Assistant Professor-School of Social Work

Posting Details
Title Information

Faculty Title
Job Class Code
FLSA

Position Information

Posting Number	FRGV1530
Working Title	Assistant Professor-School of Social Work
Number of Vacancies	3.0
Location	Rio Grande Valley
Division/Organization	Provost - Academic Affairs
Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position
Tenure Status	Tenure Track
FTE	1.0
Scope of Job	The successful candidates will possess a record of research and scholarship, teaching, service, community engagement, and administration commensurate with early career faculty. Our faculty members are expected to actively engage in research and scholarship and to seek external funding to support their research. Faculty in the School of Social Work engage in broad collaborations with health, mental health, counseling, rehabilitation, and nursing colleagues, as well as those in sciences, technology, engineering, and arts units across the university. These collaborations have been fruitful and have resulted in ongoing educational initiatives, grant-funded research, and community-engagement projects. As such, the successful candidate will have a track record of interprofessional collaborations. Applicants’ research should be at the intersection of social work, public health, and population health, and blend micro and macro issues. Expertise in some of the areas salient in the School of Social Work’s growing research portfolio is welcome, including health and behavioral health issues in populations similar to those of the Rio Grande Valley (i.e., 94% Hispanic, primarily Mexican-American; bilingual and bicultural; borderland communities); gerontological social work; sustainability; human mobility; U.S.-Mexico border issues; and global issues. Faculty members are encouraged to engage in basic, applied and/or translational research that addresses critical community and state needs. Service to the School of Social Work, University, community, and professional organizations locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally is an integral part of the faculty member’s responsibilities. The successful applicant will teach in our BSW, MSSW, and dual-degree programs; contribute to the development of our doctoral program and teach doctoral courses; work with our Office for International Social Work and our Human Mobility Institute; and possess some experience in administrative areas relevant to our programs or be interested in developing expertise in these areas (e.g., academic affairs, graduate education, distance learning, etc.). We are seeking well-rounded, early career academics who can make an impact in all areas: teaching, research and scholarship, service, administration, and community engagement. UTRGV is a distributed university with campuses and teaching sites from Brownsville to Laredo. This is an in-person position and faculty may be assigned to teach in other locations either in person or using remote technologies. The School of Social Work has students in Edinburg, Brownsville, and Laredo, and is exploring offering classes in Rio Grande City. About UTRGV: It is UTRGV’s Vision “To be one of the nation’s leaders in higher education, its premier Hispanic-serving institution, and a highly engaged bilingual university, with exceptional educational, research, and creative opportunities that serve as catalysts for transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.” As such, UTRGV is committed to building a diverse faculty and staff that can contribute to an enriching learning environment that strives for more equitable outcomes for student success. UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit our website About the School of Social Work The School of Social Work was established in 2018 as an independent School and is under the leadership of Founding Dean Dr. Luis R. Torres. Previously, the department of social work existed since the 1970s, most recently as part of the College of Health Professions. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Social Work (SSW) is the only institution to offer programs leading to both the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and the Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree south of San Antonio. Both programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The BSW Program prepares students for generalist social work practice. Building on the generalist foundation, the MSSW program focuses on two concentrations: Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups; and Community Practice and Administration. The MSSW Program goals are to prepare graduates to practice with diverse, vulnerable, and at-risk populations to promote human well-being and social and economic justice, especially in the Texas-Mexico border region; to prepare graduates for leadership in developing and implementing policies and services for at-risk populations with an emphasis on the Texas-Mexico border region; and to develop the knowledge base of the social work profession, particularly as it relates to addressing the needs of at-risk populations with an emphasis on the Texas-Mexico border region. The BSW program is in-person, and alternative modalities are being explored. We offer all MSSW programs in two modalities, traditional on-campus, and online. A PhD in Social Work is under development, as are a dual MSSW-MPH program. Other dual degree programs and MSSW modalities have been approved by faculty and will be developed over the next few years. The School of Social Work is committed to preparing generalist and advanced professional social workers to meet the needs of a binational and multicultural community, and to increasingly make an impact on the national stage. The Rio Grande Valley is a natural laboratory for the demographic shifts being seen around the country. The educational emphasis is on social work practice with Hispanic/Latino/Latinx individuals and communities, and with other diverse communities, considering multicultural competence, ethical practice, knowledge building, and social services that promote social and economic justice.
Minimum Qualifications	Qualifications for Assistant Professor: Earned doctorate in social work or a related field; record of research and scholarship, teaching, service, community engagement, and administration commensurate with the rank sought; evidence of teaching effectiveness; record of sustained research and publication commensurate with rank; record of grant writing with success in securing external grants commensurate with rank,; record of peer-reviewed presentations at social work professional conferences and related professional conferences commensurate with rank; evidence of university and community service commensurate with rank.
Discipline Specific Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications	Preference will be given to applicants with: mixed methods, qualitative, and quantitative skills; a Master’s in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program and 2+ years of practice experience; social work licensure or license-eligibility in Texas; experience working with populations similar to those of the Rio Grande Valley (i.e., 94% Hispanic, primarily Mexican-American; bilingual and bicultural; borderland communities); teaching expertise in advanced clinical or macro practice; experience with online teaching and distance education programs; bilingual (English and Spanish); knowledge of the cultural, social and economic characteristics of the U.S.-Mexico border region; and international experience. An earned doctorate in social work or a related field is required.
License or Certification Required?
Salary	Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience. The appointment is contingent upon the enrollment and scheduling needs of the School of Social Work.
Desired Start Date	09/01/2024

Posting Detail Information

EEO Statement	It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the civil rights act of 1964, the title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Open Date	09/18/2023
Close Date
Additional Information	UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Special Instructions to Applicants	Dear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: Date of Birth Social Security Number Gender Ethnicity/Race Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three (3) calendar days. Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.
Please Note	Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.
Quick Link	https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/39950