Civil Engineering Department Chair & ABET Coordinator

Faculty are essential to Liberty University's mission of Training Champions for Christ. It is expected that a faculty member model a personal commitment to the goals and values of Liberty University, engage in an active commitment to, and experience of, personal spiritual formation within a biblically informed Christian worldview. Faculty should view their teaching, engagement with students, and scholarship as a means to a significant educational end. They should strive to employ a variety of techniques for the development of good learning conditions, view each student as a unique individual, and insofar as it is possible, provide for individual differences, abilities, and interests.

Liberty University (LU) invites applications for the position of Department Chair of Civil Engineering in the School of Engineering. Applicants must demonstrate a personal faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to LU's mission of Training Champions for Christ. The primary role of this Department Chair is to maintain the integrity of residential curriculum and to ensure that the program delivery aligns with the University mission and vision for the student experience. Other duties may be required, as determined by the university and / or school leadership, per the LU Faculty Handbook. The Department Chair is a full-time, residential position with a 12-month contract as an academic administrator and a faculty member at the rank of full professor.

LU is the largest university in the U.S. with total enrollment exceeding 130,000 (residential and online). Founded in 1971 and located in Central Virginia, LU offers over 700 programs in engineering, education, counseling, religion, law, aviation, cinematic arts, business, and more. LU is committed to academic excellence and to Training Champions for Christ as affirmed by its mission and doctrinal statements. LU equips students with both classroom theory and practical experience, effectively preparing them to enter a competitive job market. LU graduates are sought after by prestigious companies for their integrity, personal discipline, and versatility.

The Civil Engineering program at Liberty University has experienced significant growth since its inception in 2019. The department currently has five faculty members and covers five technical areas : Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Construction, and Water Resources Engineering. In 2023, the Civil Engineering program applied for ABET accreditation after graduating seven residential students with Baccalaureate degrees.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Dean of School of Engineering and working collaboratively with the school's leadership, the Department Chair's primary role is to maintain the integrity of the Civil Engineering program and to ensure that its delivery is in alignment with the University mission and vision. The Chair also ensures operational excellence in relation to the Civil Engineering program's administration, including faculty recruitment and retention, program administration, and student success.

• Report to the Dean of the School of Engineering and work collaboratively with the school's leadership, to define a vision that will chart new areas of opportunity for the department.
• Provide leadership for the department to educate and mentor students and to guide faculty and staff; contribute to the annual evaluation of the faculty and their promotion process; establish departmental committees, advisory board, and other key departmental policies in alignment with the University mission and vision.
• Provide leadership and coordination on academic matters such as curriculum processes, working with faculty to design and develop appropriate curricular offerings, building on the foundation of the current programs and developing new innovative educational experiences that will leverage the assets of the school and yield the greatest impact on student outcomes and success.
• Support and foster the spiritual development of faculty, staff, and students, ensuring that Christian values remain the focus of our mission and purpose at Liberty University.
• Provide leadership for high-impact research that will connect many stakeholders across and beyond the university.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate must have earned a doctorate in one of the main areas of Civil Engineering (Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Construction, or Water Resource Engineering) or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. In addition, the candidate must currently hold the rank of full professor or have professional and academic achievements commensurate with the rank of full professor. An outstanding record of scholarly research and publications, accomplishments towards excellence in teaching, and demonstration of strong leadership and administrative skills are essential in this role.

Target Hire Date

2024-12-31

Time Type

Full time

Location

Lynchburg - In Office

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job. All personnel related activities such as compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including all applicable state of employment protected classes. The University is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. The University's hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the "religion" component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations (including educational institutions), and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.