Assistant/Associate Professor in Political Science, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

Apply now Job no: 496675
Work type: Faculty Full-Time
Location: Denver, CO
Categories: Faculty
Division: Arts & Humanities/Social Sciences

The Department of Political Science and the Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Program (CRES) at the University of Denver (DU) invite applications for a jointly appointed tenure-line Assistant or tenured Associate Professor to start in Fall 2024 in the field of American politics. DU defines Critical Race and Ethnic Studies broadly. A specialization in critical race theory is not required, and we invite all scholars whose work speaks to race and ethnic politics to apply. The Department of Political Science consists of twelve tenured or tenure-line faculty supporting the Bachelors of Arts degree in political science within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Denver. The Critical Race and Ethnic Studies program (CRES) was founded in 2018 with an undergraduate minor, expanding to a full program with a tenured faculty director, two visiting faculty members, and numerous affiliated faculty members. CRES now offers an undergraduate major and minor and has approval for additional faculty lines being added over the next few years. Political Science serves approximately 200 majors and CRES serves 50 minors. Both programs serve undergraduate students across campus in the common curriculum. Our faculty are dedicated to the robust pursuit of research, publication, and public engagement. We also value diversity, equity, and inclusion: a commitment by all constituents to create an academic experience that embraces and engages diverse perspectives and communities within an atmosphere of mutual respect. Our curricula endeavor to develop students’ abilities to think critically, communicate clearly, write effectively, and develop compelling analytical argumentation based on justifiable sources of empirical evidence and analytical reasoning.

Position Summary

We seek applications from American Politics scholars who study Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. Specific concentrations within American Politics and Race, Ethnicity, and Politics are open.

The University of Denver embraces a teacher-scholar model where faculty balance their commitments to rigorous scholarship and undergraduate education. The position requires teaching the equivalent of five courses over the standard academic year (three quarters) in the Political Science department and/or CRES program, covering a range of CRES major requirements (i.e., Introduction, Theory, or Quantitative Methods in CRES) and cross listed upper division courses. The faculty member will be a fully participating and voting member of the Political Science Department. During the first two years of the position, the faculty member will also assist the Director of the CRES program in developing the new CRES major. To facilitate this, the faculty member will be protected from other substantial service obligations. After the first two years, the CRES program and Political Science department have established a practical distribution of teaching and service obligations.

Our curriculum is delivered via conventional face-to-face classes on our traditional residential campus, with most online-only courses occurring during summer sessions (which faculty may elect to teach for supplemental income, pending sufficient enrollment). We welcome the incorporation of experiential learning opportunities in the curriculum. Adhering to the teacher-scholar model, the position requires maintaining an active scholarly agenda as demonstrated via scholarly publications, academic conference participation, etc. The person holding this position would also be expected to contribute to University, College, and departmental/program service.

Essential Functions

  • Pursue a research agenda that results in high-quality scholarly publications.
  • Teach the equivalent of five courses across three quarters per academic year, including cross-listed upper division classes between Political Science and the CRES program, as well as introductory, methods, theory, and senior project courses within the CRES program specifically. The teaching schedule will be annually coordinated with the CRES program director and Political Science department chair.
  • Meet outside of class in office hours on campus and/or online to provide guidance and assistance to students enrolled in courses taught and to provide major advising to political science and CRES students.
  • Deploy best practices through the University of Denver's current course management system (Canvas), utilizing Canvas tools such as discussion boards, quizzes, assignments with uploaded files, and the gradebook as the means to collect student work, communicate feedback and assignment grades, and conduct class sessions and individual appointments remotely when the need for this arises.
  • Advise students about program and BA requirements.
  • Contribute to University, College, departmental, and program service.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Advanced scholarly expertise (PhD level) in the field of American politics, focusing on Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.  
  • Successful publication of peer-reviewed scholarship on American politics, focusing on Race, Ethnicity, and Politics, and evidence of future promise as a scholar.
  • Excellent skills in oral and written communication.
  • Excellent undergraduate teaching skills
  • Ability to interact constructively with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and undergraduate students.

Required Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Political Science or related field or interdisciplinary program (e.g. American studies). Must have a Ph.D. by start of appointment.
  • Evidence of a relevant established scholarly agenda that is indicated by peer-reviewed publications.
  • Experience serving as an instructor of record in undergraduate &/or graduate courses in political (or related social) science.
  • Interest in (at the Assistant Level) or expertise in (at the Associate Level) developing upper-division undergraduate courses to help build out the CRES curriculum.
  • Growth toward (at the Assistant Level) or evidence of (at the Associate Level) teaching excellence and a commitment to incorporate inclusive teaching methods and/or pedagogies to effectively engage students from a wide range of backgrounds.
  • A demonstrated commitment to, and experience in, promoting DEI and in using inclusive pedagogies.
  • Experience using course management software (such as Canvas or similar).

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 5:00 p.m. (MST) September 15, 2023

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is Assistant Professor $70,000-$82,000 and Associate Professor (with tenure) $83,000-$95,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. CV that indicates scholarly specialization, publications and/or working papers, and courses you have taught before as an instructor.
2. Cover Letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for this position
3. Three distinct statements (1-2 pages each), combined into one document with identifying headers, that articulate your (a) research
    agenda, (b) teaching philosophy and methods to engage students, and (c) how your research, teaching, and/or service contribute to
    DU’s values, practices, and actions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Candidates can view DU’s DEI Action Plan [https://www.du.edu/equity/dei-action-plan] and/or the College of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) DEI Strategic Plan [https://liberalarts.du.edu/news-events/all-articles/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-strategic-plan-cahss] for reference.

4. Three samples of written work (e.g., two chapters from dissertation or book and one article).
5. Evidence of teaching effectiveness such as two course syllabi, a set of teaching evaluations from two different courses, and any other      artifacts of teaching excellence (e.g., a teaching award), all combined into one pdf file with headers identifying each discrete   
    component.
6. For applicants who have not finished their PhD, please include graduate transcripts.
7. Contact information for three professional/academic references who will be emailed to upload letters of recommendation if required.
    Candidates using Interfolio may arrange to send all three letters of recommendation in one pdf file via email to
    Darlene.Squires@du.edu. No other materials beyond letters of recommendation should be sent via Interfolio.

The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a university-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant’s academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver’s commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity. For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email inclusion@du.edu and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

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