Career Center

Position Summary

Join a vibrant equity-minded campus community of educators whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. The Department of Languages and Cultures invites applications for a Temporary Faculty Instructor position. The position will begin in August 2024 (There is the possibility of a January 2024 start).

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies.  We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

The Department of Languages and Cultures, home to the American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, is dedicated to the teaching of languages and the preparation of language-teaching professionals to be knowledgeable in the facts and issues that inform second language education. As part of this dedication, we promote student and community understanding of the languages that we teach and the cultures that these languages represent. We are a community of teacher-scholars dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to local and global communities.

The Temporary Faculty Instructor will teach a variety of courses in the ASL/Deaf Studies program. The incumbent will provide in-person, face-to-face teaching and instructional learning as well as contribute to the academic life of the Department. The successful candidate will join the growing ASL & Deaf Studies program in a diverse department committed to student success.

The appointment is for the Fall 2024 semester (Possible Spring 2024 appointment). There may be the opportunity of contract renewal in the following semester(s). The typical course workload involves teaching 3 credits per semester with the possibility of additional workload assignment based on department needs.

Responsibilities include:

• Teach courses in American Sign Language I-VI and/or Deaf Studies. Additional courses within area of specialization may be assigned based in departmental needs.
• Provide students with support during office hours.
• Collaborate with department faculty and staff to ensure student success.
• Attend monthly ASL/DST faculty meeting.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Deaf Studies, ASL (or ASL Interpreting), or closely related field.
• Native or near-native proficiency in ASL.
• Active participation in the Deaf community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialization in ASL pedagogy and Deaf Studies; and/or
• Experience teaching ASL and Deaf Study courses at a college level; and/or 
• Experience working with diverse populations and/or multicultural teaching experience; and/or
• A doctorate related to ASL or Deaf Studies.

Special Instructions

Review additional information about the Department of Languages and Culture.

Salary per three-credit course is $6,543.57.

Apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Review of applications will begin November 30, 2023, and continue until the position is filled.

Due to the temporary nature of this appointment, employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Required Documents for Consideration

• Cover Letter expressing interest in the position
• Curriculum vitae
• Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts; official transcripts will be requested before hire
• List of three references (include name, title, email address, and telephone number). Letters of Recommendation will be automatically requested from these references

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all preemployment criminal background checks. 

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances West Chester University’s educational mission and strategic Plan for Excellence. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action – Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

About West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester University (WCU) of Pennsylvania is among the top regional comprehensive public universities in the nation, serving more than 17,500 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels with a national reputation for excellence, value, and student success. Founded in 1871 as an institute for teacher preparation, West Chester offers more than 118 undergraduate and 103 graduate programs in more than 50 fields of study. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the Philadelphia campus, and online. Five colleges and two schools comprise the University: Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the School of Music, and the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies. Located in Chester County (25 miles from downtown Philadelphia) the area combines the best of enjoyable daily living with easy access to the full spectrum of country and city attractions. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

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