Director of Forensics / Assistant Professor of Communication Studies- Tenure-Track - Military veterans preferred

The University of Central Missouri is an equal employment opportunity employer


Salary Depends on Qualifications
Job Type Faculty Full Time
Division Dept of Com & Digital Media
Location UCMO - Warrensburg, MO
Job Number 998018
Opening Date 11/25/2024

Description

The University of Central Missouri Dept. of Communication and Digital Media Productions invites applications for a tenure-track Director of Forensics / Assistant Professor position. This is a full-time, 9-month position.

Assistant Professor and Director of Debate. Along with teaching and coaching responsibilities, academic advising, departmental committee assignments, research/creative activities and professionally related service are required. Provide leadership and coaching direction to the University’s Speech and Debate Team which competes nationally in Lincoln Douglas and National Parliamentary Debate Association debate and individual events. Teaching responsibilities include Argumentation and Debate, Critical Thinking, Communication Conflict and Forensics.

Examples of Duties

Teaching - The primary responsibility of the faculty is quality teaching in their respective content areas, regardless of delivery format. This entails adequate preparation for courses, effective course design and instruction, and fair and timely evaluation/feedback of student progress. To ensure quality teaching, faculty must be committed to the success of students as well as ongoing assessment of curriculum and of student learning.

• Keep current in your discipline.

• Organize courses to facilitate quality student engagement and high impact practices.

• Assist department/school chairs with scheduling of classes that meet the needs of students.

• Comply with departmental, college, and university standards concerning the academic quality and integrity of their classes.

• Keep current in their use of technology by attending university training sessions and other professional development opportunities.

• Be available to meet students outside the classroom by being available before or after classes by scheduling office hours both in a physical and electronic format to include in person and virtual office hours.

• Assist with department and college assessment and be proactive with modifications to curriculum based on assessment feedback.

Scholarship/Professional Development - The strength of a university rests on the knowledge and skills of its faculty. Faculty must stay current in their field of expertise/teaching area.

• Authoring academic writings.

• Presentation of work at local/state/regional/national conferences.

• Active membership and/or office holding in professional organizations at the local/state/regional/national level.

Service - An expectation of a professional faculty member is to serve the department, college, and university community.

• Attending department/college/university meetings

• Engaging in committee work that will advance the department/college/institution.

• Assisting with student recruitment.

• Participating in graduation and convocation ceremonies.

Advising - A primary responsibility of faculty is the proper, timely, competent and professional advising of students.

• Be knowledgeable of the requirements of their degree programs as stated in the appropriate catalog(s).

• Meet/advise students on academic and non-academic matters (e.g. curriculum mapping, internships, graduate/professional school options and career preparation).

• Provide leadership and promote excellence in student organizations.

Communication - Faculty should communicate effectively and in a timely manner with students and colleagues at all levels of the institution. This implies an understanding of the communication hierarchy within departments, colleges, and administrative levels. Timely communication with students supports other faculty responsibilities (teaching, advising).

• Cultivate a collegial atmosphere when interacting with other faculty/staff within their own department, the college and the university.

• Be responsive and timely. Respond to student phone calls and email messages within university guidelines.

Typical Qualifications

EDUCATION AND FORMAL TRAINING: Terminal degree in Communication or related field. ABD candidates, with a completion date prior to August, 2025 will be considered. EXPERIENCE: The ideal candidate would have:
- At least five years of experience and a proven record of success in coaching and directing collegiate forensics programs.
- Experience in and a record of success leading/coaching comprehensive programs, including Individual Events and various formats of debate (including IPDA, TIPDA, BP, NPDA).
- Evidence of excellence in teaching.
- Experience and positive working relationships with key forensics organizations such as: PKD, IPDA and the NFA.
- Extensive knowledge in and experience with tabbing software, including: Forensicstournament, SpeechWire and Tabroom.
- Experience with international travel, study abroad, international forensics competitions and a desire to foster relationships with international programs.

