University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario

Dean of Communications and Open Learning

Position:

Dean, Faculty of Communications and Open Learning.

Applications and nominations are invited for the newly-created position of Dean, Faculty of Communications and Open Learning, The University of Western Ontario. The appointment, to be effective July 1, 1997, is for a period of seven years, renewable. Candidates should have an established record as an academic researcher and university teacher in communications, media studies, information science, applications of information technology in education, distance and mediated education, or a related area, and should possess the necessary administrative and inter-personal skills to provide leadership in the establishment and continuing development of research and educational programs in the new Faculty of Communications and Open Learning at Western.

The University of Western Ontario has a total enrolment of approximately 22,000 full-time equivalent students. The University is located in the city of London, which has a population of over 300,000 and is approximately 180km southwest of Toronto.

The Faculty of Communications and Open Learning was established on July 1, 1996 and, following a transition year, will become fully operational on July 1, 1997. The new Faculty is the result of an amalgamation of the existing Graduate Schools of Journalism, and Library and Information Science, and the Faculty of Part-Time and Continuing Education. Existing graduate programs include a Masters and Doctoral program in Library and Information Science, a Masters program in Journalism, and a full range of programs in continuing education.

The first Dean of the Faculty of Communications and Open Learning will lead the process of integrating administrative, educational, and research programs, of continuing to develop and strengthen the existing graduate programs in academic and professional studies in Journalism and Library Sciences, and of identifying new scholarly and professional education opportunities in communications and information studies. A major objective of the new Faculty will be to explore the establishment of an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in Information, Journalism and Media Studies, and in Learning and Communications Technologies in collaboration with related Faculties at Western. In addition, the new Faculty is expected to provide university-wide leadership in the development of applications of instructional technology, both on campus and in distance education programs. The successful candidate must bring to these tasks a spirit of innovation, collaboration, and a strong commitment to reinforce and enhance Western's position as a leader in media and communications research and education.

Deadline:

Nominations and applications should be submitted by December 1, 1996 to Professor G. Moran, Provost & Vice-President (Academic), Room 107, Stevenson-Lawson Building, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B8. Applications should include a curriculum vitae and the names of at least three referees.

The University of Western Ontario is committed to employment equity, welcomes diversity in the workplace, and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, aboriginal persons, and persons with disabilities.