Assistant Teaching Professor in English-Composition and Rhetoric

Santa Clara University•Saint Joseph, CA

26d•$80,008 - $88,883•Onsite

About The Position

The department of English at Santa Clara University (SCU), a Jesuit, Catholic university, invites applications for a full-time, renewable, non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor to teach Core writing classes. SCU is a welcoming and inclusive community of teaching scholars whose work is grounded in the university’s fundamental values. Those values, which include academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement, are infused with a culture of care that defines our community—upholding the dignity of all. The university draws on the many resources of the greater Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, where we are located. The Department seeks a faculty member who will teach lower and upper division core writing courses, primarily Critical Thinking and Writing (Santa Clara’s 2-quarter first-year writing sequence) and Advanced Writing. Past research experience related to writing studies and/or composition pedagogy required. The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2026. This is primarily a teaching position (70%), but the successful candidate will be expected to also engage in professional activity (15%), and do service (15%) for the department, college, and university. SCU is on the quarter system, and the expected teaching load is seven undergraduate courses over three academic quarters (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Assistant Teaching Professors are appointed for an initial term of three years. Reappointment to subsequent terms of three years depends upon the availability of funds, persistent programmatic need, and superior teaching, service, and professional activity. Promotion to Associate Teaching Professor and then Teaching Professor is possible under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. As with most of the departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, the English Department is strictly an undergraduate program. Experience working with diverse groups of students is valued.

Requirements

PhD in Rhetoric & Composition, Writing Studies, English, or a related field. Degree must be in hand prior to start date of September 1, 2026.
Minimum of 1-2 years experience and demonstrated excellence in teaching university-level courses in first-year writing as the instructor of record.
Demonstrated effective and inclusive pedagogical practices that promote academic success for all students.
Demonstrated success teaching college-level writing and experience developing curricula for first-year writing and other composition and rhetoric courses.
Ongoing professional development and/or scholarly engagement in writing studies and/or writing pedagogy.

Responsibilities

Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses such as critical thinking & writing, advanced writing, and/or engineering communications.
Teaching a standard load of seven sections of undergraduate writing courses. Specific courses will be determined by programmatic need and will primarily include Critical Thinking & Writing and/or Advanced Writing.
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.
Assigning and evaluating student work, projects, and exams that align with course and core learning objectives and providing timely feedback to students.
Conducting all class meetings and exams.
Holding regular office hours each week at a time convenient to undergraduate students.
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.
Administering numeric and narrative evaluations approved by the Department Chair for each course taught.
Developing and/or updating courses that contribute to curriculum development in the English Department and/or the University Core Curriculum.
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.
Participate in assessment of student learning for courses in the Department.
Provide informed advice and mentoring to undergraduate students, as assigned by chair.
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 English Department.
Engage in professional activity, which for non-tenure track faculty on the Teaching Professor track refers to scholarly or creative work, professional practice, or other active engagement in a discipline or field that enables a faculty member to remain current in that area and vital as a teacher.
Provide effective service to the Department of English, the College of Arts and Sciences, the University, and the profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship, such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university, as appropriate to rank and experience.