About Pittsburg State University

Founded in 1903, Pittsburg State’s 373-acre campus is a beautiful blend of historic buildings and modern facilities, including state-of-the-art athletics, arts, and research facilities.  

Its residential and online undergraduate and graduate student population of nearly 6,000 is guided by an exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and administrative team.  

Pitt State’s hands-on learning environment and engagement by alumni working in a variety of professional sectors creates incredible academic, internship, and employment opportunities for students. Academic programs often bring home national honors.  

The university enjoys a close relationship with Pittsburg residents as well as city and business leaders. Throughout town, you’ll see gorilla statues in front lawns and red and gold Gorilla spirit at local businesses. Students, faculty, and staff are highly engaged in the local school district and with service projects, and in turn the community is highly supportive of and engaged in university activities. 

Faculty, staff, and students have access to many amenities, including discounts and free access to concerts, plays, athletic events on campus as well as discounts on meals and services off campus.  

Pitt State has developed unique partnerships in downtown Pittsburg, 1.4 miles north of the main campus. There, Block22 and the historic Hotel Besse offer innovative student housing options and the new Kelce College of Business building, scheduled to open in July 2026, will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, collaboration spaces, and space for professional development and public events. 

The university has earned institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and two elite classifications from the Carnegie Foundation.