Job Description

The University of New England (UNE) invites applications for the position of Director to lead a new School of Computer Science and Data Analytics (SCSDA), housed within the College of Arts and Sciences. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead the development of the new School, including its two newest degree programs: Computer Science and Statistics. In addition to growing the current applied mathematics and data science majors, the vision for the SCSDA includes expanding its array of academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and developing a robust research agenda. The Director is a 12-month administrative appointment with a 9-month tenure-track faculty appointment eligible for hire at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with a start date no later than September 2025.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please submit the following materials:
Cover letter that includes a description of relevant experience, leadership style, teaching philosophy and interests, and research interests
Curriculum vitae
Names and contact information for three professional references

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY. UNE is a private, non-profit, comprehensive university, with campuses in Portland and Biddeford, Maine and Tangier, Morocco. With roots dating to 1831, the University has evolved to become the largest private university in Maine and one of the fastest growing private universities in the Northeast. UNE has established itself as a leading comprehensive university with particular strengths in the health sciences and marine sciences and a wide range of academic programs offered both onsite and online to just over 11,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. UNE is guided by the core values of student-centeredness, community and belonging, relentless inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, learning everywhere, progressive change, and stewardship of our planet.

UNE’s more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online degree programs are offered through six colleges – the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Westbrook College of Health Professions, College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Professional Studies, and recently-established College of Business. UNE is home to Maine’s only medical school and only physician assistant program and to northern New England’s only dental school. UNE’s robust research agenda garners more NIH funding in biomedical research than any other college or university in Maine. UNE is located on two beautiful campuses in Maine – the coastal Biddeford Campus and suburban Portland Campus for the Health Sciences – and also has a unique study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco. UNE is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

During a tumultuous time for higher education, UNE has bucked the trends, emerging from a global pandemic with robust enrolment numbers, a bold plan to move its medical college from Biddeford to Portland, and a host of new academic programs and student support initiatives designed to meet the workplace needs of an ever-changing economy. While many other institutions were content to merely keep their doors open during the pandemic, UNE’s dedicated faculty and professional staff were determined to seize every opportunity during a time of much change and realignment for the industry. And guided by the recently refreshed Our World, Our Future strategic plan, UNE has done just that. As a result, the University’s credit rating has recently been upgraded to A2 from Moody’s Investor Services and A+ (with positive outlook) from Fitch Ratings.

UNE emphasizes welcoming and belonging, and meeting the needs of first-generation students while consciously immersing students in an environment that prioritizes viewpoint diversity. Indeed, one of UNE’s distinguishing characteristics is its commitment to fostering a robust marketplace of ideas so that students may develop the respect for opposing viewpoints and intellectual curiosity needed to be productive participants in our increasingly polarized society. The University invites to campus guest speakers whose ideas span various ideological spectra and, through an array of interrelated programs, exposes students to multiple views on important topics, both inside and outside the classroom.

Perennially included on “best colleges lists” by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes, and others, UNE prides itself on its excellent student outcomes. It has recently been ranked first in Maine for value added by Brookings and first in Maine for job placement by Zippia. Meanwhile, UNE students enjoy an exceptionally low student-loan-default-rate of just 0.6% compared to 2.3% nationally. UNE’s clinical programs also boast exceptional board pass rates, while the aspiring doctors in UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine earn a residency choice match rate that is among the ten best in the country. For more information about these and other accolades, visit www.une.edu/about/glance.

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is located on UNE’s waterfront Biddeford campus. One of UNE’s six colleges, CAS has a primary focus on undergraduate education, but with plans to expand graduate offerings. CAS offers students a highly integrated learning experience that promotes excellence through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in education, research, and service.

UNE is a great place to work. We boast both a tight-knit community and access to a wide array of degree programs, research opportunities and cultural events. UNE offers a generous comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their dependents. The package includes varied health and dental plans; a retirement plan that includes up to an 8% match; extensive paid leave including holidays, vacation, sick and personal time; and educational benefits for both employees and dependent children. Please visit the Human Resources Benefits site – https://www.une.edu/hr/benefits – for additional information regarding UNE’s fantastic benefits package.
Responsibilities
The Director will be expected to supervise and mentor all faculty housed within the School, and to lead efforts in recruiting, academic advising, program development and assessment. They will be expected to teach courses aligned with their expertise and are expected to develop an active, independent research program in computer science that results in dissemination of their scholarly work and to seek external funding as applicable.

