Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept
University Honors College, the only urban-focused honors college in the country, is a small, dedicated community of highly motivated students and engaged professors located within the larger academic environment of Portland State University. The Honors College at PSU provides small, interdisciplinary research-focused general education courses for high achieving undergraduates across campus. Honors students explore an academically intense curriculum through the lens of the culturally rich, ever-evolving city of Portland.
Portland State’s 49-acre campus is located in the heart of one of America’s most vibrant centers of business, culture, business, and technology. We are recognized throughout the world for programs like Urban Planning, Social Work, and Environmental Studies that directly engage the community and aim our students towards the creation of a better, more sustainable world.
Position Summary
The University Honors College and the Department of Political Science at Portland State University seek an Teaching Assistant Professor with a focus in Law and Courts with a strong commitment to undergraduate education. This is a non-tenure track faculty (NTTF) appointment for an individual whose responsibilities are primarily devoted to teaching. Expectations of the position will also include mentoring, advising, and service. Appointment may include responsibility for undergraduate curriculum development, participation in assessment, professional development, training graduate teaching assistants and adjuncts, and/or community-based work. We are interested in candidates who engage with key contemporary urban issues such as the environment, immigration, violence and/or policing, fascism and racism, poverty and inequality, among others. Ability to work with, mentor, and advise students and graduate assistants/ tutors/ graders of diverse populations, and participation in departmental, college/ school, or university service are required.
Primary Activity
I - Instructional
Minimum Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Political Science (or related field).
- Expertise in law and courts in either comparative or American politics.
- Ability to teach academic writing to undergraduates and support undergraduate senior thesis writing.
- Interest in pedagogy and pedagogical professional development.
- Ability to teach introductory qualitative research methods for undergraduates.
- Interest in/ record of mentoring underrepresented and first generation students in US higher education.
- Documented excellence in teaching large and small undergraduate courses in the candidate’s field of study.
- Successful completion of a background check.
Preferred Qualifications
- For Honors College: the candidate will be qualified to teach the HON 100 Global City sequence and HON 260 & HON 360 transfer courses, which require a strong foundation in teaching undergraduate writing.
Key Cultural Competencies
Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Professional Standards of Conduct
At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respect ul, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/professional-standards-conduct-policy.
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement
The starting annual salary for this position will be $68,751. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.