Full-Time Faculty Position in Composition and Rhetoric

The English and Communication Studies Department seeks a full-time faculty member of Composition and Rhetoric, with a focus in Professional and/or Technical Writing. Secondary specializations in Professional Communication, Technical Writing, Visual Rhetoric, Digital Writing/Rhetorics, Accessibility, or related areas. The successful candidate will be expected to teach existing first-year and third-year writing courses and to develop writing and rhetoric courses appropriate to their area of specialization. They will be expected to provide intellectual and pedagogical leadership for the Department's offerings in first-year Composition and third-year professional and research-based writing.

They also will be expected to work closely with The Writing and Speaking Studio and the Educational Skills Department and have a commitment to working with culturally and linguistically diverse students in an institution with strong emphasis on diversity, globalization and experiential learning. Interest and experience in interdisciplinary collaboration is highly desirable. New hires will be expected to participate in the rotation of administrative duties related to our writing program, including but not limited to that of Writing Program Coordinator.

Specific competencies sought as related to the position:

Globalism

• Possess broad knowledge of and experience with digital writing and visual literacy in order to communicate in multicultural environments and across cultural and linguistic borders.
• Possess experience communicating with international and global partners using innovative and emerging media, including social media.
• Demonstrate ability to create a dynamic classroom where students can effectively communicate across cultural and linguistic boundaries and balance differing worldviews based upon a deep knowledge and awareness of other people, countries, cultures, and beliefs through the careful study of writing.

Instructional Design

• Demonstrate ability to design and create engaging curricula that take advantage of emerging technologies.
• Demonstrate ability to adapt course materials to adjust to new innovations within and outside of the discipline.
• Experience utilizing a variety of instructional delivery methods and emerging technologies to improve student learning.
• Demonstrate instructional variety and flexibility to accommodate students of different learning styles, abilities, demographics, or diversity.
• Demonstrate experience in creating engaging curriculum and classroom environments that will reinforce and further develop advanced skills in critical reading, thinking, presenting, writing, and communication skills.

Learning Enrichment

• Possess a passion for learning and teaching, with the ability to inspire enrichment, curiosity and creativity in students.
• Demonstrate the use of innovative pedagogies, emerging technologies and diverse instructional delivery methods that foster critical thinking and creative problem solving.
• Demonstrate the vision to deliver and advance the mission of the English and Communication Studies Department and the School of Liberal Arts: to develop reflective, critical and engaged citizens of the world.
• Possess current knowledge of trends and advances in the areas of digital literacy, digital writing and culture, and visual rhetoric.
• Demonstrate interest in developing a wide-ranging curriculum that takes advantage of areas of expertise while contributing to the ECS Department's vision.
• Experience encouraging student interaction, collaboration, teamwork and cooperation in the learning process.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate ability to authoritatively and effectively speak on behalf of the English and Communication Studies Department, the School of Liberal Arts, and FIT.
• Demonstrate ability to help oversee and administer all compositional and professional writing classes in the English and Communication Studies Department.
• Maintain active participation in professional practices and scholarship, and a willingness to mentor faculty both within the School of Liberal Arts and across the College. Demonstrate expertise in current critical, theoretical, and pedagogical trends and practices in the field.
• Demonstrate ability to represent FIT with innovative scholarship presented at local, regional, national, and international professional organizations and through peer reviewed publications.
• Demonstrate ability to support FIT's goals and mission of promoting issues of sustainability, pluralism, and diversity through writing studies.
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with colleagues to increase the visibility and profile of literary studies at FIT.
• Maintain positive, helpful, supportive, respectful, collegial, and teamwork-oriented relationships with other professionals.

Technology

• Demonstrate superior level of technical skills relating to software, innovative technology, social and emerging media, especially as they relate to writing instruction and digital literacy.
• Demonstrate ability to utilize innovative instructional technology and to select the most appropriate technologies to enhance student-learning outcomes.
• Possess expertise in using social and emerging media to create engaging and evolving methods of instruction and student-centered interaction.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates should possess a Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric or closely related field with experience in writing pedagogy and research in the field of composition. Experience/interest in writing program administration and writing in the disciplines is highly desirable. 
• Candidates should also exhibit a record of academic research and publication, professional activities, successful college-level teaching, and familiarity with both online and hybrid learning environments.
• ABDs will be considered with the understanding that successful defense of the dissertation/thesis is required prior to the start of the second semester of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research and teaching experience in Rhetoric and Race; Rhetorics of Dis/Ability and Embodied Rhetorics; and LGBTQIA Rhetorics.
• Candidates should have a history of scholarship that investigates rhetoric's role in power relations and making those systems transparent as well as a commitment to social justice, linguistic justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
• Experience and/or training in social justice and antiracist pedagogies and dedication to the teaching of First-Year Writing and its growth and development are a key part of this position.
• Background and interest in directing writing programs, teacher training, programming and spearheading initiatives for students and faculty will be essential.
• FIT is a diverse campus, and faculty must have a commitment to working with this diverse student population.

This is a full-time, tenure-track position beginning in Fall 2025. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled, or until March 2025.  First consideration will be given to completed applications received by October 1, 2024.