Associate Director of the Debate Across the Curriculum Program and Assistant Professor of the Practice at the University of Denver, Department of Communication Studies

Apply now Job no:497181
Work type:Faculty Full-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Faculty
Division: Arts & Humanities/Social Sciences

The University of Denver is a leading university in the Rocky Mountain region and is classified as an R1: Doctoral/Research University, with very high research activity. The university serves approximately 12,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. Denver is a thriving city, with the population of the metropolitan area approaching 3 million.

The University of Denver's vision is to be a great private university dedicated to the public good. The Department of Communication Studies calls students to engage in communication meaningfully, creatively, ethically, and with intellectual curiosity, to enhance their personal and public lives, as well as contribute to a sustainable common good. The university and department value diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing that our success is dependent on how well we engage the rich diversity of constituents and actively promote a more culturally responsive and just society. We are committed to hiring faculty who support this mission. More information about the mission and programs at DU can be found on the departmental website: www.du.edu/ahss/comn .

Position Summary

The Department of Communication Studies at the University of Denver seeks to hire a full-time Assistant Professor of the Practice to serve as the Associate Director of our Debate Across the Curriculum Program (to learn more about our teaching and professional faculty series, please see https://duvpfa.du.edu/teaching-and-professional-faculty/ ). Faculty members in the Professor of the Practice Series have expertise, achievements, and reputations developed over a sustained period of time that qualify them to be distinguished professionals in an area of practice, although they might not have academic credentials or experience. A primary function of faculty members in the Professors of the Practice Series is to provide students with connections to the professional fields the students will be entering.

The Debate Across the Curriculum Program is a campus-wide pedagogical initiative that provides faculty the opportunity to include expert-facilitated, non-competitive debates in their classrooms, with debate topics expressly formulated to enhance active learning of the particular issues addressed in the course. The program is designed–and has been proven–to foster students’ willingness and capacity to engage peers across lines of difference and disagreement as a means of empowering them to engage in civic discourse on campus and beyond (for more information on the Debate Across the Curriculum Program see https://www.du.edu/news/students-find-voice-great-debate ).

This is a non-tenure track position that provides a three-year contract with full benefits and is renewable with the possibility of promotion, contingent upon the continued availability of position funding. (Promotions to associate and full professor of the practice come with longer contracts, contingent upon the continued availability of position funding.)

Essential Functions

The Associate Director will be responsible for working directly with interested faculty in scheduling, designing, and facilitating classroom debates. The Associate Director will have a job responsibilities reassignment from department teaching and service that has them report to the Program Director and assist in the administration of the program. This will include the work of recruiting faculty to participate in the program; data collection and conducting research on program effectiveness; and creating materials on the program for internal and external audiences.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A sophisticated understanding of debate and public deliberation pedagogy.
• Excellent facilitation skills.
• The willingness and ability to collaborate with faculty across disciplines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The willingness and ability to work in a high-functioning team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and access in education.
• Ability to work with students and faculty members in person, in physical classrooms.

Required Qualifications

• M.A. in Communications Studies or a related field, or J.D.
• Experience in coaching university-level debate and/or facilitating public deliberation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies or a related field.
• Record of publication in debate and/or public deliberation pedagogy.
• Prior teaching experience at the university level.
• Experience interacting with and effectively working with diverse communities of students.
• Experience in conducting evaluation research.
• Prior project management experience.
• Experience in program development.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar ).

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 26, 2024.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $64,000-$67,670.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.