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Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open-access college. Southwest has four campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Title: Department Chair - Communications, Graphics, and Fine Arts

Employee Classification: Faculty

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Communications, Graphics, and Fine Arts

Campus Location: SWTCC - Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

The Department Head/Chair of Communication, Graphic, and Fine Arts provides academic leadership, administrative oversight, and strategic direction for a department encompassing communication studies, graphic design, visual arts, and related creative disciplines. The role ensures high quality instruction, fosters artistic and scholarly excellence, supports faculty development, and advances programs that prepare students for transfer, professional practice, and creative industries. The Chair manages departmental operations, guides curriculum and assessment, oversees faculty and staff, and represents the department within the institution and the broader community.

Job Duties

• Academic Leadership and Strategic Planning
  • Provide vision and leadership for communication, graphic design, and fine arts programs, aligning departmental goals with institutional priorities.
  • Lead development and implementation of strategic plans that strengthen teaching, creative practice, community engagement, and student success.
  • Promote a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive departmental culture that supports artistic exploration and academic rigor.
• Curriculum, Program Oversight, and Scheduling
  • Oversee curriculum development, program review, and continuous improvement to ensure alignment with industry standards, transfer pathways, and institutional learning outcomes.
  • Coordinate semester schedules, instructor assignments, studio/lab usage, and course delivery in consultation with faculty and academic leadership.
  • Monitor enrollment trends and adjust offerings to support student demand, retention, and program viability.
• Faculty Recruitment, Development, and Evaluation
  • Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain qualified full time and adjunct faculty across communication, graphic design, and fine arts disciplines.
  • Provide mentoring, coaching, and professional development opportunities that support instructional excellence and creative scholarship.
  • Conduct annual faculty evaluations, oversee promotion and tenure processes, and ensure transparent review practices.
  • Support faculty engagement in exhibitions, performances, publications, design projects, and community based creative work.
• Student Success and Engagement
  • Support high quality instruction, advising structures, and experiential learning opportunities such as exhibitions, portfolios, media production, and performances.
  • Ensure timely response to student concerns and foster an inclusive, supportive learning environment.
  • Collaborate with student services, advising, and recruitment teams to strengthen retention, completion, and transfer outcomes.
• Compliance, Accreditation, and Institutional Effectiveness
  • Ensure departmental compliance with institutional, state, federal, and accreditation requirements.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and reporting for program reviews, assessment cycles, and institutional effectiveness processes.
  • Promote ethical practice, academic integrity, and adherence to institutional policies.
• Budget, Resource, and Facilities Management
  • Prepare and manage departmental budgets, monitor expenditures, and allocate resources to priority initiatives.
  • Oversee procurement and maintenance of specialized equipment, software, studio supplies, and gallery resources.
  • Coordinate facilities planning for studios, labs, classrooms, and exhibition spaces to support creative and academic activities.
  • Identify opportunities for grants, partnerships, and external funding.
• Industry, Community, and Institutional Engagement
  • Build and maintain relationships with community arts organizations, communication/media partners, galleries, design firms, and cultural institutions.
  • Lead advisory board engagement to ensure programs remain aligned with workforce needs and creative industry trends.
  • Represent the department on college committees and support outreach, recruitment, and public facing events such as exhibitions, showcases, and performances.
• Administrative Operations and Communication
  • Lead regular departmental meetings, maintain clear communication channels, and ensure timely dissemination of policies and decisions.
  • Oversee staff supervision, workload distribution, and operational processes within the department.
  • Report on faculty and staff appointments, separations, and performance matters.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Art, Multi-Media, Music, Photography, Print Production, Speech, Theater, TV Production or related field.
  
• Five (5) years of full-time teaching experience in higher education.
  
• A background check will be required for the successful candidate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education administration experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for students and the measurement of training effects.
  
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources.
  
• Ability to lead strategic planning, program accreditation review as necessary, and assessment in the interest of promoting academic program excellence.
  
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintain them over time.
  
• Excellent written and verbal skills, including the ability to master complex issues and convey information clearly for varied audiences; and ability to develop and communicate goals in support of the college' mission.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

First consideration will be given to current Southwest Tennessee Community College employees who meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcripts

A summary of our benefits can be found below: 

https://www.southwest.tn.edu/hr/benefits-overview.php

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The TBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies:  LeVetta Hudson, Vice President of People & Culture, myhr@southwest.tn.edu, 737 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, 901-333-5000. See the full non-discrimination policy.