Assistant Professor - Criminal Justice

Welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) !

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs will not sponsor work visas or permanent resident applications for this position

Envision yourself in a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment that has a deep commitment to position our graduates for success in their professional and personal lives. Visualize applying your energy and skills for an organization that respects and cares about its employees enough to offer some of the best benefits of the industry while encouraging every team member to grow, collaborate, and provide input on how to consistently make the workplace a place people love to work. Imagine working at a college that welcomes everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members — regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or traditions. 

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of different offices and programs. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus. Find more information about working at UCCS here: https://hr.uccs.edu/work-at-uccs .

The city, which was recently ranked as the number nine Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2023, known as Olympic City USA, rests at the base of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful” and a must-see for residents and visitors alike. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities. Find out more about living in Colorado Springs through the Visit Colorado Springs page: https://www.visitcos.com/ .

Who We Are: 

The UCCS College of Public Service (CPS)  provides students with a collaborative learning environment for lucrative careers in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Social Work, and more.

The mission of the UCCS College of Public Service is to improve the quality of life for people and their communities, here and abroad, through collaborative governance, public service innovation, community engagement, and research. 

We endorse a belief that our differences make us better educators, researchers, and community advocates. To do so, we cultivate a professional atmosphere that equips students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to lead critical conversations, create inclusive and equitable environments, and guide public service processes with the knowledge and confidence to address and empower a public that represents the full spectrum of human experience. 

Criminal Justice Programs at UCCS

Criminal Justice is a broad and increasingly interdisciplinary field. Criminal Justice programs at UCCS aim to capture the academic liberal arts emphasis and the professional and policy knowledge required to educate criminal justice professionals. 

The Criminal Justice program at UCCS offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. The program curriculum is designed to accommodate students interested in pursuing professional careers in criminal justice and research or academic careers. 

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system  and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of different offices and programs. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus. Find more information about working at UCCS here: https://hr.uccs.edu/work-at-uccs .

The city, which was recently ranked as the number nine Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report  in 2023, known as Olympic City USA, rests at the base of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful” and a must-see for residents and visitors alike. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities. Find out more about living in Colorado Springs through the Visit Colorado Springs page: https://www.visitcos.com/ .

The assistant professor of criminal justice in the College of Public Service will teach undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the Criminal Justice programs at UCCS. The typical time allocation for tenured and tenure-track faculty in the College of Public Service is 40% Teaching, 40% Research, and 20% service. The pre-tenure teaching load for this position is a 2-2, with the potential for additional teaching opportunities during the summer. 

Job Duties:

Teaching (40%)

• Teach undergraduate-level courses in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Program and graduate-level courses in the Master of Criminal Justice Program, which are sometimes cross-listed with graduate courses in the Master of Public Administration program. 
• Prepare and teach courses in the current undergraduate and graduate criminal justice curricula and contribute to curriculum development. 
• A flexible teaching schedule (e.g., evening classes) and course formats will include in-person, hybrid, and online. 

Research (40%)

• Maintain a productive agenda of empirical and meaningful research evidence through peer-reviewed publications.
• Seeking external funding for research

Service (20%)

• Be an engaged collegial member of Criminal Justice, College of Public Service, and UCCS Communities. 
• Examples of service activities include but are not limited to:
  • participating in faculty meetings;
  • serving on Criminal Justice, College of Public Service, and UCCS campus committees;
  • participating in student recruitment activities and advising;
  • helping to build/maintain partnerships between the community and the College of Public Service; and, 
  • other activities as appropriate 

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Work Location: (Hybrid (50% remote, 50% on-site, depending on course coverage)

This position has been determined to be exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

What We Offer:

Salary Range: Generally starting at $72,000 - $77,000 per academic year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent b enefits , some of which include:

• Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee
• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance
• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%
• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent
• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment
• Faculty Housing Assistance Program  

Tentative Search Timeline:

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by March 8, 2024. However, this posting will remain open until filled.
• The potential dates for interviews with the search committee will be the week of March 20, 2024.
• The potential dates for interviews with the supervisor and appointing authority will be the week of April 3, 2024 - May 3, 2024.
• The potential employee start date is August 19, 2024.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learning, living and working community. To assist in achieving this goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history check. 

UCCS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, the University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation or political philosophy in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (719) 255-3372.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Please note that while the position details both required qualifications as well as preferred qualifications below, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the desired skills and experience to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work, along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Criminology and/or Criminal Justice or a related social or behavioral science discipline from an accredited institution. A J.D. degree alone does not qualify for this position.
• ABD candidates will be considered; however, Ph.D. must be conferred by August 18, 2024 to be appointed at Assistant Professor level. If Ph.D. is not conferred by August 18, 2024, a selected ABD will be appointed at the Instructor level. 
• Ability to teach courses in the current undergraduate and graduate criminal justice curricula in multiple formats. (see the following link for the current curricula: https://catalog.uccs.edu)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Areas of specialization are open, but applicants with expertise in Emerging Technologies in Criminal Justice, Justice Involved Veterans, State and Local Policing, or/and Policing and Technology are encouraged to apply. If your research specialization(s) have included critical, intersectional, and/or race/gender/class intersections or perspectives, please highlight those in your materials. 
• Preference will be given to applicants who can contribute to the CJ core curriculum and add to our wide range of undergraduate and graduate electives. 
• Advanced Assistant Professors are strongly encouraged to apply. 
• Applicants with an interdisciplinary focus or who have the ability to contribute to more than one area of expertise are desired. 
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., summary of teaching evaluations, course syllabi, awards, etc.)
• Evidence of scholarly activities (e.g., peer-reviewed journal publications, manuscripts, book chapters, conference presentations, grants, etc.)
• Applicants with a history of service commitments at the department, college, or university level are desired. 
• Ability to collaborate with criminal justice organizations (e.g., partnerships with agencies in the field, research collaborations with CJ agencies, internships, guest lectures with CJ agencies, etc.)

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to move. Employee may occasionally have long periods of sitting or standing.  The employee may occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.  Accommodations may be requested to fulfill any of these requirements.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the established essential functions and meet the physical and environment demands described satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, physical and environmental conditions required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, physical and environmental demands.

Applicants with disabilities: If you have a mental or physical impairment, which limits one of your major life activities (e.g. walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, or learning) and require special accommodations for testing or interviewing, it is your responsibility to notify the office scheduling the interview or test at least 3 working days before the interview or test date.  If you need special accommodations at the work site, you must notify the appointing authority or Human Resources.