Department of University Studies, Chair- Tenure Track, Professor; Rank

The College of Liberal Arts at The University of West Alabama is seeking to hire an experienced and dedicated full-time faculty member in the College of Liberal Arts to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the College of Liberal Arts and to serve as the Chair for the Department of University Studies starting January 2026.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Manage academic programs in the department, including the Interdisciplinary Studies undergraduate program and the Exploratory Major.
• Explore additional academic opportunities within the university studies umbrella.
• Oversee and assess programs in the department, including the UWA Basic Curriculum, Freshman Studies, and the University Honors Program.
• Collaborate with campus leaders in Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Chair’s Council, University Academic Council, and Academic Affairs to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Ensure the UWA Basic Curriculum aligns with Alabama Transfers.

Teaching Responsibilities:

• Teach two courses each Fall and Spring term in the College of Liberal Arts.
• Advise students as assigned through mentorship, course scheduling, and career placement.
• Work with faculty from various colleges on cross-campus collaboration.
• Participate in assessment activities of the college.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrators.

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a field housed within the College of Liberal Arts.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in the assessment of academic programs.
• Commitment to teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Experience teaching in a variety of modalities.
• Ability to work effectively with students, staff, faculty, and administration.
• Demonstrated experience advising students.
• Experience in leading university committees and initiatives.
• 18 upper-level credit hours in digital communications or a related field.
• Active participation in professional organizations, related research, and/or community service.
• Strong industry connections in COLA-related fields of study.
• Experience teaching courses in the core curriculum.
• Commitment to implementing experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Transcripts of all college work. Unofficial transcripts will suffice for application. Official transcripts must be submitted immediately upon employment.
• Email and phone number of three professional references; reference letters may be requested later.

Before hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources.

The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies.
AA/EO Employer.
Minority applications encouraged.