Governor William A. O'neill Endowed Chair

Application Deadline

June 30, 2024

Part-Time Regular

201368

[C24-045]

Governor William A. O'Neill Endowed Chair

in Public Policy and Practical Politics

PART-TIME POSITION

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) seeks an innovative, knowledgeable, experienced and renowned public or academic leader who is recognized for their outstanding contributions to the understanding and shaping of public affairs to be their next Governor William A. O'Neill Endowed Chair. CCSU invites expressions of interest, nominations, and applications.

Governor William A. O'Neill Endowed Chair

The Governor William A. O'Neill Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Practical Politics was established in 2000 by then Connecticut's Board of Governors for Higher Education and the Connecticut State University Board of Trustees to honor the late Governor William A. O'Neill, who served from 1980 to 1991.

The O'Neill Endowed Chair seeks to promote an understanding of the history, structure, people and policies of our state's government for both students and the larger community. The Chair's programs include active archival and oral history projects and collaborations with CCSU's academic departments as well as the University Library, and the United States Library of Congress.

The O'Neill Endowed Chair links the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research to students and faculty through a wide range of academic and applied research programs. To date, the Chair Holder has been a public figure recognized for an outstanding contribution to the understanding and shaping of public affairs in Connecticut.

For more information on the Governor William A. O'Neill Endowed Chair and the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research, please visit:

Community Engagement: Governor William O'Neill Endowed Chair .

Profile

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research, the Endowed Chair serves as a trusted partner and strategic advisor regarding public policy development initiatives, social research in practical politics and public affairs.

The Endowed Chair serves in a part-time faculty capacity and is entitled to fully participate in benefits offered to full-time faculty. The following examples of duties illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the Endowed Chair but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

The Endowed Chair shall teach one course a semester in an area of expertise in the Political Science department unless the Executive Director authorizes a change of department. Serving as a representative of CCSU, the Endowed Chair shall arrange public lectures and campus forums on matters of public policy and practical politics as well as guest speakers of notable policymakers addressing current and emerging issues in public policy and politics.

Most importantly, the Endowed Chair, under the direction of the Executive Director, provides significant opportunities for CCSU to collaborate with state governmental leaders on important new policy initiatives; student experiential learning; and student mentoring. As a key stakeholder in the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research, the Endowed Chair will lead development efforts to secure additional funding and expand program outreach and initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have notably served in public service in Connecticut as an elected official or leader of a governmental agency or organization. CCSU additionally invites renowned figures in the academic community whose work has influenced the development or implementation of public policy, preferably in Connecticut.

The incumbent will be required to work in person, on campus, and may be required to work evenings, weekends, and occasional travel.

Required Qualifications and Characteristics

The Endowed Chair will be a charismatic and distinguished individual with a proven record of notable public service and public policy development and implementation.

The Endowed Chair must possess significant knowledge, skills and abilities in public and governmental affairs, and public policy development and implementation. The incumbent must possess the demonstrated ability to develop and manage strategic initiatives.

Most importantly, the Endowed Chair must possess the passion and commitment to the current and future success of the University, its students, faculty and staff.

Other key qualifications include:

• A Bachelor's Degree

• Notable public service as an elected official, governmental agency, or organizational leader, or alternatively an academic leader whose work has influenced the development or implementation of public policy representing the citizens of Connecticut.

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communications, organizational and presentational skills; and demonstrated organizational skills.

Preference will be given to candidates who have the following:

• Professional teaching experience at the collegiate or university level.

• Demonstrated success working with the Connecticut General Assembly and local Executive Officials.

• A History of collaboration with community groups and/or organizations.

Central Connecticut State University

The University offers a four-year interdisciplinary honors program to eligible students in any of the undergraduate schools. The program requires two four-credit courses per semester during the first two years and a capstone honors thesis during the junior year.

All honors courses are team-taught. Honors students are eligible for a $4,500 scholarship which is renewable for up to three years.

CCSU students have a variety of opportunities to do individual research with the guidance of a faculty member, both during the year and over the summer. The University has an annual research day where students of all disciplines can present their research or creative activity. The University awards travel support for the best work in each academic area so that students can present their work at national meetings such as the National Council for Undergraduate Research.

CCSU also has a robust commitment to community service. The University provides a variety of service opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.

Options include service-learning courses, service projects, and volunteering. The Office of Community Engagement collaborates with the Community Engagement Committee, a standing committee of the Faculty Senate consisting of faculty and staff committed to community engagement. In 2016, the Community Engagement Committee was awarded the first CT Campus Compact Campus Leadership Award in recognition of its efforts to foster more community engagement activity by CCSU faculty and students. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized CCSU's work by designating it a Community Engagement Institution; CCSU was also selected for the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Adding to campus diversity are the University's international programs and activities supported by the George R. Muirhead Center for International Education (CIE). Founded in 1987 as a state-wide center for excellence in international education, the CIE has established a number of community and university partnerships around the globe.

It also offers both short-term, faculty-led programs, as well as semester- and year-long programs. The CIE is also home to the Intensive English Language Program. CCSU enrolls international students in both degree- and non-degree programs.

During the past ten years, CCSU has become a more residential campus. Fifty-seven percent of first year students live on campus. CCSU offers its students a full range of clubs and activities, including musical groups; academic, honorary, and special interest clubs and societies; dance and theatre groups; student government; various student-run media; campus ministry; and social fraternities and sororities. As CCSU has become more residential, the level of student activity has increased, making the campus more vibrant.

At the same time, a large portion of CCSU's students are commuters, many of them balancing their academic work with family obligations and full-time employment. CCSU values its commuter students, recognizes their special needs, and makes every effort to integrate them into campus life.

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils, an NCAA Division I athletics program, competes in the Northeast Conference, offers intercollegiate competition in seven men's sports and nine women's sports. CCSU students are offered a variety of recreation, fitness, and wellness options, including 25+ intramural activities and club sports, a C.J. Huang Recreation Center and a variety of wellness and fitness classes.

For more information about Central Connecticut State University, please visit CCSU.

Application and Appointment:

To begin the application process, click on the Apply button and electronically submit the following documents by June 30, 2024.

• Letter of Interest addressing the qualifications for this position

• Current résumé or curriculum vitae

• Names of three current professional references with title, email addresses and telephone numbers

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Mailed applications will not be accepted.

Please redact any personally identifiable information (i.e., Social Security number, date of birth, marital status, country of origin) from any documents submitted. Please ensure your Social Security Number is not listed on any documents submitted.

Candidates selected for interview may be asked to provide additional information.

Compensation and Benefits

The Endowed Chair is compensated in accordance with the Connecticut State University American Association of University Professors (AAUP) collective bargaining agreement.

All appointments to the Governor William A. O'Neill Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Practical Politics are subject to approval by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.

Employee Benefits

The State of Connecticut and CCSU are proud to offer its employees competitive wages and a wide range of fringe benefits including voluntary and supplemental benefits.

Fringe benefits include paid personal and sick leave, medical, dental, and prescription plans, group life insurance, a choice of retirement plans, retirement health care, tuition waiver for employee and eligible dependents at any of the Connecticut State Universities (CCSU, Eastern, Southern or Western), as well as an array of voluntary and supplemental benefits, such as Deferred Retirement Compensation plans, Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Flexible spending accounts, long term and short term disability plans.

For more information on the AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, please visit AAUP.

For more information, contact Paul Petterson, Search Committee Chair at PETTERSONP@ccsu.edu

As an affirmative action employer, Central Connecticut State University actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.