Political Science Department Director

About Wenzhou-Kean University:

Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), located in Wenzhou, China, one of three Sino-American universities along with NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University, is approved by the Ministry of Education of China. Launched in 2012, WKU offers a unique model of higher education in partnership with Kean University, a comprehensive, public university in the state of New Jersey that is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls about 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students, and it is now in the midst of a rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students within the next three years. All instruction is in English, and all curriculum is provided by Kean University.

In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education for offering 14 Master’s and 3 doctorate programs. WKU highly values research-powered teaching and learning, and the average number of faculty publications and the Field-weighted Citation Impact are among the best of leading Chinese academic institutions.

Wenzhou is one of the most vibrant and economically advanced developed cities on China’s East Coast, located one hour by plane and three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai. 

About the Job:

The Department Director is both a tenure-track faculty member with an academic rank and an academic administrator who assumes a pivotal role in providing academic leadership, articulating the department’s goals and needs, and shaping the vision of the department to elevate its educational quality and academic reputation. The core administrative responsibilities of the Department Director encompass, but are not confined to, the following:

• Grow and develop the program(s) to enhance its academic reputation and national presence;
• Assist in recruitment events such as high school visits and open houses;
• Course scheduling and assignment of other responsibilities to faculty;
• Manage department budget and allocate resources efficiently;
• Annually evaluate faculty performance in teaching, scholarship, student advising, and service. Following the assessment, engage in one-on-one discussions with each faculty member to review the evaluation results and collaboratively formulate improvement plans. The assessment of the department director, in conjunction with evaluations conducted by the artp committee and the deans, plays a crucial role in fostering the ongoing enhancement of faculty members' performance in teaching, research, and service. Other duties include:
• Conduct classroom observation, complete observation reports, review portfolios for reappointment applications, provide written evaluations to lecturers, and make recommendations on reappointment or non-reappointment of lecturers to the dean;
• In collaboration with administrative departments, develop and implement plans to recruit, advise, mentor, retain, and graduate students in a timely manner;
• Adjudicate students concerns and grievances in a fair and consistent manner while upholding university policies and processes;
• Maintain professional decorum and create a climate of collegiality among faculty, staff, and students;
• Conduct curricular review and communicate with the wku campus dean who will work with kean USA for curriculum revisions;
• Oversee graduation audit, accreditation process and assessment activities including gathering data and preparing reports;
• Appoint faculty search committee and monitor the search progress;
• Provide mentorship to new faculty and support professional development;
• Conduct department faculty meetings at least once a month;
• Supervise administrative staff;
• Coordinate with wku administration on department-related matters;
• Establish connections with industry, government agencies, and the local community to develop research collaboration, facilitate technology transfer, and create internship and community engagement opportunities for students; contribute to the technological, economic, and cultural development of the local community through these initiatives;
• Foster collaboration with external professional organizations and communities.

The Department Director will be a full-time, 10-month tenure-track Assistant/Associate/Full Professor. Each term is set for three years, allowing the incumbent Department Director to reapply, alongside other candidates, for the subsequent term. The Department Director's performance will be evaluated annually by the Dean. Department Directors are required to be on campus at least four days a week (Monday through Friday) throughout the contract period exclusive of university holidays and winter break, with a requirement of at least seven hours per day, to assist faculty and students, and perform administrative duties. Upon receiving approval from the dean, Department Directors have the option to work remotely during the winter semester. However, it is important that they remain available to respond promptly to students and faculty throughout the winter semester. A Department Director can hold the position for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Tenure-track faculty members typically teach 24 credits per academic year. However, the Department Director is granted 6 credits reassigned time for administrative duties per academic year. Six credits of teaching release time will be provided to new faculty each year for the first three consecutive years of the appointment to support external research grant development and other significant research endeavours. In the summer, if deemed necessary by the department and upon request from the dean, Department Directors are anticipated to commit to a minimum of three days per week for four weeks following the conclusion of their 10-month contract. This commitment aims to fulfill the administrative responsibilities of the department during the summer period. The summer duty will be remunerated with a 3-credit overload, or alternatively, through approval of the dean, can be exchanged for 3-credit reassigned time in the fall or spring semester. 

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Political Science, International Studies, or a closely related field is required. Preference will be given to candidates holding doctoral degrees from reputable universities (Carnegie R1 institutions or comparable research universities with established strengths and strong academic reputations in the relevant fields). Candidates with established scholarly records in Political Science or closely related disciplines are encouraged to apply. These include, but are not limited to, candidates whose subject area expertise is international development, diplomacy, foreign affairs, or international relations. Candidates with experience developing postgraduate programs are strongly encouraged to apply.

As a tenure-track faculty member, the Department Director should possess a strong track record of publication in Political Science, International Studies or closely related fields, and be ready to lead their research groups independently. Candidates should additionally be able to teach a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate Political Science and International Studies courses, including but not limited to Comparative Politics, International Relations, Chinese Foreign Policy, Conduct of US Foreign Policy, American Government and Politics, Introduction to Politics, and Political Theory.

This position is a full-time assignment appointed on a 3-year contract at the first instance. The university will provide start-up grants (up to 80,000 RMB) in support of their research programs. After joining WKU, faculty will apply to a variety of internal research funds as well as external grants at the municipal, provincial, and national levels. Tenure-track faculty are also expected to provide service to the university and/or professional community.

Teaching assignments and related responsibilities may include day, evening, and online courses. Interest or experience in using advanced instructional technologies to improve the teaching/learning process is highly desirable. All faculty may be required to teach General Education courses as needed. Opportunities are also available to teach disciplinary support courses. 

Faculty position at WKU offer:

Annual salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience with the range from USD $67,000-$72,000 for Assistant Professor and USD $72,000-$78,000 for Associate Professor. In addition to their regular faculty salary, the Department Director will receive an annual stipend for administrative responsibilities. Salary of extraordinary candidates shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. The University will provide start-up grants to support tenure-track faculty to start their research programs. Benefits include a well-rounded healthcare coverage, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home traveling up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares), a reimbursement to cover relocation expenses up to $1,000 and shuttle bus to campus for work. WKU also offers a tuition waiver of up to 50% for spouse/dependent children of faculty enrolled in undergraduate programs. Faculty have the opportunity to teach high-quality students. About 50% of graduates have been admitted to graduate schools at the World’s Top 50 Universities, and about 60% of graduates at the World’s Top 100 Universities. 

Application Information:

Applicants are REQUIRED to apply online. To receive full consideration by the search committee, candidates need to submit the following documents by clicking the 'Apply' button

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled. Candidates should send cover letter, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, a research statement describing research interests, past accomplishments in research (such as 2-3 most representative peer-reviewed academic publications), and future research plans, unofficial transcripts, and the email contact information of three professional references, including references/names of potential referees from a current or recent direct supervisor. Three current letters of recommendation (within the last 3 months) will be required before advancement. Official transcripts for all degrees are required before appointment. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wenzhou-Kean University is committed to abiding by equal opportunity employment standards. We prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All our employment practices are based on individual merit and our hiring needs at the time. 

Background Screening:

Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings.