Assistant Professor of Social Psychology

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. If what was just described is what you look for in a workplace, welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)!

The Psychology Department seeks applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor of Social Psychology. Area of specialization within Social Psychology is open. The typical time allocation for tenure-track faculty in the Psychology Department is 40% teaching, 40% research, and 20% service with reduced teaching load in the first two years. The teaching load, which typically includes 5 courses split over fall and spring semesters, may also be reduced by grant funding per department and college guidelines.  The scholar in this position will teach undergraduate and graduate-level courses in psychology and will provide mentorship to undergraduate and graduate student researchers. This position reports to the Chair of the Psychology Department.

Who We Are:

The Psychology Department faculty are committed to excellence in teaching and research, with the expectation that faculty maintain a productive program of research with commitment to obtain external funding. The Psychology Department currently offers a BA in Psychology, MA programs in Psychological Science (with subplans in Cognition, Biopsychology, Geropsychology, Social, and Developmental) and Clinical Psychology (with subplans in Trauma and Geropsychology), and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (with tracks in Geropsychology and in Trauma Psychology). More info can be found at https://psychology.uccs.edu. As a department, we are invested in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system (link: https://www.cu.edu/) 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 (link: https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live), 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/.

Job Duties:

The position is responsible for teaching various undergraduate and graduate courses in the Psychology Department. Classes will be assigned as needed and efforts will be made to find opportunities for the faculty member to teach in their special area of expertise. The position requires a current and active research program, including student mentoring in research. The position also requires service to the department, college, and/or field of study.

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Related to Teaching:

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses each academic year, split between the fall and spring semesters.
• Supervise and mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students in research.
• Use effective distance and online learning methods when needed.
• Implement culturally responsive practices.
• Develop thorough syllabi and content within a learning management system (LMS) OR follow the provided syllabus and LMS content for the course.

Related to Research:

• Contribute to the research profile of the department through publications and presentations of research.
• Pursue grants and other sponsored program activities.

Related to Service:

• Serve on department, college, and university committees.
• Advise undergraduate and graduate students regarding progress in Psychology Department programs.

To be successful in this position, the employee will need the following:

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of best practices in both inclusive education and adult learning methods
• Ability to orchestrate engaging distance learning experiences when needed
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the public
• Ability to exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality regarding critical and sensitive information, records, and reports
• Ability to work in partnership with colleagues and faculty
• Multicultural competence and a demonstrated commitment to diversity in all forms

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: On-site

Remote work will be available for emergency events. This will be offered based on the emergency and allowance will come from leadership and the guidelines provided at the time of the emergency.

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

What We Offer:

Salary Range: Generally starting at $73,000 - $76,000 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 benefits, 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 January 7, 2024. However, this posting will remain open until filled.

The potential dates for virtual interviews will be January 20-23, 2024.

The potential dates for interviews with the appointing authorities and department will be February 12 – 28, 2024

The potential employee start date is August 12, 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:

• Education: PhD in social psychology or experimental psychology with concentration in social psychology conferred by August 2024 
• Evidence of specialized training and experience in social psychology through coursework and/or supervised research experiences.
• Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of start.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One semester of teaching an undergraduate or graduate course.

Physical Requirements:

Physical requirements for a person to be successful in performing the essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation are sedentary, to include exertion up to 10 lbs of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or contently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. The position involves sitting most of the time but ay involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Physical requirement examples include reaching, handling, fingering, feeling, talking, hearing, and near acuity.

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.