We are extending the deadline for our chair search until December 5, 2016.  
Please see the ad below.  Should you have questions please contact Dr. Eric 
Gillock or me.  Thank you for your time and effort.  Saludos y nos vemos más 
tarde, EJF

Elmer J. Finck, Professor
Associate Curator of Mammals and Birds
Department of Biological Sciences
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Hays, KS  67601-4099
office: AH 322
e-mail: [email protected]
webpage: http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/efinck/
office phone: (785) 628-4269
fax: (785) 628-4153
home phone: (785) 625-9727
cell phone: (785) 650-1057

"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."  Bob Dylan




Chairperson, Department of Biological Sciences

Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University’s Department of Biological Sciences invites 
applications for the position of Chair to start summer 2017.

Responsibilities

The university is seeking a dynamic and innovative leader to facilitate the 
success of a productive, student-centered faculty. The individual should be 
committed to excellence in education, able to foster productive relationships 
among faculty, staff, and administration within the department, college, 
university, and community, while focused on student success. The Chair is 
responsible for the overall management and operation of the department 
including facilities, personnel, and budget, as well as active participation in 
advising, teaching, scholarly activities, and service.

Required Qualifications

 Ph.D. in a discipline within the biological sciences

 Minimum ten years of experience in a college or university environment

 Excellent communication, leadership, and team management skills

 Demonstrated capacity for program administration

 Experience in program assessment and strategic planning

 Demonstrated excellence in teaching and scholarly activities; eligible for 
tenure and academic rank as appropriate

 Demonstrated teaching and research experience in the field of biological 
sciences

 Teaching assignments will be based on area of expertise and individual 
interests in negotiation with college dean



About the Department

The Department of Biological Sciences has 12 full-time faculty positions 
representing the disciplines of botany, ecology, evolutionary biology, 
microbiology, anatomy, and zoology. The department offers B.S. and M.S. degrees 
in biology. Graduate teaching assistants facilitate teaching undergraduate 
labs; additional graduate assistantships are available through the Sternberg 
Museum of Natural History, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, and four donor 
supported research fellowships. Available departmental research resources 
include a microbiology and molecular biology research lab, extensive aquatic 
and terrestrial sampling equipment, excellent computing and GIS facilities, 
outstanding technical support, large museum collections for plants, insects and 
vertebrates, a 1,000-acre tract of native prairie, greenhouse and other related 
resources. The department is housed in Albertson Hall, which includes fully 
mediated classrooms and laboratories. The department employs a fulltime lab 
coordinator and office manager, and a half-time greenhouse manager. 2



About the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics

The college was formed in 2015 by bringing together the departments of 
Agriculture, Applied Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer 
Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physics. The college has 68 full-time 
faculty, about 1100 undergraduate majors, and 55 graduate students. It also 
makes significant contributions to the university’s General Education program 
and to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, which is an early-college 
program for high-achieving high school students. A new applied technology 
building is under construction and will complement existing state of the art 
facilities. Undergraduate students participate in technical, classroom, field, 
and lab experiences that many schools would reserve for graduate students. Our 
academic programs are innovative and our facilities are outstanding. College of 
Science, Technology and Mathematics teachers embrace a one-on-one teaching and 
mentoring philosophy, and provide robust research opportunities for our 
students.

About Fort Hays State University

Forward Thinking. World Ready - Fort Hays State University is a highly 
entrepreneurial teaching focused institution with major operations on-campus, 
online and in China. Providing a high-quality education at an affordable price, 
FHSU is ranked by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the top ten 
fastest growing universities in the U.S. It has an enrollment in excess of 
14,000 students (Approximately 5,000 on campus, 3,500 in China, and over 6,000 
online) and over 380 full time faculty. Bachelors, masters and professional 
doctoral degrees are offered through five colleges, the Graduate School, the 
Honors College, the Virtual College, and various international partnerships. 
Fort Hays State University's award-winning Virtual College coordinates distance 
education to the U.S. Armed Services and students in over 20 countries. The 
Virtual College has received many accolades, including U.S. News & World Report 
Online Programs rankings, GetEducated.com, Best Buys in Education, among 
others. Students at FHSU may select a major field of study from 30 departments. 
FHSU is fully accredited by several national agencies, and is one of six 
state-assisted institutions of higher education governed by a Board of Regents 
appointed by the governor of the state of Kansas. The website 
StateUniversity.com ranked the Fort Hays State campus as the safest in the 
state of Kansas.

The University has rich sports and cultural programming, all of which enjoy 
tremendous community support. The Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center is home 
to the Encore Series, which hosts many travelling Broadway shows, the Hays 
Symphony, university and other national and world-caliber performances. Fort 
Hays State University athletic events provide NCAA Division II athletic 
entertainment.

About Hays, KS

FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant university community of approximately 
20,000, located approximately half way between Kansas City and Denver on 
Interstate 70. It is the cultural, medical, and commercial hub for the western 
half of Kansas — serving a population of nearly 400,000. The Hays Municipal 
Airport provides connecting service to Denver daily. Along with 3



some of the lowest unemployment rates and commute times in the U.S., the city 
provides a safe, friendly, affordable, high-quality living environment.

About Your Application

To ensure consideration, applications should be received by November 4, 2016 by 
close of business. Candidates should submit materials electronically to Dr. 
Eric Gillock ([email protected]) with “Position Application” in the subject 
line of the email. Email submissions should contain one PDF document saved as 
the applicant’s last name. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Eric Gillock at 
[email protected].

Submissions should contain:

 Cover letter explaining interest and fit with position

 Current vita with contact information for a minimum of four references

 Statement of leadership and management philosophy

 Statement of teaching philosophy, including expectations for student 
engagement

 Goals for scholarship, and context for success at Fort Hays State University

 Supporting documentation for the above



Notice of Non-discrimination

Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not 
discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, 
age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or 
veteran status.

Background Check
Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal 
background check.


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