Assistant Professor of Practice in Media & Communication (Generalist)

SUMMARY:
The College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University seeks an Assistant Professor of Practice in Media & Communication with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching foundational courses in media and communication. The successful candidate will be able to provide evidence of outstanding teaching for undergraduate students in different class sizes and modalities, innovative student engagement activities in and outside the classroom, and exceptional experience in retention of first-in-family college students. Appointment begins September 1, 2021, with a possibility of teaching in summer 2021. This position will be hired as a media and communication generalist who will teach foundational courses such as introduction to media and communication, digital and social media, media and popular culture, media writing, media literacy and/or media law. This position will also be available to teach courses in one or more of the following disciplines: advertising, communication studies, journalism, creative media industries, public relations, digital media and professional communication, and media strategies. We seek an energetic master teacher who will instruct seven courses per academic year, mentor students, serve as an advisor to a media and communication student organization, and be a co-leader and advocate for the needs and aspirations of core, basic and introductory high-population courses.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. Appointment begins September 1, 2021.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must have a completed M.A., M.S., Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a media and communication-related discipline by May 30, 2021. Candidates should demonstrate evidence of teaching excellence with a record of teaching experience that includes expertise in foundational courses related to media and communication and a demonstrated and ongoing commitment to serving diverse student populations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preferred qualifications for applicants include experience in teaching courses related to media and communication, as well as courses in strategic communication, advertising, journalism, public relations, digital media, science communication, creative media, leadership communication, corporate communication, or professional communication.
Other preferred qualifications include experience in advising a
student organization, mentoring First Time in College students, and
developing curriculum.
TEACHING AND SERVICE:
Instructional duties would comprise 70% of this position’s overall
assignment, equating to a teaching load of seven courses per ninemonth
academic year, with the opportunity to teach additional courses
during summer or intersessions for additional compensation. The
remaining 30% of the position would include professional currency and
service duties serving as a faculty advisor to a student organization
and developing curriculum. Service to the department, college, and
university is expected. The position will reside within our
undergraduate MCOM area with teaching availability to all departments
in our college.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE:
The College of Media & Communication (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/)
at Texas Tech University serves approximately 2,300 undergraduate
majors in five departments, 300 MA students in three programs, and 35
Ph.D. students. Its enrollment and credit hours offered have grown
consistently for the last seven years. CoMC is the #1 Rated Research
Unit in the TTU system per the 2020 Academic Ranking of World
Universities (Shanghai Ranking). Its private and state grants
initiatives have skyrocketed in recent years, achieving its 2025
grants goals in fall 2020, many in partnership with HSTEM researchers.
It maintains high standards for teaching, even as its reputation as a
media and communication research center expands. CoMC metrics for
retention of students and efficiency of graduation lead Texas Tech in
many categories. Among its signatures are innovative and globally
unique teaching programs with the schools of business and nursing. The
college is proud that Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine
recently ranked it 19th nationally for graduating Hispanic/Latinx
students, and individuals and teams in the college have won awards for
their dedication to diversity and inclusion
(https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/diversity/). Junior faculty hires from
top doctoral programs in recent years reflect this ascendance. In
addition to Hispanic and international communication, research
strengths among college faculty include media and communication,
strategic communication, science/health, gaming/AI, leadership,
interpersonal/organizational, and political communication as well as
social scientific research methods. The college’s Center for
Communication Research offers state-of-the-art facilities for studying
audience responses to media messages
(www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/research/ccr/). The Thomas Jay Harris
Institute for Hispanic and International Communication offers programs
in Hispanic and international/intercultural communication
(www.comc.ttu.edu/research/hihic).
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY:
Texas Tech University is a public national research university with an
enrollment of over 40,000. It offers over 100 undergraduate majors and
more than 100 masters and 50 doctoral degree programs. Texas Tech is
the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western
two-thirds of Texas and is the state’s only campus with an adjoining
research university, law school, and medical school. Texas Tech
students come from almost every county in Texas, all 50 states and
more than 100 different countries. Significant to the Harris
Institute’s mission, the university has exceeded 25% Hispanic
enrollment, qualifying it for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
status. Texas Tech University is recognized as a Carnegie Tier 1
Research University. The university is located in Lubbock, Texas, a
vibrant city of 249,000.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Review of applications will begin on February 15, 2020 and will
continue until the position is filled. Applicants should apply online
at http://www.texastech.edu/careers, referencing the Requisition
Number 22545BR. They will be asked to provide a letter of application
describing their research interests, teaching experience, and
professional experiences, a current curriculum vita, graduate
transcripts, and a list of three references with names, addresses,
email addresses and phone numbers. The successful candidate must be
eligible to work in the United States.
The search committee chair is Dr. Todd Chambers, Associate Dean for
Undergraduate Affairs.
Questions may be addressed to todd.chambers@ttu.edu.
EEO STATEMENT:
As an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, Texas
Tech University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally
diverse faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural
environment. We actively encourage applications from all those who can
contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the
diversity and excellence of the academic community at Texas Tech
University. The university welcomes applications from minorities,
women, protected veterans, persons with disabilities, and dual-career
couples.
Please visit the college’s website for more information:
www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/