Instructor of Natural Science - University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
About the Job
Department: Clark Honors College
Rank: Instructor
Annual Basis: 9 Month
Review of Applications Begins
April 14, 2024; position open until filled (updated)
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with your online application, please submit the following:
1. Cover letter (1-2 pages) that addresses:
• your interest in and preparation to teach, advise, and mentor in a liberal arts environment
• your potential curricular and pedagogical contributions to a community that focuses on teaching excellence
• how your teaching, advising, and mentoring practices foster inclusivity and address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in both classroom and co-curricular contexts
2. A current CV
3. Names and contact information for three professional references
Semi-finalists will be contacted for additional information.
Department Summary
The Robert D. Clark Honors College (CHC) is a liberal arts honors college within the University of Oregon. Founded in 1960, it is one of the oldest public university honors colleges in the United States. The College features a dynamic curriculum that provides students with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in the liberal arts, as well as a series of unique courses, including Calderwood Seminars in Public Writing and the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. CHC courses are run as seminars. They are writing and communication intensive and open only to honors college students. Courses are capped at 19 students, allowing for vibrant intellectual discussions, unique opportunities for pedagogical experimentation, and extensive faculty-student interaction.
The University of Oregon is located on Kalapuya Ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. Following treaties between 1851 and 1855, the Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homeland by the United States government and forcibly removed to the Coast Reservation in Western Oregon. Today, Kalapuya descendants are primarily citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and they continue to make important contributions to their communities, to the UO, to Oregon, and the world.
Position Summary
The Clark Honors College (CHC), a liberal arts honors college within the University of Oregon, seeks a dynamic educator to join our core faculty, starting in Fall 2024. Successful candidates for this position will have the opportunity to design and teach CHC courses, where small class sizes foster interactive courses that push disciplinary and thematic boundaries. The teaching load is in accordance with CHC policy, which can be found on the Office of the Provost website: https://provost.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/2022-10/chc-career-prof-resp-otp-approved-clean-sept-9-2022.pdf.
At CHC, we believe in the power of personalized education. All courses are capped at 19 or fewer students. As a valued member of our Career faculty, you’ll enjoy the benefits of belonging to United Academics and with rights described in the UA/UO contract: https://hr.uoregon.edu/ua-bargaining-agreement.
Additionally, we provide Career faculty members $1,500 in annual professional development funding per year and the chance to apply for annual summer teaching innovation awards.
We are seeking a passionate educator interested in designing courses for motivated and engaged learners from a wide range of disciplines. As mentioned above, courses will be taught in the Clark Honors College, in small classes with enrollment capped at 19 students. Advising loads are capped at 40 students and serving as CHC thesis representative is limited to 7-10 committees per year. All core faculty participate in honors college governance.
Minimum Requirements
• Ph.D. or other terminal degree in a natural science discipline
• Evidence of teaching excellence
• One (1) year of academic teaching experience in higher education or equivalent (such as designing and implementing training, short courses, or workshops)
Professional Competencies
• Ability to contribute new course topics to the CHC curriculum
• Ability to deliver inclusive, engaged, and research-led teaching at the college level
• Ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds, including majors from across campus
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty and staff in an interdisciplinary work environment
• Ability to contribute to the CHC through their understanding of the barriers facing first-generation students, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and other members of groups underrepresented in higher education (including DACA students), as evidenced by professional experiences and/or educational background
• Ability to engage students pursuing majors across the disciplines
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience creating and teaching interdisciplinary courses that appeal to a diverse range of students
• Experience teaching core education or introductory courses
• Experience with undergraduate advising and mentoring
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.
The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.
In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.