Assistant Professor (Practice)

Oregon State University, United States

Updated: 11 months ago
Location: Oregon City, OREGON
Deadline: 05 Jul 2023

Position Details
Position Information


Department Horticltr Extn Field Fac (AHT)
Position Title Assistant Professor (Practice)
Job Title Assistant Professor (Practice)
Appointment Type Academic Teaching/Research Faculty
Job Location Oregon City
Benefits Eligible Full-Time, benefits eligible
Job Summary
The Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Assistant Professor of Practice position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.
This faculty member will develop and conduct educational programs and contribute to applied horticulture research activities in topics relevant to gardening as well as economic development and community development in Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah Counties. This position will serve as an educational liaison to local metro area organizations and state and federal agencies as well as work collaboratively with Master Gardeners, local organizations, and subject matter specialists to provide Extension programs in the assigned counties.
As a land grant institution committed to teaching, research, and outreach and engagement, OSU promotes economic, social, cultural and environmental progress for the people of Oregon, the nation and the world.
The faculty member contributes to the missions of Oregon State University Extension Service (OSUES) and the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS). CAS faculty are committed to enhancing learner success by engaging students in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for Extension and Engagement are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audiences.
Commitment to Inclusive Excellence:
Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations. In addition, faculty members will design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Extension programs to ensure that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.
OSU Division of Extension and Engagement’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion
OSU Moving Forward Together
https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/president/moving-forward-together
OSU Work Life, Diversity and Cultural Resources
https://hr.oregonstate.edu/work-life/diversity-and-cultural-resources
Why OSU?
Working for Oregon State University is so much more than a job!
Oregon State University is a dynamic community of dreamers, doers, problem-solvers and change-makers. We don’t wait for challenges to present themselves — we seek them out and take them on. We welcome students, faculty and staff from every background and perspective into a community where everyone feels seen and heard. We have deep-rooted mindfulness for the natural world and all who depend on it, and together, we apply knowledge, tools and skills to build a better future for all.
FACTS:
• Top 1.4% university in the world
• More research funding than all public universities in Oregon combined
• 1 of 3 land, sea, space and sun grant universities in the U.S.
• 2 campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, and Extension programs in all 36 counties
• 7 cultural resource centers that offer education, celebration and belonging for everyone
• 100+ undergraduate degree programs, 80+ graduate degrees plus hundreds of minor options and certificates
• 35k+ students including more than 2.3k international students and 10k students of color
• 217k+ alumni worldwide
• For more interesting facts about OSU visit: https://oregonstate.edu/about
Locations:
Oregon State has a statewide presence with campuses in Corvallis and Bend, the OSU Portland Center and the Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Pacific Coast in Newport.
Oregon State’s beautiful, historic and state-of-the-art main campus is located in one of America’s best college towns. Corvallis is located close to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascade mountains and Oregon wine county. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, this beautiful city offers miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a river perfect for boating or kayaking and an eclectic downtown featuring local cuisine, popular events and performances.
Total Rewards Package:

Oregon State University offers a comprehensive benefits package with benefits eligible positions that is designed to meet the needs of employees and their families including:
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
Future and current OSU employees can use the Benefits Calculator to learn more about the full value of the benefits provided at OSU.
Key Responsibilities
This faculty member embeds the commitment of the university to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed and contributes to a welcoming and respectful workplace culture.
70% Extension Teaching and Related Assignments
(a) Extension Teaching
  • Utilize Oregon State University’s six principles of teaching excellence that include audience consideration, planning, enhanced engagement, teaching, assessment, and reflection.
  • Create innovative educational materials and use effective Extension teaching methods that meet clientele needs, with materials, methods, and outcomes shared with peers in the state, region, and/or nation.
  • Develop a collaborative working relationship with metro-area MG chapters and other advisory groups to identify program needs, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.
  • Following a prioritized needs assessment, develop, design, and deliver Extension educational programming in the Portland metro area; provide leadership for its management and growth; and recruit, train, and enable MG volunteers to deliver relevant and timely educational programs related to urban horticulture.
  • Extension teaching methods may include but not be limited to: classroom teaching, workshops, seminars, field days, online teaching, hybrid teaching, and all Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) formats.
  • Utilize a variety of non-credit teaching and engagement opportunities (online and face-to-face) to convey horticultural information and practices to community audiences.
  • Provide opportunities for advanced training and recertification for Master Gardeners.
  • Provide educational programs to urban residents that include current information on horticultural practices with an emphasis on integrated pest management, best management practices, and ecological and edible landscaping.
  • Meet the information needs of local and regional audiences by accessing information from a variety of sources and disseminating it through appropriate mechanisms (internet, newsletter, newspaper, radio, television, presentations, etc.).
  • Use technology as a tool to increase the impact of program delivery for constituents including participating with Ask-Extension.
  • Extension teaching may also involve providing one-on-one consultation and educational programs to target audiences depending on their needs.
  • Participate in presenting guest lectures for horticultural classes as needed to stakeholders.
  • This position is expected to solicit peer teaching evaluations and citizen evaluation of teaching.
  • Engage and contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity as part of teaching, educational delivery, advising, research, Extension, service, and/or scholarly outcomes. Outputs and impacts of efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity should be included in promotion dossiers.
  • Conduct and coordinate local pesticide recertification efforts in the assigned area as well as answer any pesticide related questions from the public.
  • Maintain Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License throughout employment to stay up to date with the science of pesticides and answer pesticide related questions.


