Adjunct Faculty - Introduction to the Food Justice Movement

Position Title: Adjunct Faculty - Introduction to the Food Justice Movement
No. of Positions to Fill 1
Department/Program:   Coopersmith Program (11160)
Work Location:   Remote
Reports to: Associate Dean of Online Programs
FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried
FTE: 16% (6 hrs/week)
Compensation: $2,790.11 - $3,663.92 based on prior Naropa experience

Application Deadline: 5/30/25 or until filled. 

Job Summary:
Naropa University seeks applicants for adjunct positions, teaching the online undergraduate course: ENV 257E Introduction to the Food Justice Movement.

Course Description:
An introduction to the food justice movement, this course examines it from the local, national, and international levels. Topics include food policy, grassroots movements and action, food production and food access as they relate to the systems of privilege and oppression that shape them. Equally, this course explores the actions of various communities working towards empowerment and liberation. Students engage with relevant theory, hands-on service-learning site visits, as well as contact with professionals, activists, and impacted communities in the food justice movement.

Job Duties:
• Teach an asynchronous online course from an existing course syllabus and course shell, using Canvas LMS.
• Provide one hour of office hours each week plus availability to students by
appointment.
• Complete any and all faculty and staff trainings as required by the Human Resources
Office or the Office of Academic Affairs within the time period set for completion by those departments.
• Create and maintain a positive team environment and behave professionally with everyone encountered in the course and scope of the job duties.

Required Qualifications
• MA in Environmental Studies, Sociology, or a related field.
• Experience with Canvas or other LMS platforms, online teaching experience
• Willingness to co-create an inclusive community and actively participate in related professional development, including openness to feedback and ongoing self- examination.
• Ability to create and maintain a positive team environment and behave professionally with
everyone encountered in the course and scope of the job duties.
• A basic understanding of contemplative educational approaches.
• All job candidates must be able to demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University for this job and the capacity to provide a rigorous approach as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.

Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated cultural competency regarding traditional Jewish and Christian communities.
• At least 2 years online teaching experience.
• PhD in Environmental Studies or a related field.
• Well developed understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the impact these have on equity, access, and opportunity.

Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions
Faculty members spend most of their time in their classrooms or in virtual meetings with some time in offices. In the classrooms and on campus may experience: interruptions, distractions, heat, cold, dust and/or dampness. As a faculty member, you may spend extended periods in front of students and speaking as well as:
• Reading academic texts and materials, student papers, etc.
• Operating personal computer and audio-visual equipment.
• Standing or sitting for hours at a time.

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program. 

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.