Open Faculty Position to Coordinate Dual Credit General Chemistry Program

Missouri Western State University invites applications for a student-focused, skilled, and engaging tenure track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor to coordinate the delivery of a General Chemistry course to regional high schools, beginning in July 2009. Participating students receive high school and college credit. The successful applicant will be expected to perform the following duties related the dual credit course:

• develop course materials, which may include lectures on DVD,
• manage off-site course delivery via WebCT or similar delivery system,
• implement a rigorous & engaging laboratory curriculum employing modern chemical instrumentation (including GC/MS, FTIR, UV/Vis, and AA),
• assess student performance through fair and rigorous grading practices,
• conduct summer workshops for high school teachers.

Currently 21 high schools participate in our dual credit program, with enrollment exceeding 160 students. Students visit campus twice a year, and the successful candidate will be expected to visit each high school site at least twice a year. The faculty member will also teach on-campus courses and labs.

REQUIREMENTS

A doctorate degree in chemistry, with experience in modern chemical lab techniques and instrumentation in undergraduate education. Experience with distance education instruction is preferred, and prior experience with secondary education is a plus. Applicants with interests all areas of chemistry are eligible to apply. Applicants with a specialty in Chemical Education or experience in secondary education are especially invited to apply, and may participate in the department’s secondary education program, particularly to teach the Secondary Teaching Methods course.

APPLICATION FOR OPEN POSITION

Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, current CV, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, a statement of teaching philosophy, a statement on research interests suitable for working with undergraduates, and three current letters of reference. Materials should be sent to Missouri Western State University, Human Resources, 4525 Downs Dr., St. Joseph, MO 64507 or to recruitment@missouriwestern.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately. Complete applications received by April 10, 2009 will receive priority consideration. Employment is contingent upon proof of the legal right to work in the U.S. Documentation must be provided prior to consideration/employment at the University. An appointment is not final until all documents are provided. AA/EOE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

The Chemistry Department is staffed by 7 full-time faculty, covering all major areas of chemistry, who are dedicated to quality undergraduate education and applied learning with an emphasis on experimental and instrumental exposure. The department is accredited by the American Chemical Society and offers ACS certified BS degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. BS degrees are also offered in Medical Technology and Natural Science/Chemistry with concentrations in four areas including Health Professions, Secondary Education, Forensic Sciences and Chemical Business. A graduate program was recently initiated for a Masters of Applied Sciences degree in Chemistry which focuses on bridging chemistry with business. The department is well equipped with modern instrumentation including a 300 MHz NMR, FTIR (with microscope), UV/VIS (with temperature controlled multi-cell kinetics package), HPLC, GC/MS, fluorimeter (with temperature control and microtiter plate reader), digital polarimeter, electrochemical analysis package, inert atmosphere chamber, and computational workstation with Gaussian, GaussView and Amber software. A renovation and addition project is currently underway to add 60,000 sq. ft. to our current science and math facilities. The addition is expected to be completed in December 2009, providing new teaching and research laboratories for faculty and students. For more information visit the department web site: http://www.missouriwestern.edu/chemistry.

THE UNIVERSITY              

Missouri Western State University is a public, state-supported institution providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and sciences and career-oriented associate, baccalaureate and master’s degree programs.  Certificate programs, professional programs, programs for transfer students, continuing education opportunities, and self-enrichment courses are also offered.  Western continues to honor its tradition of open access, serving both traditional and non-traditional students. The University has been designated as the Missouri’s Applied Learning University, focusing on providing students with opportunities beyond the classroom.  Western approaches its fourth decade with a growing enrollment of more than 5,500 students and over 190 faculty members.    The campus consists of 11 major buildings and a student-housing complex located on a beautifully landscaped 744 acre campus of contemporary institutional and recreational facilities.

THE COMMUNITY             

The historic city of St. Joseph, Missouri, has a population of approximately 74,000 and 50 miles north of Kansas City, with St. Joseph only 35 miles from Kansas City International Airport. Recreational, cultural and community opportunities are available.  The cost-of-living is below the national average, especially for housing costs.

Page Updated 3/31/2009