Assistant/Associate Professor of English

Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Division of Arts and Humanities at Columbia College invites applications for a nine-month, full-time, tenure-track position as Assistant/Associate Professor of English and Director of the Pearce Communication Center within the Learning Commons beginning in August of 2025. Rank will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience in writing program administration, writing center direction, and interdisciplinary writing coordination. An MA in English is required, but a PhD in rhetoric and composition is preferred. The successful candidate will teach various types of writing courses (including technical communication). The successful candidate must express a commitment to improving supplemental writing support in every capacity on campus and share a passion for promoting effective writing abilities for career readiness.

The standard load for each semester is nine credit hours for teaching first-year writing courses plus either ENG 275: Advanced Writing Styles, WRIT 201: Introduction to Composition Theory and Tutoring Practices, or WRIT 305: Writing for Business and Public Affairs in addition to a three-credit hour release for administrative duties. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to design and deliver student-centered writing courses in both in-seat and online venues. The successful candidate is expected to have flexibility in class scheduling to meet the needs of the program and the institution. Faculty members are expected to participate in college governance and academic program activities and to engage in service as well as scholarship and professional development.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Facilitate first-year writing assessment.
• Mentor first-year writing adjunct faculty.
• Consult with faculty about particular writing needs.
• Monitor first-year writing faculty and course calibrations.
• Recruit, train, and supervise Pearce Communication Center writing tutors.
• Provide campuswide assistance for writing across the disciplines initiatives.
• Cultivate campus environment that supports best practices in writing pedagogy.

The writing center is located in the Pearce Communication Center in the Edens Library and is a part of Columbia College’s innovative Learning Commons, a multifaceted approach to providing effective and efficient student support services. The English program provides students with a solid foundation in the core skills of writing through a two-course composition sequence. The English major prepares students for graduate studies and a variety of practical careers, helping learners develop a respect for the value of humanistic and inclusive thinking that is an essential dimension of a liberal-arts education.  Columbia College seeks candidates who aspire to excellence in teaching, leadership, and research, and who can build collaborative relationships within the college and the profession.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• The successful candidate must have at minimum an earned MA by the time of appointment. All required documents must be completed for the application to be reviewed.
• Preference may be given to applicants with prior college teaching experience and familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas.
• Must have some familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Ability to meet schedules and timelines.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; excellent interpersonal skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires sedentary work that involves walking, standing, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling some of the time and requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and the ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations.

Application Process 

To apply, a candidate must submit the following materials through the online submission portal (all in one pdf file except for the cover letter, which may be uploaded as a separate document):

• A cover letter describing teaching interests and experiences
• A current curriculum vitae
• A formal statement that addresses teaching philosophy and methodology
• A formal statement regarding research and other scholarly endeavors
• Names and contact information for three references
• Copies of graduate transcripts (unofficial copies of transcripts will suffice for the initial stage)

Review of completed applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. All required documents must be completed for the application to be reviewed. Copies of official transcripts will be required of the selected finalist. 

If interested in applying for this position, submit the above materials through the online submission website at https://www.columbiasc.edu/about/employment.

If you have any additional questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. David McCracken, Division Dean of Arts & Humanities via email at dmccracken@columbiasc.edu 

EOE M/F/D/V