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Dean of the School of Law

Downloadable Position Description (26 KB) Position Description

Candidate Evaluation Form Candidates' Vitas

• Jeffrey Lipshaw (174 KB)
  Itinerary (80 KB)
  Public Forum:
  March 3, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
  104 Green Hall
• Beverly Moran (31 KB)
  Itinerary (79 KB)
  Public Forum:
  March 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
  203 Green Hall
• Steven W. Mazza (374 KB)
  Itinerary (78 KB)
  Public Forum:
  March 14, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
  104 Green Hall

Overview
The University of Kansas School of Law (KU Law) has a distinguished record of making significant contributions to the administration of justice in the state, the region, the nation, and the international community. Founded in 1878, KU Law has a faculty of 39 and an enrollment of approximately 500 students, working together in a close and vibrant community in Green Hall, on the main Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas. Faculty members are outstanding scholars with wide-ranging research interests, but who also value innovative and rigorous teaching. KU Law is home to the nation’s only Tribal Law and Government Center, as well as recently established centers on international trade and on advocacy – which enhance the scholarly and educational life of the School. The School’s low student-teacher ratio (12.38), a newly revised first-year curriculum, and wide range of programs – such as a dozen clinics and externship programs, numerous certificate and summer programs, a two-year J.D. program for foreign-trained lawyers, and graduate and joint-degree programs – provide an exceptional educational experience for students.

KU Law plays a central role in the life of the University of Kansas (KU), a distinguished international research university with a reputation and alumni base that circle the globe. Founded in 1865, KU is both a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. KU has more than 40 nationally-ranked academic programs, including 30 in the top 30 among public universities. The university enrolls roughly 30,000 students across 14 academic divisions (including KU Law) and more than 175 academic fields of study. It employs a 2,200-member faculty and has its main campus in the heart of beautiful Lawrence, Kansas, located about forty miles west of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Responsibilities
The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the KU Law School and is relied on to provide leadership, vision, and support to the School in meeting its ambitious goals of producing outstanding scholarship, teaching, and service. The Dean’s responsibilities include the following:

• providing leadership in maintaining and enhancing the vigor of faculty research, scholarship, and other activities;
• fostering academic excellence in established courses and programs, exploring innovative approaches to teaching, and enhancing the educational experience of students at the Law School;
• enthusiastically soliciting and securing financial support for the Law School from both public and private sources, as the School and the University undertake a capital campaign;
• energizing alumni and others in the wider KU Law community to continue providing support – both financial and otherwise – that will help maintain the Law School’s excellence;
• facilitating the recruitment, development and retention of an outstanding and diverse faculty in which women and minorities are well represented;
• assisting in the recruitment and retention of outstanding students, particularly outstanding Kansas residents, minority students, and others who will enrich a diverse and international student body;
• encouraging faculty and the Law School generally to continue providing valuable service within the University, the state, the nation, and internationally;
• acting as a representative of and advocate for the Law School with the University’s central administration, reflecting KU Law’s central role in KU’s overall mission;
• formulating and managing efficiently and fairly the budget of the Law School, in order to husband and allocate its resources in accordance with the best interests of KU Law;
• recruiting, organizing and directing a talented and effective staff that can assist the Dean in the accomplishment of these responsibilities.

In view of this broad array of responsibilities, the Dean must be a proven leader who has the organizational and administrative skills necessary to manage a sophisticated academic institution, as well as the interpersonal and management skills to engage successfully with a wide range of constituencies – with the ultimate goal of inspiring continued excellence and integrity at KU Law.

Required Qualifications

1. J.D. from an accredited U.S. institution or advanced professional law degree from a distinguished non-U.S. institution.
2. Eligibility for appointment as full professor with tenure based on the Law School’s criteria, which include excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prior administrative experience or demonstrated capacity for leadership.
2. Evidence of ability to obtain financial and other support for the School from both public and private sources.
3. Evidence of ability to maintain and promote collegial relationships.
4. Evidence of ability as a consensus builder among varied constituencies.
5. Evidence of commitment to promotion of excellence in scholarly activities.
6. Evidence of commitment to promotion of excellence in teaching.
7. Evidence of sensitivity to concerns and interests of students, faculty and staff.
8. Evidence of commitment to the development and support of interdisciplinary and international activities and programs.
9. Evidence of commitment to equal opportunity, including commitment to the value of diversity in the faculty, staff and student body.
10. Evidence of ability to cultivate and foster ties to the bar.
11. Familiarity with the challenges posed to legal education and the legal profession by advances in information management and technology.

Effective Date – Salary – Applications
The position is available beginning July 1, 2011. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The screening process will begin on February 21, 2011, and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations are welcomed. Applications must include curriculum vita, a statement of interest, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references who may be contacted. No further reference checks will be made without approval of the applicant. Applications, nominations and inquiries should be submitted electronically to:

To learn more about the School of Law, visit www.law.ku.edu; for more information about the University of Kansas, visit www.ku.edu; for details about the community, go to www.visitlawrence.com

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