Job Description - Dean, UND School of Law

Dean of the School of Law: University Of North Dakota

Location: Grand Forks , ND

The University of North Dakota (UND) is the state's most comprehensive intensive research university and the primary center for professional education and training. UND has brought in more than $353 million for sponsored programs from internal and external sources over the last five years. UND's economic impact on the state and region is nearly $1 billion a year. The University has earned an international reputation for its academic and research programs. 

Founded by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before statehood, UND enjoys a strong liberal arts foundation enhanced by a variety of professional and specialized programs. UND is one of only 47 public universities in the nation with accredited graduate schools of both law and medicine. It is admired for its spacious, beautiful campus and historic buildings. 

UND enrolls more than 14,000 students (fall 2010) in more than 200 fields of study, from baccalaureate through doctoral and professional degrees. Nearly half of its students come from North Dakota; the rest represent all other states, 8 Canadian provinces, and more than 50 nations. 

The University of North Dakota campus provides an excellent experience for graduate, professional, and undergraduate students. Its rich history in athletics, music, and arts contributes greatly to its magnetic presence within the region. The activities and events offered throughout the year are a testament to the vitality of the campus and the community.

THE SCHOOL OF LAW: The School of Law, founded in 1899, was the first professional school to begin operating at the University of North Dakota. The curricular mission of the University of North Dakota School of Law is to produce well-rounded legal professionals with the necessary skill set to serve as effective, innovative, and ethical leaders. The school's curriculum aims to facilitate each student's professional and personal development and to promote the highest professional standards, critical thinking, self- and other-awareness, creative problem-solving skills, life-long learning, and a commitment to serving society. Its smaller enrollment and excellent student/faculty/staff ratio create a collaborative and collegial learning environment. The Faculty has recognized teaching as its most important responsibility, which reinforces the law school's primary mission to prepare students for effective and responsible participation in the legal profession and law-related fields.

The new Dean will join a forward-looking, cohesive faculty that is collaboratively engaged with its administration on important initiatives, such as a shared governance structure and an ongoing curriculum review and reform effort aimed at aligning the School of Law with current best practices in legal education. 

The School of Law has long been recognized for its focus on federal Indian law and tribal law, and houses the Northern Plains Indian Law Center, whose programs include the Tribal Judicial Institute, the Tribal Environmental Law Project, the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy, and Native Americans Into Law. 

Because it is the only law school in the state, the faculty and students at the University of North Dakota School of Law work closely with the North Dakota bar and judiciary.  Members of the faculty often serve on state Supreme Court Advisory Committees and serve as a resource for the judges and lawyers of the State. 

Since 1911, the School of Law has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Approval by the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association has continued from 1923 to the present. The School of Law has 240 students and 17 full-time faculty.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Dean is the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer for the School of Law and reports to the Provost. The Dean represents the school nationally, to the State of North Dakota, to the University community, and to all external constituencies, including the state and federal judicial systems, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, the state bar, and the local business community. By statute, the Dean serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar Association of North Dakota, the mandatory membership organization of all lawyers licensed to practice in the state. The Dean administers the School of Law pursuant to policies of the State Board of Higher Education, and implements policies adopted by the Faculty Committee of the School of Law. The School of Law seeks a Dean with demonstrated understanding and/or record of teaching, administration, scholarship, and practice.

QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate for the position of Dean must have a J.D., L.L.B., or equivalent degree. In addition to teaching, administrative, scholarly and practical experience, a candidate should possess distinguished records of accomplishment in several or all of the following areas:

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills;
• Expertise in legal education, understanding of pedagogy, and commitment to experiential education;
• A record of involvement with and understanding of national legal education organizations;
• A commitment to diversity;
• An ability to articulate a clear vision for the School of Law, reflective of its mission and the ability to lead;
• An ability to work with the North Dakota bar, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, and alumni of the School of Law;
• A record of strong leadership, including innovation, creativity, and a history of developing and maintaining consensus and cohesiveness within a law school;
• A record of academic and scholarly accomplishment sufficient to merit appointment as a full professor of law with tenure;
• A demonstrated concern for and interest in students; and
• A commitment to a culture of shared governance with the school's faculty, staff, and students.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: The University of North Dakota is committed to providing the new Dean with salary and benefits that are competitive and commensurate with qualifications.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS: Candidates should submit a letter describing how their background, skills and education match the needs of the School of Law, a current résumé or curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three professional references. Applications should be submitted electronically (Adobe PDF or MS Word format) to UNDLaw@academic-search.com. Applications should be received by April 15, 2011. Interviews will occur in May. The University plans to select the new Dean by June 30, 2011, with a negotiable starting date. For a more complete description of the position, see www.academic-search.com/search.html. For further information about the University of North Dakota and the School of Law, see www.law.und.edu.

Assisting in this search is:

Peter H. Ruger,
Senior ConsultantAcademic Search, Inc.
phr@academic-search.com
314–537–1448

The University of North Dakota is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and actively seeks applications from women and minority candidates. The North Dakota open records statutes permits, upon proper request, disclosure of the names of candidates.