Supplemental Information

The University of Central Missouri Dept. of Communication and Digital Media Productions invites applications for a tenure-track Director of Forensics / Assistant Professor position. This is a full-time, 9-month position. The position’s responsibilities include:
- Lead and manage the UCM Talking Mules forensics program, including: overseeing the direction of the program, supervising and working in collaboration with the ADOF and graduate assistant coaches, planning and budgeting, coordinating travel, traveling to tournaments (weekend obligations), overseeing press releases and maintaining a social media presence, represent the program at the department, college and university level, and other daily team-related responsibilities.
- Organize and host forensics tournaments, including planning, budgeting, coordinating, and running tournaments at both the high school and college level.
- Maintain an active recruitment program through fostering relationships with high school speech and debate programs, coaches, teachers and administrators.
- Contribute to the ongoing success of the university’s BSE - Speech Communication & Theatre degree program.
- Teach a 2/2 course load (with a one-half reassign time allocated to direction of forensics each semester), teaching courses in the Communication Studies program, including Public Speaking, Communication in Practice, Argumentation and Debate, Interpersonal Communication, and other courses in the applicant’s area of specialization, or as required by the needs of the department.
- Serve as an advocate and ambassador representing the program to the department, college, university, local community and broader forensics community.
- Serve on program, department, college, and university committees as needed.
- Maintain an active research and publication agenda in forensics and/or their area of specialization within communication. Opportunities for teaching in the summer are available.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Candidates should submit a cover letter that outlines the candidate’s qualifications and experience, a curriculum vitae, transcripts for awarded degrees.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The desired starting date for this position is August 2025.
For more information regarding the position, contact Dr. Nicole Freeman, Dept. of Communication - nfreeman@ucmo.edu.
UCM requires that all faculty applicants complete the on-line faculty profile. All documents requested must be attached to the profile at the time of application. Only completed faculty profiles with attached documents will be accepted for this position.

Special Instructions:

Full-time benefits-eligible position: Benefits include competitive salary; health, dental, vision, life insurance, AD & D, long-term disability; 3 weeks paid vacation per year; 3 weeks of accrued sick leave per year; 13 paid holidays; retirement; and generous education assistance for an employee, spouse and dependent children taking classes at UCM.

Part-time benefits-eligible positions: Benefits include generous education assistance for the employee.

Temporary, adjunct, student employment, or graduate assistant positions: Benefits are not included.

Completed UCM online application for employment required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

A review will begin immediately and continue until filled unless indicated otherwise.

NOTE: A background check is required for the selected candidate of all staff, faculty, adjunct, and temporary positions and any job offer is contingent on the results of this check. Student employees and graduate assistants do not require a background check to be conducted prior to employment.

The University of Central Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer and specifically invites applications from women, minorities, veteran status, and people with disabilities.

Our faculty and staff are the university’s most valuable asset, and our goal is to provide a robust Total Rewards Program designed to help them maintain a happy, healthy, and productive lifestyle.

Highlights from UCM's total rewards package for full-time employees include:

• 28.75% (staff) and 6% (faculty) defined retirement contribution, paid by the university;

• Voluntary Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) programs (403(b) and 457(b)) that allow eligible employees to make additional pre-tax contributions to a retirement plan;

• Employees can earn up to full tuition (15 credit hours) for themselves per academic year. Full-time employees are also eligible for up to $175 towards non-credit courses each fiscal year. Employees can earn up to full tuition for their dependents;

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans that begin on the first of the month following your date of hire. Basic dental and vision insurance paid at 100% by the university;

• Available Health and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts;

• University-paid basic life insurance (including accidental death and dismemberment) and short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage;

• Generous leave accruals that begin accruing on your start date, plus 14 paid holidays per year.

• The UCM Childcare Center on the Warrensburg campus can provide faculty, staff, and students quality care for their children ages six weeks to 10 years.

• The Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) is free for all employees and is located on the Warrensburg campus.

• An Employee Assistance Program is available to all employees and their immediate family members to help assist with personal challenges you may face in your daily life;

• UCM offers an Employee Discount Program through Working Advantage.

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