Job: Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in LGBTQ+ Studies at Santa Clara University

Dear Colleagues,

The English Department at Santa Clara University is currently hiring for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in LGBTQ+ studies in professional writing and/or literature and cultural studies. We particularly encourage candidates who bridge these areas and candidates with expertise in queer rhetorics to apply. The full job ad follows this message. We hope you might share our ad with any of your professional network, caucuses, or anyone who might know who might be interested. Applications must be received by October 1, 2024, and inquiries may be sent by email to English Department Manager Jessica Gopp (jgopp@scu.edu), Attention LGBTQ+ Search Committee.

Thank you!Heather Turner

Job Ad (see also the link to the job ad/application portal: https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/details/Tenure-track-Assistant-Professor-of-LGBTQ–Studies_R4791 )

Purpose
The Department of English at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, invites applications for a tenure track position (full-time) in LGBTQ+ studies in the areas of professional writing and/or literature and cultural studies. We particularly encourage candidates who bridge these areas and candidates with expertise in queer rhetorics to apply. Successful candidates must have a strong record of teaching and a clear research trajectory in LGBTQ+ studies.

Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $83,771 to $93,107, depending on the successful candidate’s years of teaching experience at the college-level. The position comes with generous benefits (scu.edu/hr/benefits), including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and university contributions toward retirement. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, there are two University housing assistance programs: Rental assistance to ease the transition into the local housing market, and housing purchase assistance for tenure-stream faculty.

For details, go to
https://www.scu.edu/provost/policies-and-procedures/support-for-faculty/housing-assistance/

2024-2025 cluster hire information
This position is slated for inclusion in a College of Arts & Sciences cluster hire in the area of LGBTQ+/Queer Studies that also includes the Departments of Women & Gender Studies, and Public Health. Cluster hire participants will receive mentorship and regular group meetings providing peer support and interdisciplinary intellectual community to support their scholarly and creative work.

The Santa Clara University English Department supports work in critical race and ethnic studies, digital media, and digital humanities, and contributes to interdisciplinary programs in these fields. Teaching will include lower-division and upper-division courses in the candidate’s areas of specialization, foundation courses for the major, and first-year critical thinking and writing courses. We anticipate an average of ⅓ of the annual teaching assignments will be first-year writing courses. SCU is on the quarter system and faculty are expected to teach 6 courses per academic year (2 per quarter), assuming they are engaged in an active research program. A reduced teaching load of 5 courses is standard in the first year of appointment. The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2025 and be expected to teach, engage in a scholarship program, and do service for the department, college and university.

Located in the heart of northern California’s Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University is a Jesuit, Catholic university. The SCU College of Arts and Sciences offers an education in the liberal arts and sciences. Santa Clara University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity; we particularly welcome applications from women, non-binary and trans persons, persons of color, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with a disability.

Required qualifications
PhD in English or related field completed by September 1, 2025; potential for excellence in teaching undergraduate LGBTQ+ studies courses; scholarship in LGBTQ+ studies and a clear research trajectory in LGBTQ+ studies.

Preferred qualifications
(1) Experience with inclusive pedagogical practices that advance SCU goals of diversity and equity.
(2) Experience teaching and mentoring a diverse population of undergraduates. (3) Potential to contribute to one or more departmental, college, or university priorities. Department priorities include social justice, critical race and ethnic studies, environmental humanities, feminist/gender/queer studies, and other aspects of program development. University and college priorities include global understanding and engagement, justice and sustainability, and work with the Centers of Distinction, Residential Learning Communities, and the Center for the Arts and Humanities.

Applicants should be aware of Jesuit educational philosophy, the social justice mission of the university, and the English Studies focus of the Department of English at Santa Clara University.

Responsibilities
Tenure-track faculty at SCU are teaching scholars who are expected to balance teaching, research and service. This is an in-person position. Duties include but are not limited to:

Teaching

1. Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses like Critical Thinking & Writing first-year writing sequences. SCU is on the quarter system and a typical load is two courses per quarter. Teaching responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

a. Conducting and appearing at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner that demonstrates a command of the discipline and skill in presenting it effectively.
b. Assigning and evaluating written work, projects, and exams that align with course or core learning objectives and providing timely feedback to students.
c. Holding weekly office hours at times reasonably convenient to students.
d. Assigning and submitting student grades that are appropriate, accurate, and fair measures of student performance to the Office of the Registrar by the designated deadline.

e. Administering numerical and narrative evaluations in each section for all courses.

2. Develop and teach courses that contribute to curriculum development in the English Department and the university core. Faculty teaching university core courses should follow an approved syllabus or work with the chair to design an appropriate syllabus for submission for approval from the relevant Faculty Core Curriculum Committee.
3. Participate in assessment of student learning for courses in the department.
4. Provide informed advice and mentoring to undergraduate students.
5. Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or by the Chair of the English Department

Research
1. Continue a robust trajectory of publications in journals (print or electronic) and/or book(s) that receive positive peer reviews and demonstrate impact commensurate with rank.
2. Demonstrate interest in collaborating with other faculty and students (in the English Department and other departments such as Ethnic Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Environmental Studies). Preference will be given to candidates with a research program that can accommodate participation of undergraduates.

Service

1. Provide effective service to the Department of English, the College, the University and profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university as appropriate to rank and experience.

Required documents

1) letter of application describing teaching philosophy, research plan appropriate for department serving undergraduates, experience working w/people of diverse cultures and identities, and reasons for interest in the LGBTQ+ studies position at Santa Clara University
2) curriculum vitae
3) sample syllabi for first-year writing and lower-division or upper-division LGBTQ+ studies courses
4) recent teaching evaluations for 2-3 courses
5) a writing sample: e.g., a book chapter, article, or other sample of scholarly work (maximum of 25 pages)
6) (unofficial) graduate transcripts
7) contact information for three references; we may request letters of reference after October 1, 2024

Additional information

Inquiries may be sent by email to jgopp, Attention: English Department Search Committee.

Applications must be received by 10/01/2024.

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the University community is a top priority. The University strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as the vaccination and boosters are safe, effective tools that significantly minimize the chances of serious illness and hospitalization. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Work Authorization:

A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for visa sponsorship assessment by Santa Clara University together with its legal counsel.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at oae. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia.

Heather Noel Turner, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor
Department of English
500 El Camino Real | Santa Clara, CA 95053

T: hturner | W: www.heathernoelturner.com

Director, User Experience Research and Writing Lab
Design Editor,
Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric