Asst Professor of Practice - Parks and Recreation Management

Workplace Culture

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU’s culture of excellence.

Geography, Planning, and Recreation is a unit within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Our Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) program has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) since 1999. PRM has six full-time faculty and approximately 250 campus and distance undergraduate students as well as an online Master of Science degree.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Job Description

This faculty member will primarily be responsible for teaching core PRM courses focused on professional preparation and engagement to students in the BS and MS in Parks and Recreation Management programs. Preference will be given to candidates with a clear commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity in recreation. The successful candidate is expected to model the intersection of theory and practice in parks and recreation management. Desired areas of professional, teaching, and/or research expertise include inclusive recreation; therapeutic recreation; recreational sports; and/or community/commercial-based recreation.

The successful candidate is expected to teach, advise, and be able to provide leadership in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Additional duties may include overseeing undergraduate capstone courses, graduate student advising, chairing graduate practicum and capstone projects, research, and university service. Success in the position is dependent upon a demonstrated and continuing connectedness to the disciplines of recreation, leisure studies, and/or closely related fields.

Minimum Qualifications

• A master’s degree with at least one academic degree in recreation, leisure studies, or a closely related field.
• Three years of experience in parks and recreation management, leisure studies, or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• An earned doctorate with at least one academic degree in recreation, leisure studies, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching and student-related responsibilities or evidence of potential teaching effectiveness in the PRM core curriculum.
• Record of extensive professional accomplishment and/or research in recreation, leisure studies, or a closely related field with demonstration of or potential for external funding.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching undergraduate and/or graduate recreation and leisure studies courses in multimodal formats including in-person and/or remote learning.
• Education and work experience that supports an ability to instruct in competency areas, potentially including inclusive recreation, therapeutic recreation, recreational sports, and/or community/commercial-based recreation.
• Evidence of professional and educational commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Evidence of success in working in diverse communities with faculty, staff, and students.
• Familiarity with accreditation processes.

General Information

Northern Arizona University has a student population of 22,870, including approximately 19,000 on its main campus in Flagstaff and the remainder at more than 20 locations statewide and online.

Committed to a diverse and civil working and learning environment, NAU has earned a solid reputation as a university with all the features of a large institution but with a personal touch, with a faculty and staff dedicated to each student’s success. All faculty members are expected to promote student learning and help students achieve academic outcomes.

While our emphasis is undergraduate education, we offer a wide range of graduate programs and research. Our institution has carefully integrated on-campus education with distance learning, forming seamless avenues for students to earn degrees.

Flagstaff has a population of about 70,000, rich in cultural diversity. Located at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff is 140 miles north of Phoenix at intersection of Interstate 17 and Interstate 40.

The university is committed to a diverse and civil working and learning environment.

For information about diversity, access and equity at NAU, see the Center for University Access and Inclusion webpage .

Background Information

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check.

Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report . The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus and NAU-Fort Defiance as these campuses have on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities.

If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Salary commensurate with academic qualifications and experience.

Benefits

This is a Faculty (FAC) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) or the Optional Retirement Program (ORP); sick leave accruals and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified family members. More information on benefits at NAU is available at the NAU HR benefits page .

Faculty are hired on a contract basis, renewable according to terms of the Conditions of Faculty Service . Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). Employees will have 31 days from date of hire to enroll in benefits, and their benefits will then be effective the first day of the pay period following their completed enrollment.

If a new employee chooses the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) retirement option, participation in the ASRS Plan (and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it) will begin on the first of the pay period following 183 days of employment. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP; an alternative to the ASRS plan) will begin to participate on the first day of employment. The long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of the pay period following 90 days of employment. More information about NAU benefits is available at the NAU HR benefits page .

Submission Deadline

This vacancy will be open until filled or closed. First review of applications will begin on April 8, 2021.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button at the end of the job description if viewing this position through the NAU HR website. Otherwise, to view the original post and to apply, proceed to nau.jobs , follow the 'Faculty and Administrator Openings' link, locate vacancy 605278, and then "Apply" at the bottom of the page.

Application must include: (1) a cover letter of interest indicating the position for which you are applying; (2) a current curriculum vitae; (3) a statement of teaching philosophy; (4) a diversity statement; and (5) unofficial copies of all academic transcripts; (6) names and contact information for three professional references. Direct inquiries about this position to Franklin Vernon, search committee chair, at franklin.vernon@nau.edu . Save all items as PDF and/or Word documents.

If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the HR website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process please contact the Office of Equity and Access at: 928-523-3312/TDD - 928-523-1006 or PO Box 4083, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.