Asst/Assoc Professor-of-the-Practice OR Asst/Assoc Teaching Professor

26700BR

Aerospace Engineering

Position Overview

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas invites applications for a non-tenure track at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor-of-the-Practice or Assistant/Associate Teaching Professor. All Professor of the Practice and Teaching Professor positions, regardless of rank, are non-tenured positions appointed for a three-year limited term period with possible renewal. Each year, the term of appointment will be 9 months at 100% FTE, with up to three months of summer support possible from grant support, additional summer courses, or targeted investments for growth initiatives, such as distance learning. The appointment is contingent upon funding. The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching undergraduate courses including, but not limited to, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, aircraft aerodynamics and performance, computing (MATLAB, and potentially Python or C++), astrodynamics, and computer-aided design.

The successful candidate may also teach our cornerstone introductory course, which is currently a systems-oriented design-build-fly experience. Each of these courses requires a commitment to student success, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, to inspire and retain our students. Future teaching assignments may also include instrumentation laboratories, capstone design and technical electives, depending on department needs and individual experience.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering currently has 13 faculty members, approximately 456 undergraduate, and 45 graduate students, with programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. KU is a comprehensive educational and research-intensive AAU institution that operates through a diverse, multi-campus system, with approximately 30,000 students and 2,800 faculty members. Opened in 1866, KU’s main campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation, occupying 1000 acres on Mount Oread in Lawrence, a thriving city of 96,000, located 30 minutes west of Kansas City in the forested hills of eastern Kansas.

In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. KU’s vision is to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society. The Jayhawks Rising Strategic Plan was developed around three Institutional Priorities: creating a clear and ambitious direction to fulfill our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world.  Additional information is available at https://jayhawksrising.ku.edu/ . The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of appointment.

Job Description

80% Teaching
Develop and teach undergraduate courses in Aerospace Engineering. Teaching faculty are expected to meet all class sessions consistent with the responsible conduct of their assigned class. Teaching faculty develop and update syllabi, study guides, instructor’s guides, test questions, tests, and web-based material, and assist in the development and implementation of technology and student-centered pedagogies. They hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught, supervise Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Undergraduates that may assist in their classes, and adhere to department, School, and university policies and procedures. Effective teaching is monitored by student evaluations, peer reviews, and alumni responses and surveys.

20% Service (10% for Teaching Professor)
Perform service for the Department, School, University, and professional societies. Participate in ABET-EAC accreditation activities within the department including but not limited to the development of assessment methods for student projects and learning outcomes. All teaching faculty members are expected to advise and mentor undergraduate students.

10% Research (for Teaching Professor only)
Work with Aerospace Engineering faculty members to develop proposals for curriculum development and/or engineering pedagogy, and assist in curriculum and course transformation, and program assessment. This includes partnering with faculty members to teach and implement creative and effective mechanisms for improving student learning, engagement, and retention, especially in large introductory courses. Author or co-author journal articles and papers in conference proceedings on topics relating to engineering education, or relating to student outcomes in course activities.

Required Qualifications

For Assistant Professor-of-the-Practice:

Contact Information to Applicants

Amy Borton
[email protected]

Additional Candidate Instruction

Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered. A complete online application will include:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Names and contact information for three professional references
• A statement of teaching philosophy 

In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be within 4,000 characters or less:

• Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds, and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Application review begins February 1, 2024 and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is received. 

Application Review Begins

01-Feb-2024

Anticipated Start Date

18-Aug-2024

Conditions of Employment

Limited Term

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Advertised Salary Range

Minimum $79,000; Commensurate with experience

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.