The Wal-mart School of Education Reform

With the help of an open checkbook from the Walton family, the University of Arkansas is in the process of creating its own school privatization think tank on the Fayetteville campus. Here is the ad that showed up in the Chronicle of Higher Ed this morning, with four endowed full professor lines. Notice that Walmart scholar, Jay P. Greene, author of innumerable junk studies for the Manhattan Institute, is the contact person. Deweyans need not apply:

Position: Endowed Chair of Education Reform
Salary: Unspecified
Institution: College of Education & Health Professions
Location: Arkansas
Date posted: 11/3/2005

Four Endowed Chair Positions in Education Reform
Department of Education Reform
College of Education and Health Professions
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, invites nominations and applications for four faculty Endowed Chair positions in the newly formed Department of Education Reform. The four endowed chair positions will focus on Teacher Quality, Leadership, Accountability, and School Choice, respectively. All four positions are at the rank of professor.

The Department: The Department of Education Reform is one of six academic units in the college and was recently created with a $20 million dollar endowed gift. The mission of the department is to advance education and economic development by focusing on the improvement of academic achievement in elementary and secondary schools. Comprehensive and integrated efforts focusing on teaching, innovative research, the dissemination of knowledge, state-or-the-art practices, and practical hands-on education programs will be implemented in five priority areas: (a) teacher quality, (b) leadership, (c) policy, (d) accountability/transparency, and (e) school choice.

Duties and Responsibilities: The individuals selected to fill these four endowed chairs in Education Reform will conduct research and disseminate information related to their respective focus areas. Responsibilities will also include assisting the department head with the development of the newly created Department of Education Reform, including curriculum planning, generation of externally-funded education reform research projects, and engagement in outreach related to the five priority areas of the department.

Qualifications: Required Qualifications: We seek individuals who possess an earned doctorate from a nationally recognized university in Economics, Education, Political Science, Public Policy or a related field; a background of experience sufficient to qualify for appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure within the department; an outstanding publications record; proven ability to generate and lead large-scale, externally-funded, reform-oriented research and evaluation projects; experience teaching at the graduate level; excellent interpersonal skills; and demonstrated ability to communicate research findings to policymakers, the media and the general public.

Appointment and Salary: These are 9-month tenure-track positions at the professor rank. The salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and background. The preferred starting date is August 14, 2006, but an earlier date is negotiable

Applications: Applicants should specify the position for which they believe they are best suited but may be considered to fill any of the four positions. Review of application will begin November 6, 2005 and will continue until the positions are filled. Send nominations to the address below or to apply send a letter of interest (demonstrating how your strengths match the duties and qualifications listed above), complete curriculum vitae, and the names, titles, addresses, and contact numbers of five references to Dr. Jay P. Greene, Endowed Chair of Education Reform and Department Head, College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, 201 Graduate Education Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701 (jpg@uark.edu).

---

Contact Information:

E-mail : jpg@uark.edu
Phone : 479-575-3172
Dr. Jay P. Greene
Endowed Chair & Department Head
Education Reform
Univ of Arkansas - College of Educ & Health Professions
201 Graduate Education Building
Fayetteville, AR 72701
USA