General Summary: The Department Chairperson contributes to the establishment and accomplishment of the College of Nursing and Departmental goals, detailed in the College's mission, vision and strategic plan. The non-administrative portion of the Department Chairperson position will be negotiated individually with the Dean and will be based on meeting the needs of the College in terms of education, research, or practice.

Principal Responsibilities

Vision and Leadership

1. Contributes to the values, goals and strategic vision of the College.
2. Leads the Department in setting Department values, goals and strategies that are congruent with those of the College.
3. Participates in College leadership and interfaces with other academic components of Rush University.

Resource Identification and Management

1. Seeks external Fiscal and resource support in collaboration with the Dean.
2. Prepares a financial plan and manages a budget that is congruent with College and Departmental goals.
3. Recruits, develops and retains an excellent faculty that meets College and Departmental goals.
4. Assures equitable and relevant faculty workload distribution.

Process Elements

1. Represents the Department in all Collegiate and University official assemblies
2. Promotes a positive College and Departmental climate that supports faculty and students in their quest to attain the goals of education, research and clinical excellence.
3. Seeks and maintains interdisciplinary and intra- and inter- institutional opportunities.
4. Promotes the College's and Department's reputation for excellence including presentation of the College and Department within and external to the Rush community.
5. Evaluates members of the faculty for the purpose of assisting them to develop their full potential as educators, researcher/scholars, practitioners, leaders and College and University citizens.
6. Assumes responsibility for Departmental activities.
7. Fulfills the responsibilities of senior rank as described in the Faculty Manual.
8. Collaborates effectively with leadership and faculty.

Outcomes

1. Sustains the College's reputation for quality education through curriculum guidance and the development of faculty members as proficient and creative teachers.
2. Facilitates Departmental research and scholarly productivity through continuous guidance of Departmental faculty members. Supports a successful College Faculty Practice through the recruitment and retention of quality practitioner teachers.
3. The Chairperson of a Department shall be appointed by the Dean of the College upon the approval of the President and Governing Body after a review of a Search Committee's recommendations
4. The Chairperson shall be appointed for a period of five (5) years. Reappointments shall be made by the Dean and approved by the Board of Trustees.
5. In the event of a vacancy of the Chairperson of a Department, an Acting Chairperson shall be appointed at once by the Dean. If the vacancy is temporary and for a prescribed period of time within the tenure of the Chairperson, the Dean shall appoint an Acting Chairperson. If the vacancy is permanent, the procedure described in paragraph (3) above shall be instituted.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduate degree in nursing and an earned doctorate in nursing or a related field.
2. National recognition as a senior scholar/leader in nursing.
3. Licensure as a registered nurse in Illinois.
4. Eligible for appointment at senior academic rank.
5. Evidence of progressive administrative responsibility.

Programs within the Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Health Nursing are highly ranked through the U.S. News and World Report including #2 Adult/Gerontology Primary Care DNP and #2 Adult/Gerontology Acute Care DNP. The College is ranked #1 for DNP and Online Master's, and #13 for Master's in Nursing Science.