Assistant or Associate Professor (Criminal Justice and Legal Studies)

Position Title: Assistant or Associate Professor (Criminal Justice and Legal Studies)

Department: Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

Campus Location: Washburn University

The screening committee will review all eligible applications submitted by October 9, 2024.

Position Summary: Washburn University School of Applied Studies (SAS) invites applications for the position of Assistant or Associate Professor in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies to begin January 1, 2025, or August 1, 2025, depending on applicant availability. This is a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position. Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor would be contingent upon meeting the criteria posted in the Washburn University Faculty Handbook: https://www.washburn.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-resources/faculty-handbook/faculty-handbook-section-3.html#

The Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department relies on faculty who have real world experience to help students gain the necessary theoretical, practical, and critical thinking skills to be successful in careers in law enforcement, corrections, security administration, forensic investigations, and the law.

The selected candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to pursuing teaching excellence at Washburn University, including a dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage students from all backgrounds.

Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,550 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a vibrant and inclusive working environment and curriculum. We offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, a supportive leadership team, and a healthy work/life balance. At Washburn, we strive to ensure a campus climate that supports the success of every employee and appreciates the unique skills and expertise each contributes to serving our students.

Essential Functions:
• Teach 12 credit hours per semester or a full workload as defined by the faculty handbook.
• Teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses in assigned modalities (e.g., online, hybrid, face-to-face, Zoom, etc.).
• Advise students, maintain on-campus office hours in accordance with SAS and university policy, attend meetings, and engage in service activities in the Department, the School of Applied Studies, the University, the profession, and the community.
• Fulfill expectations associated with a tenure-track appointment for teaching, service, and scholarship.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• PhD or ABD in Criminal Justice or a closely related field from an accredited institution; and/or JD from an accredited institution. ABD candidates will be considered but must have their PhD completed by August 1, 2026.
• Demonstrated dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage students from all backgrounds.
• Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Post-secondary teaching experience in criminal justice and/or professional settings.
• Experience working in the criminal justice field.
• Evidence of scholarly activity.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please upload the following items as a pdf to the “additional document” field via the electronic application: copies of transcripts, a statement of teaching philosophy, examples of collegiality and inclusivity, and, if available, evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as official copies of student evaluations/reports). Contact information for three current professional references will be collected as part of the application form. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Amy Memmer, chair of the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies department amy.memmer@washburn.edu 

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