Fort Hays State University is seeking applicants for a faculty position in the Global Affairs office. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as an instructor and coordinator of the student orientation courses for native Chinese speakers at FHSU’s international partner locations in China, with the opportunity for annual renewal. Other duties of this position will include providing professional development to cross-border faculty related to cross-cultural ESL teaching, global learning strategies, intercultural competence and pedagogy, and will include travel between the U.S. and two locations in China (Xinzheng and Shenyang). This position is an annual 10-month assignment (early August to late June) as a non-tenure-track instructor, subject to annual review, with the possibility of continuation.
Primary location: Sias University; Xinzheng , China
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience:
- An earned master's degree in education/higher education, instructional design/technology, TEFL, or other or other relevant educational background combined with experience teaching second-language learners and/or first-year experiences.
Visa/Work Permit:
- Successful candidates must be a U.S. citizen and be able to apply for and receive a Z-visa, residence permit, and work permit in China.
- Candidates must meet employment regulations to work legally in China with a Chinese work visa, which has age restrictions (currently, no work visas are being issued to foreigners over the age of 60 except in extraordinary circumstances), background check restrictions (applicants with DUI/DWI (including a diversion/ dismissal) or other such infractions are not being issued a work permit), various health history requirements, and education authentication (currently, no work visas are being issued to foreigner applicants unable to provide authentications and proof of educational backgrounds).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Familiarity with teaching ESL/EFL students, international students, especially Chinese students; prior experience working abroad.
- Experience with student orientation or seminar courses.
- Well-versed in teaching and learning/pedagogy for international/global education.
- Higher education administration experience
- Strong teaching, communication, and cross-cultural skills.
- Competence with incorporating Learning Management Systems (Blackboard preferred)
FACULTY RANK: Instructor (Master’s Degree); Assistant Professor (Doctoral Degree)
APPOINTMENT DATE: February 2024
PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 8, 2023
SALARY RANGE: Salary is competitive based on qualifications.
BENEFITS:
Benefits Provided by Fort Hays State University: Pre- and post-academic year travel
- Transportation to China to begin the semester.
- Reimbursement of eligible expenses related to obtaining a Chinese work visa and permit.
- A $3000 stipend for return travel on the faculty member’s own schedule at the end of the academic year. Stipend is reviewed each year and subject to change.
- Competitive benefits package http://www.fhsu.edu/humanresourceoffice/Prospective-Employees/
- Day-one health insurance including medical, dental, vision and supplemental enrollment options
- Retirement plan with 8.5% employer match after 1-year waiting period
- Free basic life insurance at 150% of annual salary
Additional Benefits Provided by Sias University:
Pre-arrival and Travel
- Pre-document Visa work and guidance
- Assistance with the Application for Work Permit and Residence permit
- Assistance with physical exam required upon entry, standard entry medical insurance, setting up bank account, etc.
- Airport Pick-up
Throughout the year
- Free housing in the faculty apartment complex located on the Sias campus. Furniture, water, and wi-fi covered. Free laundry facilities available.
- Spouses and children are permitted to live with FHSU faculty members, provided they obtain necessary visas.
- Meals are available for purchase in the faculty dining hall and include both Western and Chinese selections. Food service is available three meals a day, seven days a week during the academic semesters. (FHSU provides a $2200 stipend added through payroll to help cover meal expenses.)
- Holidays as stipulated by laws of China, as well as most typical Western holidays.
- Gym, indoor pool, spa, and other similar fitness facilities are available for a small membership fee.
- Sias-sponsored cultural and historic experiences in China.
- Exposure to a diverse international community of faculty, students, and visitors.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The workload for this position consists of approximately 50% teaching, 10% research, and 40% service, to be determined annually in concert with the Assistant Provost.
Teaching:
The faculty in this role will be responsible for developing and delivering course content that prepares students for their western education through FHSU. The faculty in this role will teach 12 credit-hours of the 1 credit-hour course, UNIV 105: Partnership Academic Success Skills, which is an orientation course required of all students at Sias University participating in our dual-degree cross border education programs. The course occurs in the spring-semester only and is 8 weeks in length; there are two 8-week sessions per spring semester. Spring semesters in China typically run from late February through early July. Each course section consists of 60 students, for a total of 720 students. Classes meet once per week for 90 minutes. This faculty member will also train other FHSU faculty teaching this course as overloads.
Service:
As the UNIV 105 teaching responsibilities occur in the spring semester only, the faculty member will complete a variety of service activities related to developing the global education competencies of our faculty teaching in our cross-border programs. Under the direction of the Assistant Provost for Internationalization & Strategic Initiatives, the faculty will develop materials that support faculty in developing their pedagogical skills for international learners. This may include but is not limited to: supporting annual professional development week planning and activities, providing workshops throughout the academic year, collaborating with Teaching Innovations and Learning Technologies, serving on the faculty development committee, and providing content for a robust cross-border faculty onboarding and orientation program.
Location:
After training in Hays, the faculty member will live and work in Xinzheng, China. The faculty member will live on the Sias University campus among other FHSU cross-border faculty. All courses will be delivered in English. Occasionally, the faculty member will travel to a second partner location in Shenyang to provide on-site faculty development. Additionally, the faculty member will visit the main campus in Hays, KS for training and development with the Global Affairs and International Student Service teams.
REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS:
Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, and two current letters of recommendation (no older than 1 year).
Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF; recommendation letters may be uploaded separately if needed.
- Current vitae/resume, including at least three professional references
- Cover letter specifying how candidate’s credentials match with position description.
- Statement of teaching philosophy, specifically as it relates to cross-cultural education and pedagogy.
- Graduate and undergraduate unofficial transcripts
- Evidence of teaching effectiveness
If you have questions regarding the position, please contact
Kaley Klaus, EdD
Search Committee Chair
785-628-4384
About the University:
Fort Hays State University was founded in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School. The institution was originally located on the grounds of Fort Hays, a Nineteenth Century frontier military outpost. The state of Kansas initially intended the university’s academic programs to focus on agriculture, but it opened in as a “normal” or teacher’s college. FHSU today is a regional comprehensive public university where determined, innovative and caring faculty and staff share a deep commitment to teaching and mentoring students. Our mission is to develop the engaged global citizen-leaders our world needs today. FHSU consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the American Midwest. A remarkable 95% of FHSU students secure jobs or higher education opportunities after they graduate. Employers tell us the combination of challenging academic programs, close faculty/student relationships, and the abundance of experiential learning opportunities our students enjoy while at FHSU set our students apart in a competitive job markets worldwide.
Overview of FHSU partnerships in China:
More than 20 years ago, FHSU became one of the earliest universities approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education to offer dual Western/Chinese degrees in China. Currently, the institutions offer several dual bachelor’s degree options. All instruction is conducted in English, so while familiarity with the Chinese language is not required, it is helpful. These partnerships currently serve nearly 4,000 students annually and administer programs in business administration, global business English, health studies, organizational leadership,
About Sias University:
Sias is located in Xinzheng, a growing city in Henan Province of China. Sias is approximately 45 minutes south by car from Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province. Sias is a private university founded in 1998 by Dr. Shawn Chen, a dual citizen of the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Sias supports the greatest number of foreign faculty of any university in China. This environment offers a unique opportunity for faculty members to interact with academic professionals from around the world. Sias has a close relationship with the State of Kansas: Henan Province and Kansas are sister states, while Hays and Xinzheng are sister cities. Visit:
https://en.sias.edu.cn/info/1008/1017.htm
Community of Hays
FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.
Notice of Non-discrimination: Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.
Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.
Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or
www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.