(b) Partnerships/Collaboration/Networking
  • Serve as an educational liaison with OSU faculty, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, the green industry, community colleges, and other universities to explore new learning opportunities and applications for ecological horticulture in urban landscapes.
  • Contribute to program development and enhancement of the statewide Master Gardener program.
  • Collaborate with colleagues who have expertise in small farms, organic methods, nursery production, landscape/turf management, and community food systems to help provide a balanced program for the diverse population in the metro counties.
  • Provide administrative oversight and programmatic management for Horticulture Education Partnerships in Portland metro counties including the OSU/PSU Collaboration at the Learning Gardens Laboratory, which is a partnership to manage a 5-acre educational garden site.
  • Utilize partnerships with diverse interest groups to provide advisory support and to enhance program quality and delivery. This will likely include the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS), Oregon Food Bank, and Portland Parks & Recreation.
  • Collaborate with other OSU faculty, researchers, and Extension faculty, along with state and federal agencies to develop relevant science-based solutions to address prioritized challenges and opportunities.
  • Engage with community-based and regional organizations to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development within local, regional, or state boundaries as appropriate.
  • Develop and maintain efficient methods for addressing high volumes of topically repetitive clientele inquiries through scholarly outputs like Extension publications, videos, and other electronic and media communication tools and strategies.

© Accountability
  • Provide oversight and lead work of contracted professionals in the metro area in program delivery.
  • Develop annual plans of work that address educational needs as well as evaluate the quality and impact of Extension educational and applied research programs.
  • Regularly measure and report program impact in the Faculty Success online platform.
  • Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices to support and enhance program delivery.
  • Serve as a team member of the Master Gardener coordinators working group, as well as other working groups of interest as appropriate.
  • Keep records and provide necessary reports to Extension Administration, the department and/or college, including plans of work, narrative reports, impact statements, statistical reports, and reports of accomplishments.
  • Report outputs and outcomes to Extension Regional Directors and elected officials (where applicable) in the areas served.
  • Provide community and statewide opinion leaders and decision makers relevant, science-based topical information as needed or when requested.
  • Utilize appropriate and effective methods of communication to promote Extension programs and market Extension across Oregon and nationally.
  • Travel is required to provide Extension educational programming and services throughout the assigned region.
  • Participate in professional development opportunities including in-service training.

(d) Supervision
  • Supervise three classified educational program assistant positions and provide lead for other staff members who support the master gardener program in the North Willamette region.

10% Applied Research
  • Conduct applied research activities that supports Extension programming as well as gardening demonstration projects in areas of specific need and clientele interest that emphasize multi-tactic practices, management, and novel technologies as needed. Collaboration is expected with colleagues in other supporting disciplines related to the applied research goals.
  • Evaluate and document applied research and Extension impacts of programs and communicate the results to target audiences.
  • Design or adapt a clear evaluation protocol to evaluate and to report applied research and related Extension program impacts locally, regionally and/or internationally.
  • Collaborate with professional colleagues, industry members, and local partners to develop and implement these applied research programs.
  • Communicate applied research progress and results to stakeholders and provide educational opportunities using peer reviewed publications, professional meetings, group presentations, extension events and electronic communication (i.e., web sites, publications, video conferencing and other online methods).
  • Individually and with other colleagues or stakeholders, secure outside grants, and contracts and/or service fees to support and enhance position-appropriate educational and applied research programs and service activities. The faculty member will be expected to meet all reporting requirements of the funding sources, department, college, and university.

10% Scholarship
Assigned duties for this position are expected to result in scholarly outcomes.
Refer to section V of the OSU Faculty Promotion & Tenure Handbook: https://facultyaffairs.oregonstate.edu/faculty-handbook/promotion-and-tenure-guidelines#Practice

Discover new knowledge and develop creative solutions and applications for problems related to plant sciences. Research discoveries should be communicated to the scientific community, Extension audiences, and practitioners using innovative and contemporary tools in both oral and written venues, including web-based formats. Communication may include refereed journal articles, Extension publications, presentations to state, regional, and national commodity and professional groups, media, and other outlets as appropriate.
Scholarly and creative work is intellectual work whose significance is validated by peers and that is communicated. Emphasis in scholarship should be placed on outcomes that recognize activities as a professional practitioner in community settings as defined by the incumbent’s position description.
To achieve promotion, scholarship for this position must include peer reviewed materials that are durable and findable in the web environment. These are typically of the two types shown below, though other types of scholarship may also fit these durability and findable criteria:
  • Publications in peer‐reviewed journals which might encompass description and evaluation of novel community‐based professional practice or research application, program development and innovation, outcomes of innovative programs and/or services, definitive professional practice reviews, or case reports among others.
  • Authorship of extension publications, local or regional “practice” publications, book chapters, other educational materials, and electronic information delivery media if it is either peer reviewed before dissemination or if there is evidence of its adoption and use by peers.

