Studies in community and environment

Minot State University invites applications for a director of its new interdisciplinary Studies in Community and Environment program (with the potential to develop into a tenure-track line). Desired start date is July 1, 2010.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Following its mission statement, the Studies In Community and Environment (SCE) Program at Minot State University aims to bring together rigorous academic studies and meaningful practical experiences needed to solve community and environmental problems in North Dakota, the Great Plains region, and other places throughout the nation and the world. The purpose of Studies in Community and Environment (SCE) is to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human interactions with communities and environments. This new major will present students with the opportunity to gain knowledge of and sensitivity to the scientific, social, political, economic, aesthetic, and cultural aspects of human-environment interaction. The ultimate purpose of this program is to foster understanding of the causes for current environmental and community problems (including our personal roles in causing these problems), and to empower students to change their own behavior and take leadership roles in addressing community and environmental issues. Through the SCE program students and faculty can connect directly with communities, helping the university direct its resources where they are needed, helping communities teach us about the real needs of the region. Finally, students who major in Studies in Community and Environment will be prepared to live thoughtful, responsible, ethical lives on the only planet we have; they will be well versed in issues and practices of sustainability, conservation, and planetary ethics, and will be well-prepared for twenty-first century global citizenship.

A more detailed overview of the program and its objectives can be found here. In addition, some sample syllabi can be found through the following links: SCE 101, SCE 291, SCE 360, SCE 394 and SCE 490. (These links all lead to Microsoft Word documents)

QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have administrative experience, preferably with interdisciplinary programs; interdisciplinary teaching experience; academic background and preparation in community, sustainability, and/or environmental studies; experience in teaching community studies, sustainability, and/or environmental courses; and excellent organizational, oral, and written communication skills. This position is primarily administrative although teaching will be required (we expect to offer a ten-month contract with a teaching load of 1/1). Therefore a Ph.D. or other terminal degree in the candidate’s field is also required. The candidate should also be able to provide evidence of research and scholarly activity in environmental, community, and/or sustainability issues as well as evidence of an active service record in same. The minimum salary for this position is $45,000.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The new SCE Director will be responsible for direction of the program, teaching within the program, marketing and recruitment, and working with other degree programs on campus.

THE UNIVERSITY
Minot State University (MSU) was founded in 1913 and has evolved from a normal school to a Carnegie Masters I institution. The campus has three colleges and offers twelve master’s degree programs. There is a rich mix of liberal arts and professional programs offering more than sixty majors at the undergraduate level. MSU has a strong online program that uses a wide variety of communication tools to deliver coursework, training, and workshops to a worldwide audience. Enrollment is approximately 3500. Additional information is available at the MSU website: http://www.minotstateu.edu.

THE VISION
Minot State University is built upon a core commitment to students, learning, service, cooperation, and a respect for people and place. Our strategic plan, Vision 2013, puts forth the goal for Minot State University to become a premier public institution in the Great Plains. This bold initiative rests on a philosophy of engagement and place. We believe that the university experience should provide students a connection between academic subjects and the reality of life on the Great Plains, between theory and practice, and between local experiences and global realities. This philosophy is grounded in an expectation that all students can learn, grow, and succeed if given support, guidance and an engaging learning environment. Minot State University seeks individuals who will help us create a community that is focused on student growth, learning, and success; the development of students with integrity, character, and intelligence; institutional commitment to civic engagement, stewardship of local and global place; and meaningful service for the welfare of others. Candidates interested in helping us to achieve Vision 2013, are encouraged to apply for this position or contact us for more information.

THE COMMUNITY
Minot State University is located in the city of Minot. Minot (rhymes with "why-not") is located in the picturesque Souris river valley, 110 miles north of the state capital. Qualifying as a town elsewhere in the United States, Minot is a large city for North Dakota. Minot and the neighboring air force base is a community of about 60,000 people. Minot is at the intersection of three major highways and is serviced by Delta Airlines and Amtrak.. It serves the northwestern region of North Dakota, eastern Montana, and extreme southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan as regional center of cultural activities. The city is also host annually to the state fair and to Norsk Hostfest, the largest Scandinavian festival in North America. Theater, symphony, opera and other music can all be found in Minot. For more cosmopolitan tastes, Winnipeg (5 hours), Regina (4 hours) and Minneapolis (9 hours) are within reach.

Some facts about Minot and North Dakota (from Minot Convention and Visitor's Bureau):
Minot is 7th in the nation as the top micropolitan city to live in with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 people
·     North Dakota is the safest state in the country
·     North Dakota is ranked third in the country as the best place to raise children
·     North Dakota leads the nation in having the cleanest environment
·     North Dakota has the highest graduation rate in the country at 86.9%
While Minot does offer all amenities, it is also small enough for good family living and natural resources. The Badlands of North Dakota are within 2 hours drive. The Black Hills, Badlands National Park, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park are within a day's drive. And the wide-open spaces and flat-to-rolling topography are right here, and often surprise visitors with their subtle beauty and awesome vistas from everywhere.
The weather is North Dakota is widely variable. Summers are beautiful with pleasant and long days. Winters can be spectacularly cold and offer some of the best winter recreation in North America.
To learn more about the city of Minot see http://web.ci.minot.nd.us and http://www.visitminot.org .

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
To apply, please send a letter of application, a current vita, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a statement of philosophy on administering and teaching in a program that focuses on the relationships between community, environment, and sustainability to:
Wes Matthews
Department of Human Resources
Minot State University
500 University Ave W
Minot ND 58707
wes.matthews@minotstateu.edu