International Faculty Positions in Health and Human Performance

Department

Job Posting Title

Job Description

Ongoing recruitment for a full-time faculty member of Health and Human Performance on an annual international assignment for Fort Hays State University (FHSU) stationed at Sias University in Henan Province, China with the opportunity for annual renewal. Each faculty position in China is an annual assignment as a non-tenure-track instructor, subject to annual review, with the possibility of continuation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience:

• An earned masters’ academic degree in Health and Human Performance, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Public Health, Health Promotion, Health Science, or similar health-related field is required.
• Ability to teach general health education and public health content, as well as other courses as needed.  Specific courses may include (but not necessarily be limited to): Medical Terminology, Public Health, Global Health, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Physiology of Aging.
• Must be able to provide proof of a minimum of 24 months full-time teaching experience.

Visa/Work Permit:

• Successful candidates must be a U.S. Citizen, and also be able to apply for and receive a Chinese 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).

• FHSU will outline these processes, as well as assist in acquiring and paying for these documents. Substantial commitment of time and effort may be required from the applicants in achieving these in a timely manner.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• An earned doctoral degree in Health Education
• Familiarity with teaching ESL/EFL students, international students, especially Chinese students; prior experience working abroad
• Strong teaching, communication, and cross-cultural skills
• Competence with incorporating Learning Management Systems (Blackboard preferred)

RANK:  Instructor (MA/MS) or Assistant Professor (Doctoral Degree)

APPOINTMENT DATE:  When positions become available

PRIORITY APPLICATION DEADLINE:  When positions become available

SALARY:  Salaries and benefits are competitive for qualified applicants.  

BENEFITS:

Benefits Provided by Fort Hays State University:

• Pre-semester and travel
  • Transportation to China to begin the semester.
  • A $200 one-time payment for costs associated with obtaining work permits. Competitive benefit package.
  • A $3000 stipend for return travel on the faculty member’s own schedule at the end of the academic year.
  • Competitive benefits package: Health, retirement, and associated benefits package. http://www.fhsu.edu/humanresourceoffice/Prospective-Employees/

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 setting up bank account, etc.

• 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
  • 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. ( In addition to your base salary, FHSU will provide a food stipend to help cover some of the 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 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 90% teaching and 10% service.

Teaching:

Responsibilities include teaching lower- and upper-division undergraduate courses (12 credit hours per semester) to approximately 60 students per course section assigned. Teaching load will include courses within the Health and Human Performance degree program delivered at Sias University in China, with the possibility of teaching sections of FHSU online courses.

The successful applicant will be willing to strive for teaching excellence, to experiment with new pedagogies, and to collaborate with colleagues from diverse disciplines in support of the institution’s liberal arts mission.

FHSU offers a wide array of Health and Human Performance courses in our program at Sias. Health and Human Performance department courses taught at Sias University:

HHP 230 Principles of Nutrition

BIOL 245 Medical Terminology

HHP 320 Communicable and Emergent Diseases

HHP 602 Public Health

HHP 610 Global Health

HHP 612 Physiology of Aging

HHP 618 Environmental Health

HHP 620 Epidemiology in Public Health

HHP 625 Legal Issues in Health Care

HHP 670 Intro to Gerontology

Service:

There will be departmental and/or university service required for this position.  Although this position is located in China, it is an integral part of the overall university community and will have service requirements commensurate with that role.

Location:

After training in Hays, the faculty member will teach classes face-to-face for FHSU 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.

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
• Must be able to provide proof of a minimum of 24 months full-time teaching experience.
• Graduate and undergraduate unofficial transcripts
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact

Dr. Steve Sedbrook, Chair

[email protected]

(785) 628-5843

About the Department:

The Department of Health and Human Performance is one of six academic departments in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and currently serves over 690 majors, including nearly 170 in the China partnership program.  Undergraduate programs lead to the Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human performance with six program concentrations: Health Promotion/ Fitness Programming; PK-12 Teaching/Coaching; Sport and Exercise Therapy (pre-professional); Exercise Science; Recreation/Sport Management; and a General HHP concentration along with a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (matriculating to a Master of Science in Athletic Training).  The graduate program leads to the Master of Science degree in Health and Human Performance and the department also offers concentrations in the Master of Liberal Studies and Master of Professional Studies.

About the College:

The College of Health and Behavioral Sciences is home to challenging and exciting degree programs in the fields of allied health, communication sciences and disorders, health and human performance,  nursing, psychology and social work.  With approximately 80 full-time faculty serving nearly 2900 undergraduate and graduate students, the departments offer programs that prepare students for careers in some of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. Outstanding facilities, comprehensive and demanding curricula, and a reputation for innovation and excellence in teaching provide a framework for graduates to excel in their chosen field. In addition to discipline specific coursework, students have numerous opportunities to gain experience and knowledge through research projects, field trips, service-learning activities, teaching apprenticeships, internships, and student exchange.  Students develop skills and competencies that prepare them to be practitioners, scientists, health care providers, educators, managers, and policy makers destined for key roles in the health and behavioral sciences.

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. In addition, FHSU faculty in China enjoy on-the-ground access to research opportunities and other scholarly activities, including access to FHSU’s online research databases. Over the years, faculty members have developed unique quantitative and qualitative data sets while working in China and have been productive scholars during their employment.

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.

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: FHSU is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, employment, services, and activities in compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination laws. FHSU prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its programs, activities, admissions, or employment.

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.