Term Assistant Professor or Term Instructor, Composition

The George Mason University Composition Program in the Department of English seeks applicants for one full-time one-year renewable position (Term Assistant Professor or Term Instructor) to begin in the Fall 2024 semester.  

Located 15 miles from Washington, D.C., George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public institution in Virginia and one of the most diverse nationwide, including approximately 60% students of color; 39% first-generation college students; 60% nontraditional aged students; 7% international students; and a majority of multilingual students. In 2022, it was ranked among the top 10 most diverse public universities in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. Its faculty, staff, and students work collaboratively to build a foundation that allows for diverse cultures, opinions, and perspectives to flourish.           

Mason’s English Department is home to a diverse and collegial faculty committed to teaching excellence, innovation, community and public service, inclusion, and social equity. The Composition Program is actively engaged in the development of curricular and pedagogical approaches, including work in linguistic justice, that support Mason’s diverse student populations and hopes to engage new faculty in this work. Its courses are part of a vertical writing curriculum that includes general education writing requirements at the introductory and upper levels taught by the faculty in the Composition Program, Writing Intensive courses in the major, and synthesis and capstone courses across the university. For additional information about the program, please visit https://composition.gmu.edu.  

Responsibilities: 

The primary responsibility of faculty in these positions will be to teach introductory composition and/or advanced composition (separate sections of advanced composition offered for business, humanities, social science, natural science, and multidisciplinary) courses in the Mason Core (Mason’s general education program). To address the needs of Mason's student demographics as well as faculty, the program offers classes between 7:30am and 10:00pm. 

This is a full-time instructional position with minimal required service; research and creative activities are not required. The standard teaching load is 4/4. Term faculty are eligible for multi-year contracts after three years and promotion after five years. This position requires some presence on the Fairfax Campus; it cannot be carried out remotely, although candidates may have opportunities to teach online or hybrid writing courses.  

Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications: 

• MA in Rhetoric and Composition, English, TESOL, or MFA in Creative Writing; 

• At least two years’ experience teaching college-level general education writing courses within the past five years. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Graduate coursework in composition pedagogy;  

• PhD in Rhetoric and Composition (or related area);  

• Experience teaching online or hybrid writing courses; 

• Experience with anti-racist pedagogies, particularly in regards to linguistic justice, alternative assessment approaches, etc.; 

• Experience with second language pedagogies or teaching multilingual or international students;  

• Experience utilizing accessible teaching practices. 

For full consideration, applicants should do the following by December 15, 2023:  

• Apply for requisition #10000109 at http://jobs.gmu.edu/; 

• Complete and submit the online application;  

• Upload: 

1. A 1-2 page cover letter; 

2. A current C.V. 

3. A 1-2 page teaching philosophy statement that includes an explanation of how the candidate has employed pedagogical approaches that serve diverse student populations such as Mason’s and teaching practices grounded in writing studies research;  

4. A syllabus (with calendar) and major project assignment from a recent college-level general education writing class.  

• Candidates who are selected for a Zoom interview will be asked to send two letters of recommendation.  

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.