Assistant/Associate Professor of Writing

Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Writing faculty position located at its Kenai River Campus, effective August 2023. Our writing courses serve the general education mission of our campus by developing critical capacities like reading, writing, and critical thinking. We prioritize student success and strive to build trust with a diverse, non-traditional, rural student population through compassionate instruction that builds a bridge to students' life goals. We are looking for a colleague who loves working with first- and second-year students and who strives to give them a sense of agency as meaning-makers and knowledge-creators. This position supports the University of Alaska bipartite mission which includes a 5-part workload with four parts teaching and one part university/community service. This position accommodates a schedule with options to teach day, evening, in-person, hybrid, and online classes. This position is represented by United Academics (www.unitedacademics.net) 

DUTIES:
This position supports the University of Alaska bipartite mission of performing teaching and service. 
Teaching: The successful candidate will teach four undergraduate writing courses in varied modalities (face-to-face, online, hybrid) each semester and will hold office hours appropriate for the courses being taught. Courses may include, but are not limited to, developmental reading and writing, introductory general education writing, writing courses within a vertical curriculum that branches into disciplines (humanities, sciences, professions), and topic courses that contribute to an occupational certificate in professional writing. The workload will include teaching KPC’s dual enrollment and Jump Start Program courses and mentoring potential students in the field of writing. It may also include collaboration with or service in the writing center.
Service: Faculty are expected to engage in meaningful service at the department, college, and/or university level, as well as discipline-specific service to the local community depending on their interests and career goals (e.g. writing center coordination and/or tutoring, assessment, curriculum development and review, student success initiatives, shared governance, community-engaged projects).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills in an environment involving a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and age levels.
Ability to advise and mentor students in a culturally diverse environment.
Demonstrated commitment to taking on the diverse service tasks associated with being a productive member of a small faculty such as committee memberships and community service.
Demonstrated involvement with professional and/or academic organizations.

TYPICAL EXPERIENCE:
Required:
Experience teaching college writing to first-year, dual-enrolled, English language learners, and/or underrepresented or rural student populations (e.g. non-traditional, first-generation, 1.5 generation, veterans, learning-disabled, immigrant, multilingual).
Experience with current teaching technologies and distance delivery methodology.
Experience teaching writing at the developmental, 100 and/or 200 levels.
Experience with learning management systems such as Blackboard.

Preferred:
Experience in academic advising.
Experience tutoring in or directing a writing center.
Experience working in writing programs with dual enrollment opportunities for high school students.
Experience with innovative student-centered teaching practices (may include but is not limited to community engagement, co-requisite models, service learning, multimodal assignments, high-impact practices etc.).
Experience with the language practices or lived experiences of linguistically/racially/ethnically marginalized or rural communities (evidence may include coursework, teaching, scholarship, creative work, and/or life experience).
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive learning environments.
Knowledge of or experience working with institutional initiatives (for example, writing centers, student success, programmatic assessment, dual enrollment, writing across the curriculum/in the disciplines, etc.).

REQUIRED EDUCATION OR TRAINING: 
Terminal Degree PhD OR MFA in English, Composition and Rhetoric, Creative Writing, or other discipline related to the teaching of writing.

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SUMMARY: Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) is a campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. The college has three locations and is comprised of:

-Kenai River Campus, Soldotna
-Kachemak Bay Campus, Homer
-Resurrection Bay Extension Site, Seward
This position will be located at the Kenai River Campus situated on 309 acres along the banks of the beautiful Kenai River, the ancestral homelands of the Dena'ina Athabascan, Ahtna Athabascan, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq and Eyak peoples. The area is known for its wildlife splendor, mountain viewscapes, world-class fishing and hunting, hiking, canoe trails and winter outdoor adventure. And yet, Anchorage, Alaska's largest city is just a 2.5-hour drive or 20-minute flight away.

KPC offers two-year Associates of Arts and Associates of Applied Science degrees, as well as courses leading to occupational certifications and UAA baccalaureate degrees, such as Psychology, Art and Anthropology. The college has 24 full-time faculty, 55+ staff, 15+ student employees, and 65+ part-time faculty each semester. KPC enrolls more than 1,800 students/semester.

We honor diverse experiences and perspectives - including differences in ideas, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, culture, nationality, age, disability, veteran and socioeconomic status - and strive to create welcoming and inclusive learning environments where all are treated with respect.

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First review of applications will be 1/16/23. The search committee may choose to leave the position open but has the option to close it at any time after the review date.

Please submit your online application and electronically attach the following documents:

1. Cover letter;
2. Comprehensive vitae;
3. Unofficial transcript(s) (Successful candidate will be required to provide official transcripts);
4. Three (3) professional references with titles, addresses, phone numbers, and email contact information;
5. Philosophy of teaching statement, as related to the teaching of composition.

Finalists for this position will be asked to bring a professional portfolio either in an e-portfolio platform or paper version to the face-to-face interview. They will also present a 15-minute portfolio presentation and a 15-minute classroom lesson pertaining to a writing-related topic.

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process should call 907-262-0317 or email emreemtsma@alaska.edu.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

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This position is represented by United Academics-AAUP/AFT (UNAC). http://www.unitedacademics.net/

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Eileen Reemtsma by phone at 907-262-0317 or emreemtsma@alaska.edu.