Employment - Loyola University, Chicago: Graduate Program Director for MA in Social Justice and Community Development

The Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago is seeking candidates for a full-time tenure-track faculty person who will serve as graduate program director (GPD) to lead its MA program in Social Justice and Community Development.  Applications and candidate screening and interviews should be completed by late February.  The position will begin in July or August 2012.

The Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS), now it its fifth decade at Loyola, is located on LUC’s professional school campus in downtown Chicago.  It functions like a professional school, with its director reporting to the Provost and its small FT faculty overseeing six masters programs and a number of graduate certificate programs.  IPS is not involved in undergraduate education at LUC.  The faculty is augmented by a relatively large adjunct faculty.  Student enrollments average 250-275 students, many of them attending IPS on a part-time basis.  20% of course enrollments are on-line courses.  IPS provides cutting-edge professional education for faith-based leadership and pastoral ministry.  Approximately two-thirds of the students identify themselves as Catholic, and nearly all IPS students are lay people preparing for careers in ministry either for the Church or in service to its broader mission in healthcare, education, social justice/community development, counseling, and spirituality/spiritual direction.  IPS is eager to find candidates of color in filling this position.

The MASJCD program is collaboratively sponsored by IPS (www.luc.edu/ips) and the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE – www.scupe.com).  It prepares students as community activists and change-agents, community development leaders, organizers, and engaged public service—in non-profits, religious outreach groups, community organizations, labor unions, public service agencies, political lobby groups, and faith-based social justice centers.  The MA is a 36-credit-hour degree, which includes a two-semester internship for most students.  Currently there are approximately 70 students enrolled in this program.  

GPDs play a critical role in IPS.  They are fully engaged in leading their programs—from recruitment and admissions through degree completion and graduation.  Their responsibilities exceed those of program chair in many ways.  GPDs work with the Enrollment Advisor and Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management (GPEM) in designing marketing strategies, and sometimes represent IPS at exhibits in ministry conferences and gatherings. GPDs follow up with all applicants to insure that their application is complete.  They review the complete application and make the admission recommendation.  They confer with the IPS Director on student scholarships. They follow up with admits to insure enrollment in IPS classes. GPDs provide incoming students with a comprehensive orientation to the academic program and serve as the advisor to all students in the program.  They are responsible for design and implementation of the mid-degree check-in or candidacy, work with the Director of Field Ed in design and implementation of practica and internships, and oversee the successful completion of final degree projects/papers. Throughout, the GPDs maintain spreadsheets charting the students’ progress through the program.  In addition, they oversee student “formation” progress, insuring that students are meeting IPS formation requirements. GPDs continue to serve alums—with letters of recommendations, job-seeking advice, consultation about licensure, certification, etc.  GPDs oversee the review and assessment processes for their students and the program itself.  They design rubrics for assessment and insure that a representative grouping provide adequate feedback to IPS regarding the learning outcomes. They propose program modifications and curriculum changes as needed.  They also develop new initiatives within their program purview, e.g. the healthcare and urban ministries concentrations in the M.Div and MAPS programs. GPDs serve as liaisons with adjunct faculty in their program areas.  They seek quality faculty, orient them to the program and to IPS students, and make recommendations on adjuncts’ continuation in instruction. They assist the Director in scheduling courses in their program areas to insure that required courses are available to students on a timely basis.

Ideal candidates for this position will:
•    have achieved a doctorate in a cognate field,
•    have achieved tenure or demonstrate a readiness to pursue tenure successfully at LUC
•    demonstrate theological scholarship:  active research agenda, evidence of publications,
•    be Roman Catholic and/or demonstrate familiarity with Catholic Social teaching,
•    become familiar with the Chicago and community development therein,
•    become familiar with Protestant faith-based community development;  

Responsibilities and duties will include:
Administrative:
•    maintain oversight of all dimensions of the MASJCD program,
•    provide leadership and vision for all dimensions of the program,
•    facilitate the admissions process and, with IPS Enrollment Advisor, supervise the half-time cohort recruiter for the MASJCD
•    recruit and orient adjunct faculty,
•    develop and plan curriculum, conduct periodic program review,
•    assist IPS Field Education Director in internship placements,
•    Interface with IPS Director, other GPDs, and IPS faculty and professional staff
Teaching:
•    In above mentioned program as needed, most especially leadership and foundation courses and Catholic Social Teaching courses.
•    Availability for academic advising;
Research and Publication:
•    Conduct and publish scholarly research;
•    For Associate or Full Professor level, demonstrate scholarly publication record.
Service:
•    Demonstrate active involvement in a range of advocacy, peace and justice, and/or community-based activities;
Qualities:
•    Proven leadership record, demonstrated interpersonal skillfulness;
•    Demonstrated passion for justice work and justice practitioners;
•    Ability to collaborate and work in partnership with affiliate organizations;
•    Is organized, efficient, collegial, dependable, able to motivate and direct others;
•    Familiarity and experience with urban issues;
•    Able to draw from ecumenical, interfaith perspectives;
•    Knowledge of Catholic tradition of social justice;
•    Teaching experience with adults in social justice areas;
•    Willingness to teach online and work with educational technologies.