Assistant Professor in Race, Justice, and the Environment

Company: Santa Clara University
Location: Santa Clara
Posted on: September 16, 2023

Job Description:

Position Type:
Assistant Professor in Race, Justice, and the Environment

Position Type:
Regular

Salary Range:

Tenure-stream salary ranges from $82,600 to $91,700, based on the number of years of teaching experience, and benefits are competitive. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, the University has established two housing assistance programs for qualified faculty: [1] a rental assistance program and [2] a purchase assistance program. For details, please refer to: https://www.scu.edu/provost/policies-and-procedures/support-for-faculty/housing-assistance/

Purpose:

Overview

The Department of Environmental Studies & Sciences at Santa Clara University (SCU), a Jesuit Catholic university, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Race, Justice, and the Environment. The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2024 and be expected to teach, engage in a scholarship program, and do service for the Department, College and University. We seek a teaching/scholar who will conduct applied research at the intersection of race, justice, and the environment. We encourage applications from fields including, but not limited to, Environmental Law, Public Health, Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, Urban Studies, Urban Planning, Politics and Policy, and Food Systems. SCU is on the quarter system and faculty are expected to teach 6 courses per year (2 each quarter), assuming they are engaged in an active scholarship program. Teaching reductions are available for candidates who secure extramural funding, among other options. Housing assistance is available.

Santa Clara University's College of Arts & Sciences is currently conducting its third cluster hire in the area of Inequality & Social Justice. This position will be included in the Fall 2024 cohort. Cluster hire participants will receive mentorship and regular group meetings providing peer support and interdisciplinary intellectual community to support their scholarly and creative work.

The Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences faculty members often collaborate with colleagues in other SCU departments, including Ethnic Studies, Public Health, Biology, Economics, Engineering, Anthropology and Law. The Department values community-engaged and environmental justice research, is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and strongly encourages applications from members of historically excluded groups, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. Over the last decade, Santa Clara University has recruited an increasingly diverse faculty, enrolled more diverse and low-income students, and it recently committed to becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution. For more information about our programs and faculty see https://www.scu.edu/cas/ess/

Required qualifications

Applicants must have a Ph.D. (completion required by the time of appointment) in an environmental social science or related field, with specific expertise related to topics of race, justice, and the environment.

Preferred Qualifications

(1) Experience with inclusive pedagogical practices that advance SCU's goals of diversity and equity.

(2) Experience teaching and mentoring a diverse population of undergraduates.

(3) Post-doctoral research and/or undergraduate teaching experience are highly valued, as is community-engaged research.

(4) The candidate should have a five-year research plan that could be supported by external funding and provide opportunities for involvement by undergraduates.

Responsibilities

Tenure track faculty at SCU are teaching scholars who are expected to balance teaching, research and service. This is an in-person position. More specifically, duties include but are not limited to:

TEACHING

1. Areas of teaching need include a lower-division introductory required course, Environment and Society; upper division courses Environmental Justice and a new course, Race and the Environment; contributions to one of the Departmental research skills courses (e.g.,Mixed Methods, Environmental Statistics, GIS, or Senior Capstone); and an elective or required course otherwise related to the candidate's specialty, such as Environmental Law or World Geography. SCU is on the quarter system and a typical load is two courses per quarter, lab classes count as 2 courses. Teaching responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

a. Conducting and appearing at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner that demonstrates a command of the discipline and skill in presenting it effectively.

b. Assigning and evaluating written work, projects, and exams that align with course or core learning objectives and providing timely feedback to students.

c. Holding weekly office hours at times reasonably convenient to students.

d. Assigning and submitting student grades that are appropriate, accurate, and fair measures of student performance to the Office of the Registrar by the designated deadline.

e. Administering numerical and narrative evaluations in each section for all courses.

2. Develop and teach courses that contribute to curriculum development in the relevant degree program and/or the university core. Faculty teaching university core courses should follow an approved syllabus or work with the chair to design an appropriate syllabus for submission for approval from the relevant Faculty Core Curriculum Committee.

3. Participate in assessment of student learning for courses in the department.

4. Provide informed advice and mentoring to undergraduate students.

5. Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or by the Chair of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Department.

RESEARCH

1. Develop a research program at SCU that will result in the publication of peer-reviewed journal articles and/or other scholarly products, in line with the department's scholarship standards.

2. Preference will be given to candidates with a research program that can accommodate participation of undergraduates.

SERVICE

1. Provide effective service to the Department of Environmental Studies & Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the University and profession through contributions such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, community service related to the scholar's professional expertise or association with the university, and leadership, as appropriate to rank and experience.

To Apply:

Applications must be submitted using the university's online application process located at https://jobs.scu.edu

Please submit a single pdf file containing:

(1) curriculum vitae

(2) summaries of teaching evaluations and sample syllabi

(3) a representative example of your published or in-progress scholarship

(4) a letter of interest that articulates your teaching experience and philosophy, your five-year plan for your research, and your potential to foster intra- and interdepartmental connections at Santa Clara, and

(5) a statement articulating your knowledge of, track record in, and plans for working with diverse students and enhancing equity and inclusion on campus.

Longlisted applicants will be asked for three letters of recommendation, complete graduate transcripts, and a disciplinary action statement to be provided at a later date.

Applications will be accepted now and priority review by the Recruiting Committee will begin October 30, 2023. The position will remain open until filled.

Questions about this position may be directed to the Recruiting Committee Chair, Dr. Christopher Bacon, at cbacon@scu.edu.

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the university community is a top priority. All Santa Clara University students, and employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or request a medical or religious exemption. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for additional information.

Work Authorization:

A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for sponsorship by Santa Clara University.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. The Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is Aaron Zisser, Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 408-551-3043, azisser@scu.edu , www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.

Keywords: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara , Assistant Professor in Race, Justice, and the Environment, Education / Teaching , Santa Clara, California