The Director is responsible for advancing the mission of the School, the College, and University by fostering excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service. The Director plays a critical role in representing the interests of faculty and students, ensuring that their academic programs meet the highest standards of quality and accessibility. The Director will effectively lead and coordinate their School’s efforts to enhance student success and promote a collaborative and innovative academic environment by:

I. Leadership
Promoting excellence in learning and teaching
Mentoring faculty colleagues in their professional development, including progression towards reappointment, tenure (if applicable) and promotion
Assisting faculty colleagues in identifying resources to support research and scholarship
Facilitating the review, assessment, and revision of existing academic programs/curricula, and the creation of new academic programs/curricula
Coordinating programmatic and core/general education planning, including course offerings, staffing, and operational budgeting
Programming appropriate events for the school, college, and university community, and represent the School at University events
Actively monitoring and analyzing enrollment and retention trends in all majors of the School, as well as the performance of students in courses in the curriculum
Assessing and ensuring optimal enrollment in majors and minors offered by the School
Growing new majors to meet market demand, and revising or teaching-out existing majors/minors that are not performing
Participating in college and university meetings, and sharing with faculty relevant information regarding the University and higher education landscape
II. Management
Leading unit meetings
Representing the faculty, professional staff, and students of the School to ensure their perspectives are considered in decision-making
Overseeing the implementation of school, college and university published policies
Managing the School budget
Reviewing and editing school catalog page(s), propose course schedules, and revising/affirming course attributes (i.e., course descriptions, pre-requisites, restrictions) annually, following deadlines set by the Registrar’s Office
Ensuring the accuracy of degree audits/evaluations
Ensuring faculty adoption/utilization of institutional software tools and platforms
Assigning and overseeing the workload and staffing of course sections
Completing reports as requested by the dean or provost (e.g., assessment)
Reviewing and signing appropriate forms
Tracking facilities, space and equipment needs and requests
Completing in a timely manner annual performance appraisals of all unit faculty and professional staff
In coordination with the dean and Human Resources, overseeing faculty and professional staff position searches and hiring
In coordination with Human Resources, completing thorough onboarding of new faculty and professional staff
Regularly reviewing and updating the School webpage
III. Student Support
Facilitating the assignment of faculty mentors and advisors
Demonstrating an awareness of the needs of all students, including consideration of the diversity of student backgrounds
Supporting faculty mentors in conducting degree audits
Guiding students through policies and procedures (e.g., grade appeals and academic petitions)
Coordinating change/declaration of majors and minors
Serving as the point person for student concerns (if not resolved with the Instructor)
Facilitating school participation in strategic student intervention working in partnership with the Office of Student Success
Reviewing cases of academic integrity, per CAS policy (https://www.une.edu/cas-1)
IV. Communication
Informing Dean of matters of interest/concern
Sharing information from the Dean, Provost, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, and President with faculty and professional staff colleagues
Coordinating the review and updating of school webpages, brochures, and other related communications
Collaborating with the Dean’s Office, the Provost’s Office and Admissions on student recruitment efforts
Serving as the liaison between the school and other offices on campus
V. Personnel
Performing the supervisor’s role in annual review and RPT per the UNE Faculty Handbook
Supervising the School’s professional staff, including annual reviews per the UNE Personnel Handbook
Coordinating faculty and professional staff recruitment efforts
Overseeing the process of peer evaluations of teaching
Working with the Dean and Human Resources to address emergent personnel situations (e.g., medical, disability, & non-disability leaves)
Serving as a role model for faculty and professional staff by modeling a constructive, collaborative, and engaged approach to addressing challenges within the School, College, and University
Qualifications
Ph.D. in Computer Science, along with a minimum of six years of experience in higher education or the equivalent. Applications from candidates undertaking interdisciplinary research with broad potential for collaborative impact across the School, College, and University are especially welcomed. Curriculum development experience in computer science or closely related field is expected, as is the ability to mentor undergraduate students in independent projects. The successful applicant will demonstrate capacity for excellence in teaching and a record of scholarly productivity with promise for continued research success.
EEO Statement Summary
Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.