Department of Teacher Education and Foundations - Department Chair (12-Month)

 

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Opened in 1965 and set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino mountains, the university serves approximately 19,000 students. CSUSB is a federally recognized minority-serving and Hispanic-serving institution that reflects the dynamic diversity of the region and has the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire: 74 percent of its students are members of underrepresented groups, 80 percent are first-generation, and 56 percent are Pell eligible. For more information on the campus, please visit the CSUSB website.

CSUSB employs 467 full-time faculty and offers 48 undergraduate, 35 graduate, and one doctoral degree programs and 14 academic programs with national accreditation. At CSUSB, diversity, equity and inclusion are values central to our mission. We recognize that diversity and inclusion in all its forms are necessary for our institutional success. By fully leveraging our diverse experiences, backgrounds and insights, we inspire innovation, challenge the status quo and create better outcomes for our students and community. As part of CSUSB’s commitment to hire, develop and retain a diverse faculty, we offer a variety of networking, mentoring and development programs for our junior faculty. We are committed to building and sustaining a CSUSB community that is supportive and inclusive of all individuals. Qualified applicants with experience in ethnically diverse settings and/or who demonstrate a commitment to serving diverse student populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY

The Watson College of Education (WCOE), California State University San Bernardino invites applications for the position of Department Chair for one of its largest and most comprehensive academic departments on campus. The department includes eight programs serving a highly diverse student body and partnering extensively with regional P–12 schools and community organizations.

The Department Chair provides collaborative, equity-centered leadership within a shared governance environment and is responsible for advancing academic excellence, accreditation compliance, faculty development, student success, strategic planning, enrollment management, resource stewardship, and community engagement. The Chair reports to the Dean of the WCOE College and works closely with program coordinators, faculty, staff, district partners, university leadership, and University Advancement.

This is a 12-month administrative appointment with assigned time consistent with CSU policy and requires five days a week campus presence. The successful candidate must be eligible for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES

The Department Chair will:

• Be responsible for day-to-day management of the department.
• Provide strategic and academic leadership for eight programs, ensuring alignment with College, University, CSU system, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) standards.
• Lead the development and implementation of a department strategic plan aligned with the College and University mission, in collaboration with faculty.
• Support and mentor a diverse faculty body, including tenure-track, tenured, lecturer, and university supervisors.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative departmental culture grounded in equity, culturally sustaining practices, and shared governance.
• Oversee program coordination, curriculum development, assessment, and continuous improvement processes.
• Lead accreditation efforts such as California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and WASC Senior Colleges and University Commission (WSCUC).
• Manage department budgets, course scheduling, workload assignments, and faculty evaluations, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the California Faculty Association (CFA).
• Develop departmental budgetary plans and resource requests in consultation with faculty and college leadership.
• Monitor enrollment trends and manage FTES targets in alignment with departmental resources, instructional quality, and program mission.
• Support faculty recruitment, Retention, Tenure, and Promotion (RTP) processes, and professional growth.
• Advance student success initiatives with attention to closing equity gaps and serving first-generation and historically underserved students.
• Oversee student recruitment and retention initiatives in collaboration with faculty and college leadership.
• Collaborate with P–12 districts, community colleges, and community partners to strengthen early fieldwork, supervised student teaching, internships, and pipeline initiatives with districts.
• Promote grant development, research, and externally funded initiatives.
• Maintain active engagement with discipline-based professional organizations at the state, regional, and national levels.
• Strengthen alumni engagement and collaborate with the Dean and University Advancement to support development initiatives and philanthropic opportunities.
• Oversee stewardship of departmental facilities, equipment, and instructional resources, ensuring proper use, maintenance, and security.
• Collaborate with college and university administrators regarding space planning and program-related facilities’ needs.
• Supervise department-sponsored lectures, public events, and program-related activities, as appropriate.
• Provide leadership in the development and expansion of online, hybrid, and innovative instructional delivery models.
• Represent the department in college and university leadership councils and events.
• Qualified candidates must demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring a diverse student population and to working effectively with faculty, staff and students across a wide range of disciplines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree in education or a related discipline represented within the department.
• Tenure or eligibility for tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at a public or private accredited university.
• Demonstrated record of effective leadership in higher education (e.g., program coordinator, associate chair, director, assistant or associate dean, or similar role).
• Evidence of successful experience working with diverse faculty, staff, candidates, and community partners.
• Experience coordinating or overseeing Single Subject or Multiple Subject teaching credential and/or graduate programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of accreditation processes, particularly CTC accreditation and program review process.
• Record of scholarly achievement, appropriate for a comprehensive public university.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racist practices, and culturally sustaining pedagogy.
• Experience with faculty evaluation processes and budget oversight.
• Strong communication, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience of successfully working with staff in an academic department and across a college.
• Record of successfully working collaboratively with an education college Dean, college leadership team, faculty, and staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience as a department chair in multi-program department within a public university system, with a minimum of three years or
• Experience of serving as a Single Subject or Multiple Subject teaching credential, and/or early childhood credential program coordinator for at least three years. 
• Demonstrated success mentoring junior faculty through the RTP process.
• Experience serving in an HSI, MSI, or other minority-serving institution and demonstrate records of supporting under-served student success.
• Experience strengthening partnerships with P–12 districts, especially in high-need communities.
• Experience advancing equity-focused initiatives and closing opportunity gaps.
• Record of securing or supporting external funding and grants.
• Experience with online, hybrid, and innovative program delivery models.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex scheduling and workload issues in a unionized environment.
• Commitment to collaborative leadership and transparent decision-making.
• Evidence of scholarly activity, publication, and innovation is valued. Evidence of exemplary graduate-level teaching and leadership experience at program level is preferred and should be noted in application.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with CSUSB. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: CSUSB cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that CSUSB has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to CSUSB or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, CSUSB is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

To find out more about the Department of Teacher Education and Foundations: https://www.csusb.edu/teacher-education-foundations.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter that includes: 

      a.  A statement of your teaching interest/philosophy

      b.  A statement of your research experience/plans                                      

1. If available, evidence of teaching effectiveness such as teaching portfolios, reports on teaching observations, and/or student evaluations of teaching.  
2. Unofficial copies of all postsecondary degree transcripts (official transcripts will be required prior to appointment).
3. Reference List - names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three (3) referees whom we may contact to obtain letters of recommendation.
4. Confidential letters of recommendation may be solicited from those listed as references on the application if the applicant is moved forward in the recruitment process. Non-confidential letters of recommendation can be uploaded by the applicant during the application process.

Formal review of applications will begin March 12, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.

If you are interested in this opportunity, we invite you to apply by using this CSU Recruit Hyperlink at:

https://secure.dc4.pageuppeople.com/apply/873/gateway/Default.aspx?c=apply&sJobIDs=555671&SourceTypeID=803&sLanguage=en-us&lApplicationSubSourceID=11243

Please Note:  CSUSB is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Assistant Professor          (Range 3) - $7,127 – $16,420

Associate Professor         (Range 4) - $7,830 – $18,029

Professor                       (Range 5) - $9,883 – $18,882

CSU Salary Schedule: https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/compensation/Pages/salary-schedule.aspx

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

California State University, San Bernardino is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status. This position adheres to CSU policies against Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence, including Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking. This requires completion of Sexual Violence Prevention Training within 6 months of assuming employment and on a two-year basis thereafter. (Executive Order 1096)

This position may be “Designated” under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter. Visit the Human Resources Conflict of Interest webpage link for additional information:
https://www.csusb.edu/human-resources/current-employees/employee-relations/conflict-interest