Teaching Assistant Professor Of Japanese

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a BA in Languages, Literatures & Cultures with concentrations in Chinese, French & Francophone Studies, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian. We also offer minors in these six languages, as well as Hebrew, and electives in Arabic. The department is composed of 16 faculty members with research and teaching expertise in major world languages and cultures. We prepare and engage students to become informed international citizens, who develop effective multi-lingual and cultural communication expertise and problem-solving skills. Our students apply their linguistic and cultural competencies to a wide variety of majors, careers, and future global challenges, while deepening their empathy for and curiosity about the diversity of human experiences.
Our Japanese curriculum prepares students to engage in a global world, equipped with advanced Japanese language skills, literary and cultural knowledge. Our faculty and students collaborate on opportunities that advance scholarly inquiry, cultivate critical and creative thought, and work to better our local and global communities. Our students are double and triple majors in a variety of disciplines, such as computer science and international studies. They frequently receive highly competitive scholarships, internships and post-graduate positions, such as the US Department of States Critical Language Scholarships, Boren Scholarships for Japanese and positions in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. In addition to the BA in Languages, Literatures & Cultures with a concentration in Japanese and the minor, the Japanese program is a key contributor to the interdisciplinary Asian Studies major.
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to integrate content and issues relating to, and to work effectively with, nationally/ethnically/racially diverse populations.
Position Summary
The University of Denver will hire a full-time, appointed Japanese Teaching Assistant Professor, to teach all levels of Japanese language and topics classes, as well as contributing courses in English toward the undergraduate common curriculum. This non-tenure track, 3 year benefited appointment will start September 1, 2024 and is renewable with the possibility of promotion to Teaching Associate and Teaching Full Professor. (Promotions come with longer contracts and salary step increases).
Course load is eight (8) courses per year across a three-quarter calendar. Other responsibilities include: Japanese program service, assisting with developing extra-curricular cultural programming, and working closely with colleagues in the program, within the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures and across University programs and departments. The ideal candidate demonstrates experience and versatility in inclusive pedagogy. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to diversity, equity and inclusion through their teaching and service.
Essential Functions
Teaching

• Teaching load is eight courses over three academic quarters, focusing primarily on Japanese language and topics courses, with the possibility of contributing to the common curriculum. This position will help build curricular offerings with a focus on contemporary Japanese cultural production, literature, visual culture, and/or game theory. The University is committed to in-person education at the undergraduate level and almost all courses in the College are taught in person.

Service

• Active collaboration with the department, the College and the University at large
• Participation in program promotional activities outside the classroom

Research/Sponsorship

• Active scholarship is desirable and supported, though it is not a job requirement for this position.

Required Qualifications

• ABD at the time of application in Japanese Literary and/or Cultural Studies or a closely related field with a strong Japanese component.
• Record of excellence and effectiveness teaching Japanese language to students at the college or university level for 1-2 years.
• Native or near-native proficiency in Japanese and English
• Ability to teach cultural studies in a Japanese context
• Experience or evidence of a commitment to incorporate inclusive pedagogies to effectively engage broadly diverse student populations.
• Evidence of a commitment to quality professional development in teaching.

Preferred Qualifications

• Record of excellence and effectiveness teaching Japanese language to students at the college or university level for 2-4 years
• Evidence of successful teaching of cultural studies in a Japanese context
• Experience in developing curriculum and teaching courses focused on a variety of aspects of contemporary Japanese Studies.
• Experience in designing courses and in assessing classes and programs.
• Experience and accomplishments in active support of diversity, equity and inclusion and/or working with diverse communities.
• Evidence of pursuing quality professional development in teaching.

Working Environment
1. Standard office and classroom environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.
Physical Activities
1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
Work Schedule
While the University's administrative offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).
To be coordinated with Japanese program and department chair.
Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 16, 2024.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Range
The annual salary range for this position is $60,000-$62,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Two-page cover letter including a statement describing how the candidates research, teaching, and/or service contributes to DUs values, practices, and actions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates can view DUs DEI Strategic Plan here (https://www.du.edu/equity/dei-action-plan) and/or the College of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) DEI Strategic plan here (https://liberalarts.du.edu/news-events/all-articles/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-strategic-plan-cahss).
2. C.V.
4. One-page critical reflection on teaching experiences that engages with student feedback, peer assessment of their teaching, and/or relevant scholarship.
5. 15-20 page sample of the applicants writing (ex. published or draft of a full chapter or article) that may inform their teaching of an upper-level Japanese literary and/or cultural studies course.
6. Evidence of teaching excellence in Japanese language, literature and/or culture, for instance: 1-2 syllabi and 1-3 sample lesson plans, proposed or actual; an unedited teaching video clip (maximum 15 min.) of a course taught in Japanese, etc.
If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, this position is eligible for sponsorship.
The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a pilot University-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participants academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denvers commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity. For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/.
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.
All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.