Public Relations, Assistant Professor

Tenure-Track Faculty Position

Public Relations (Two Positions)

Communication Department

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for two tenure-track ASSISTANT PROFESSOR faculty positions in the Communications Department in an area related to the study and/or promotion of Public Relations.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students have participated in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model. 

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 Baccalaureate and 29 Master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership. 

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 3 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.  

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population.  California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona – nearly half (49%) of new students were transfers in Fall 2020.  58% of Cal Poly Pomona students are first generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible.  The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 49% Latinx, 21% Asian, 15% White, 3% Black, 5% International, 3% two or more races, 3% unknown, and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. 39% of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology and computer science.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria.  We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society. 

Tenure track faculty hires will demonstrate a commitment and record of contributions through their teaching, scholarship, or service to these inclusive excellence criteria (a minimum of two must be addressed in the Student Success Statement):

1. Integrates the values of equity and inclusivity into their teaching, scholarship and/or service contributions with diverse student populations;

2. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups and communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;

3. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;

4. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;

5. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;

6. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline;

7. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;

8. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;

9. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and

10. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. Cal Poly Pomona's College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) brings to life a vibrant hands-on experience through disciplines in the humanities, performing arts, and social sciences. As the heart and soul of the campus, the College’s mission is to cultivate one’s intellectual development, ethical reasoning, and aesthetic sensibility to support creative and critical thinking in a dynamic world of competing challenges. We are a community diverse in backgrounds, expertise, and thought, committed to improving the human condition and to bettering the world. Our faculty, students, and staff are devoted to creating an inclusive environment where all can thrive through the College's programs, research activities, creative performances, community outreach, and signature experiences. Learn more about the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and our 12 distinct departments at www.cpp.edu/class. 

Communication Department. The Communication Department serves more than 600 majors, with specialized options in Public Relations, Multimedia Journalism, Organizational Communication, and Interpersonal Communication. Graduates earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication can pursue a variety of careers in public relations firms, corporate departments, nonprofit agencies; print and digital publications, news organizations and networks; and human resources and training. The Department’s options also help prepare students for graduate programs in communication and communication-related fields. The Communication Department also houses The Poly Post student newspaper and Bronco Guide magazine, as well as campus SPJ, PRSSA, and Lambda Pi Eta chapters. Communication majors reflect the diversity of the greater campus community: 56% of our majors identify as Latinx, 18% Asian or Pacific Islander, 14% White, 5% Black, and 3% identify as two or more races. Additionally, the Communication Department welcomes a number of other student identities including nontraditional students, transfer students, international students, First Gen, Dreamers and undocumented students, LGBTIQQ students, gender nonbinary students, veterans, native Americans, and students with disabilities. 

Position description: The faculty member will teach various undergraduate communication courses in Public Relations. The position requires excellence in teaching and academic advising, research and scholarly activities, and service to the Communication Department, the College, the University, and the discipline. The successful applicant will demonstrate commitment to a student-centered and an applied, polytechnic approach to learning, undergraduate research, and other campus-wide initiatives. Candidates whose work incorporates a multicultural perspective and commitment to diversity in higher education are particularly encouraged to apply. The normal teaching load is 12 units per semester. New faculty will teach 9 units per semester for their first two academic years. Thereafter, faculty may receive a teacher-scholar award that allows for reassigned time for research or scholarly activities. 

Minimum requirements include: 

• Ph.D. in Mass Communication, Public Relations or a closely related field (completed by the start date of the appointment.)
• A commitment and a record of contributions to student success through applicant’s teaching, scholarship, or service.  This will be described in the Student Success Statement, which must address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above.  
• Ability to teach PR related courses, such as Public Relations Principles, Online Social Media, Event Planning, Global or International Public Relations, Writing for Communication Practitioners, Public Relations Writing, Public Relations Campaigns, Communication Research and additional courses in the applicant’s area of expertise.
• Demonstrated potential for continued and substantive scholarly research and publication. 
• Demonstrated desire to work with students and colleagues of all backgrounds, regardless of race, sex, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, faith, disability, and citizenship status.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:  

• Previous public relations professional experience  
• Previous college teaching experience 
• Active engagement to advance underrepresented groups within academic or the PR profession 

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

The CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so. Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ . Questions regarding the policy may be sent to avpfa@cpp.edu.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of

• A cover letter in which you describe your teaching and research experience and interests and address the duties and qualifications articulated in the position description
• A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) about your teaching or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population.  Please address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above;
• A curriculum vitae comprised of at least those elements specified on the application form and including the names, titles, addresses, and contact information (e-mail and telephone number) of at least three references who can speak to the applicant’s potential for success in this position 
• At least two recent confidential letters of recommendation (one or more of these letters may come from the three individuals referenced above) that speak to the applicant’s potential for success in this position Letters of recommendation must be signed and dated within the last two years. Applicants will provide contact information for recommenders during the application process and the system will contact recommenders and provide a method for uploading letters.
• A transcript showing highest degree earned (an official transcript will be required of finalists).
• Semi-finalists may be contacted for virtual interviews.

Finalists for the position will: 

• be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview; 
• be contacted to schedule for an in-person campus visit (For accommodation requests, please contact the university ADA Coordinator, Manuel Montilla at adacoordinator@cpp.edu. More information is available at: https://www.cpp.edu/eoda/employee-labor//accessaccommodations/index.shtml );
• be expected to make a presentation of scholarly research and a teaching demonstration to faculty and interact with students. 

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than September 5, 2022.

Questions should be emailed to the chair of the search committee: Dr. Kang Hoon Sung, Associate Professor, at kanghoonsung@cpp.edu Prospective applicants are also invited to attend a virtual open house on Friday, August 26, from 12-2 pm PT to learn more about the Communication Department and the position. For Zoom access, please email the search chair. 

Applications accepted only via PageUp – online application portal – for University hires.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.