To achieve promotion, there must be an on‐going record that both types of scholarship are being completed, though each does not need to be present in every year of record. Documentation must also be provided that shows these scholarly outputs have had impact. These durable, web‐findable materials may be augmented by other forms of peer validation such as the following:
  • Invited presentations, poster and podium presentations, and published abstracts and/or proceedings at state, regional and national levels, provided that evidence of peer validation is provided.
  • Documented impact due to local or regional adoption of improved practices, methods, or programs.
  • Secured competitive grants and contracts appropriate for the scope and focus of the faculty member’s position.
  • Named inventor of a protected intellectual property in the faculty member’s field.
  • Recognition as a professional practitioner in community settings as demonstrated by
  • honorary degrees
  • awards recognizing community, professional and/or scientific achievements
  • fellowships in national professional and/or scientific organizations
  • Requests to serve as a technical advisor to government agencies, industry, or professional groups
  • Best practice is to ensure an inclusive scholarship:
  • Including diverse perspectives on the research team, particularly among co-principal investigators.
  • Emphasizing diversity to address broadening participation in grant proposals.
  • Writing articles and books that address issues of diversity/social justice.
  • Presenting conference papers on issues of diversity/social justice.
  • Increasing the diversity of students who serve as research assistants.

10% – Service
  • Serve as a liaison to local and regional organizations that serve stakeholders the metro area Counties.
  • Participate in departmental and faculty meetings and committees, and serve on departmental, Extension, College and University committees that are consistent with the duties of this position. There is an expectation to balance service at multiple levels within the institution with service to the profession (e.g., professional societies).
  • Become involved in community service through cooperation with other local agencies and organizations.
  • Contribute to the common goals and needs of Extension.
  • Serve on partner boards as appropriate especially those aligned with the mission of OSU Extension.
  • Develop and maintain year-round public relation connections to the elected officials, local and state agencies, and Master Gardener Associations.
What You Will Need
  • Master’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Ecology, or closely related field. Degree must be completed by start date.
  • Demonstrated teaching, professional experience, or interest in community horticulture as a tool for addressing urban environmental issues.
  • Demonstrated experience with volunteer management or demonstrated success in leadership.
  • Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the ability to successfully engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsible manner.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a variety of audiences through written and oral communication skills, including the effective use of electronic (traditional and web-based) and printed mass media.
  • Must have or be able to obtain an Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Consultant License within six months of employment and maintain it throughout employment.
  • Ability to gather, interpret and communicate clearly and effectively broad-based scientific information
  • Ability to lead diverse groups and plan, organize, evaluate, manage, and delegate details associated with program management.
  • Ability to develop and sustain partnerships, including with academic peers, regional stakeholders, and local horticultural organizations.
  • Ability to use common computers (including proficiency with information technology, websites, and social media) and adapt to the changing technology environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity


This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.
What We Would Like You to Have
  • Demonstrated interest in developing active learning approaches using modern technologies and approaches, including Internet-based.
  • Ability to create equitable learning environments for diverse communities including incorporating multiple cultural perspectives in the educational design and delivery.
  • Multilingual and/or multicultural in languages/cultures that are increasingly represented in Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah Counties, such as but not limited to Spanish/Latin-American, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Deaf culture/American Sign Language.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure external funding support for educational and research programs.
  • Demonstrated skills in plant problem diagnosis.
Pay Method Salary
Pay Period 1st through the last day of the month
Pay Date Last working day of the month
Recommended Full-Time Salary Range Salary is commensurate with education, training and experience.
Link to Position Description
https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/position_descriptions/15011

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number P06916UF
Number of Vacancies 1
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date 10/01/2023
Anticipated Appointment End Date
Posting Date 05/24/2023
Full Consideration Date
Closing Date 07/05/2023
Indicate how you intend to recruit for this search Competitive / External - open to ALL qualified applicants
Special Instructions to Applicants
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
1) Curriculum vitae: Finalists will be required to give an open presentation which may include the distribution of their redacted curriculum vitae and a short biography
2) Cover letter that addresses each required qualification
3) A response to the following prompt uploaded as Diversity Statement:
After reviewing the OSU mission statement at http://leadership.oregonstate.edu/trustees/oregon-state-university-mission-statement and the emphasis on diversity, please state how your background and experience has prepared you to be effective in an environment that values diversity
You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.
For additional information please contact:
Jamie Davis
[email protected]
OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.
This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard 05-010. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months. Offers of employment are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications including the criminal history check requirement.
This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030 et seq. Offers of employment are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications including the motor vehicle check requirement.

Similar Positions