Asst/Assoc/Full Teaching Professor - Special Education
Special Education
Position Overview
The Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas (KU) invites applicants for a full-time, non-tenure track position at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Teaching Professor . The successful candidate must have teaching experience in early intervention/early childhood special education and pre-service teacher education levels and the ability to develop in-person, hybrid and/or online courses. This is a 12 month appointment with an initial comprehensive review after 3 years. Reappointment is subject to the successful outcome of a comprehensive review, budget availability, and best interest of the department, School, and University.
In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the University of Kansas actively encourages application from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. The University of Kansas values candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education for historically under-represented minorities.
KU is a Carnegie Research-Extensive Institution with a student body of over 28,000 students representing every state and more than 113 foreign countries. The University is located in Lawrence, a city with a population exceeding 95,000. KU is approximately 30 minutes from urban schools in Kansas City, Kansas and 45 minutes to Kansas City, Missouri. KU has an Edwards campus in the Kansas City metro area.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
Job Description
80% Teaching/Advising
The standard teaching expectation is four, 3 credit hour courses per fall and spring semester or the defined equivalent plus two courses during summer semesters. The teaching faculty member is expected to:
- Perform as the instructor of record for all assigned courses as designated by the Departmental Chair or facilitate a team-teaching model. Prepare for and attend all class meetings. In case of absence, faculty member must make arrangements for a substitute to teach class or propose some other relevant assignment. Classes should not be canceled.
- Develop assignments, administer assessments, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades.
- Hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught. Be available for office hours each week, including reasonable appointments if a student cannot meet during scheduled office hours.
- Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in independent research projects or master’s projects.
- All faculty members are expected to be active in advising, including supporting program plan development and revision for graduate students.
- Chair masters projects/thesis committees.
- Supervise and mentor graduate teaching assistants, including through classes designed to educate students in the methods and expectations of classroom teaching in the discipline.
- Engage in program evaluation with other faculty including state-level and national accreditation processes.
- Adhere to department, School, and University policies.
- Supervise fieldwork, practicum, and student teaching students.
- Recruit new masters and undergraduate students with support from School of Education and Human Sciences.
- Maintain relationships with local programs and school districts to support student teaching and practicum placements.
10% Scholarly Engagement
- Active in scholarly engagement activities including but not limited to carrying out course transformation, assessment of learning outcomes, development of pedagogical teaching practices that expand and delivers new methods of teaching to precipitate dynamic learning engagements or other activities to implement innovations in teaching and learning.
- Scholarly engagement is broadly defined, but typically, not exclusively, includes participation in or presenting professional development and workshops, scholarly presentations at meetings, publications, documenting and disseminating the results of inquiry into improving teaching and learning.
10% Service
- Teaching faculty members are expected to participate in appropriate professional activities, such as attending faculty meetings, carrying out departmental committee assignments, attending national and international meetings or conferences, serving the School and University as appropriate. Teaching faculty are full voting members of the department faculty except on personnel matters involving tenure-track faculty. Support faculty with various program responsibilities. Teaching faculty are expected to serve on, or chair graduate student committees as allowed, needed, or requested.
Collegiality
All faculty members are expected to act in a manner that promotes collegial relationships and shows respect toward students, staff, and colleagues. Faculty members are expected to meet satisfactory standards of performance in all three areas of responsibility and to carry out those responsibilities in accordance with the Faculty Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.
Required Qualifications
For rank at Assistant Teaching Professor:
- Earned doctorate in special education or a related field with a stated focus on early intervention/early childhood special education by the start date of the appointment.
- At least 2 years of instructional or instructionally related experience as a direct provider of early intervention and/or early childhood special education services (birth to age 8 years) by the start date of the appointment.
For rank at Associate Teaching Professor:
- Earned doctorate in special education or a related field with a stated focus on early intervention/early childhood special education by the start date of the appointment.
- At least 2 years of instructional or instructionally-related experience as a direct provider of early intervention and/or early childhood special education services (birth- age 8 years) by the start date of the appointment.
- At least 6 years of instructional or instructionally-related experience in early intervention and/or early childhood special education higher education (birth-age 8 years) by the start date of the appointment.
For rank at Full Teaching Professor:
- Earned doctorate in special education or a related field with a stated focus on early intervention/early childhood special education by the start date of the appointment.
- At least 2 years of instructional or instructionally-related experience as a direct provider of early intervention and/or early childhood special education services (birth- age 8 years) by the start date of the appointment.
- At least 12 years of instructional or instructionally-related experience in early intervention and/or early childhood special education higher education (birth-age 8 years) by the start date of the appointment.
Additional Candidate Instruction
To be considered, candidates must submit an online application. A complete application will include:
- Evidence of teaching and/or supervision effectiveness
- Teaching statement
- CV
- Transcripts
- Cover letter detailing your qualifications
- Letters of recommendation will be requested from selected applicants as the search process moves beyond the initial screening round.
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:
- “Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds, and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The response must be within 4,000 characters or less.
Review of applications will begin January 31, 2024 and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
