English Instructor, Non-Tenure Track

The English department at Virginia Commonwealth University seeks to hire a non-tenure track faculty member on renewable appointment beginning 16 August 2010.  Teaching responsibilities will consist of four classes per semester, and will include general education courses in literature and/or film, and possibly required courses in the major as needed. MA or MFA degree required; PhD preferred. At least two years’ teaching experience is required, and experience teaching or assisting with large lecture classes is a plus. The ideal candidate must show demonstrated excellence in teaching, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills.  Publications are desirable. This position is contingent upon funding.

One of the most important criteria for all candidates is that they be able to work effectively with a broadly diverse student population. We are particularly interested in candidates who will welcome the opportunity to be engaged in the work of the department as well as be a supportive member of a lively community of accomplished teachers.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a state-supported research institution enrolling more than 31,000 students and is located in the capital city of Richmond. With a metropolitan-area population of about 1,000,000, Richmond is one of the fastest-growing cities on the eastern seaboard, and is a financial and corporate center. Founded in 1727, Richmond is rich in historical significance.  It has considerable architectural interest as well, especially the Fan District, a historic district dating from the nineteenth century in which the VCU academic campus is located. The city offers a large selection of cultural activities, including a professional symphony orchestra, ballet, and several theatre companies, as well as a number of important museums devoted to art, history, and science, including one museum specifically created for children. Within easy driving distance of Richmond, one can reach the Blue Ridge Mountains, Atlantic Ocean beaches, the cities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and the Research Triangle of North Carolina.

The VCU English Department has 34 full-time teaching and administrative faculty, and 44 GTAs. It is a diverse department, with specialists and teaching responsibilities in literature, composition and rhetoric, creative writing, linguistics, and other fields. In addition to 650 undergraduate majors, the department enrolls 140 graduate students within the MA, the MFA in Creative Writing; and the PhD in Media, Art, and Text (in conjunction with the School of Mass Communications and the School of the Arts). For additional information about VCU and the English Department, consult the university's website at http://www.vcu.edu. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

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