Assistant Professor of English – Technical and Professional Communication (25/26)

CAL POLY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

The English Department in the College of Liberal Arts is seeking a full-time, academic year, tenure-track Assistant Professor of English at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to begin September 11, 2025. Specialization in Black and/or Latine/x Technical and Professional Communication, preferred secondary expertise or experience in cultural rhetorics, community literacies, writing program administration, and/or user experience (UX). Ph.D. in English or related field required. This position directly supports the university’s strategic initiatives in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including its efforts to become a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and to support the CSU Black Student Success Initiative. The successful candidate has the opportunity to contribute to university and college programs that foster social justice and equity, as well as those that help address equity gaps. This role will complement ongoing efforts in departmental programs such as the TPC Certificate, the B.A. and M.A. in English, and the First-Year Composition Program (FYCP), integrating scholarship and pedagogy that prioritize culturally responsive approaches to Technical and Professional Communication. Interested applicants should complete the online faculty application at http://jobs.calpoly.edu/ and submit it to Requisition #543723. Review Begin Date: 12-04-2024.

Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study. This Technical and Professional Communication search will occur at the same time as a university‐wide cluster of searches designed to increase curricular coverage of areas related to DEI, as well as to promote inclusive and equity-minded teaching strategies across the university. Since the successful Technical and Professional Communication candidate’s research overlaps with DEI-related topics, there will be an opportunity to join and support these university efforts.

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds and experiences fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry and reflection on impacts of cultural context, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly’s commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. 

Salary: Anticipated Hiring Range: $90,276 – $98,244/year, $7,523 – $8,187/month 

(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units (three courses) per quarter, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) sees diversity as central to its mission and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment within the college and university. We value our diversity of complex and intersecting identities, while striving to maintain an environment that is socially just, equitable, respectful, and inclusive. The successful applicant should be able to clearly demonstrate how they have infused these values and student learning objectives into their work. They should be prepared to present clear examples of how they would infuse these areas into their work as a faculty member. 

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences, and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly’s commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an equal-opportunity employer.

Due to CSU policies, the person hired must reside in the state of California at the time of hire and for the entirety of the appointment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in English or related field required earned or nearing completion (degree completion expected no later than August 2025).
• Specialization in Black and/or Latine/x Technical and Professional Communication.
• Demonstrated university teaching experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Secondary expertise or experience in cultural rhetorics, community literacies, writing program administration, and/or user experience (UX)
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

All CSU employees are designated “mandated reporters” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. As a condition of your employment, you will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 and any subsequent amendments.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The English Department, in the College of Liberal Arts, is one of the largest academic units within the University. The department offers BA and MA degrees in English, an English minor, a Linguistics minor, and certificates in Teaching English as a Second Language and Technical and Professional Communication. The department has approximately 300 English majors and offers many courses to satisfy the General Education and Breadth requirements for all Cal Poly students. The department is comprised of a department chair, 20 tenure-line faculty, and 45 lecturer faculty and teaching associates. The department’s website is https://english.calpoly.edu.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please visit http://www.jobs.calpoly.edu/, complete a required online faculty application and apply to Job Number #543723. Please attach to your electronic application:

1. Current curriculum vitae.

2. Cover Letter [may wish to address the feasibility of conducting research, scholarship, and/or creative activities within the context of a primarily teaching-oriented undergraduate program] 

3. Diversity Statement: [Statement of demonstrated commitment to DEI in teaching, scholarship, and/or service describing past experience, contributions to DEI efforts, the impact on students, faculty, staff and/or your field, and a description of how you will demonstrate a commitment in these areas in teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly] 

4. Unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned, official transcripts showing highest degree earned will be required prior to appointment.

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the application. Cal Poly will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants. Official sealed transcript showing highest degree earned will be required prior to appointment. 

REVIEW BEGIN DATE: December 4, 2024. Applicants with complete files by the Review Begin Date will be given full consideration.

For questions about the position please contact Dr. Dustin Stegner, Chair, English Department, via email at pstegner@calpoly.edu.

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