Position Description

INTRODUCTION

The School of Public Policy (SPP) at the University of Connecticut (UConn) seeks to fill a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor starting in August 2023. We are seeking candidates with research interests in Urban/Social Policy (e.g. education, inequality, poverty, housing, transportation, health, crime). Qualified candidates must demonstrate strong, applied skills in quantitative methods and data analysis. Potential fields include: economics, demography, sociology, political science, or related disciplines. The candidate will be expected to contribute to research and scholarship through high-quality publications as well as the potential to seek extramural funding.

The successful candidate’s primary teaching assignment will be to offer core and elective classes in the MPA and MPP programs, including policy analysis and quantitative methods courses. The specific teaching assignment will be determined based on the interests of the candidate and the needs of the School and can include graduate or undergraduate classes. The successful candidate will share a deep commitment to effective instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels, innovative courses and instruction methods, and mentoring of students in research, outreach, and professional development. They will also be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; demonstrate through research, teaching, and/or public engagement the commitment to, and support of, diversity in the learning experience; integrate multicultural experiences into instructional methods and research tools; and provide leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interests.

The School of Public Policy is home to a Master of Public Administration (MPA), a Master of Public Policy (MPP), an online Graduate Program in Survey Research, an MPA Fellows program (an executive MPA cohort), and four graduate certificates in nonprofit management, public financial management, survey research and leadership and public management. The School of Public Policy is located on the state-of-the-art campus in Hartford, Connecticut’s capital city. Centered on teaching, research, and service in and about the global city, the UConn Hartford campus serves a community of approximately 1600 students, including larger first-generation (49%) and minoritized (50%) populations. With a vision of academic excellence focused on community-based, collaborative learning, UConn Hartford plays a critical role in advancing the University’s commitment to innovation, leadership, global engagement, and cultural and intellectual diversity. The Hartford campus offers undergraduate classes in 36 departments and master's, doctoral and certificate programs in four disciplines. Students can complete majors in English, Human Development and Family Sciences, Business Administration, Business Data Analytics, Psychological Sciences, Urban and Community Studies, Digital Marketing & Analytics, Financial Management, and Social Work.

The University of Connecticut is Tier I research university in the Carnegie Foundation’s ranking. UConn is ranked 22nd by U.S. News & World Report among national public universities in the United States. Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned Ph.D. in public policy, economics, public administration, political science, sociology, demography, or a related field, or foreign degree equivalent (ABD candidates will be considered with the expectation that the Ph.D. is completed before the start date). Candidates already appointed at the Assistant Professor level are also encouraged to apply.
• A strong record of, or strong potential for, scholarly excellence based on quantitative social science research methods.
• Strong communication skills and the capability to teach courses in the MPA and MPP programs.
• Ability to enhance the diversity of the department (in research, teaching, or governance).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A record of, or demonstrated potential for, scholarly success in the area of Urban/Social Policy.
• A record of, or strong potential for, obtaining external research support.
• Expertise with a wide array of analytical methods and tools.
• Evidence of contributions to the diversity and excellence of student learning experience through research, teaching, and/or public engagement. For instance, teaching experience that includes non-traditional, first-generation, and/or BIPOC or other historically underrepresented student populations is an asset.
• Interest in engaging with local, state, and national public service organizations in related areas of expertise.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2023. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the Hartford Campus. Faculty may also be asked to teach at UConn’s main campus in Storrs, or online as part of their ordinary workload. The University offers a highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22605 and submit the following application materials:

• A letter of interest,
• Current curriculum vitae,
• Teaching statement
• Recent teaching evaluations (if available),
• Contact information for three references (email, phone number, and mailing address) who can comment on research and teaching capabilities and accomplishments, and
• Applications should also include a diversity statement that outlines their experiences and approach to working with diverse populations and students and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through their teaching, service, and research.

Review of applicants will begin on October 15, 2022, and will continue until the position is filled. For more information regarding the School of Public Policy, please visit the School website at https://publicpolicy.uconn.edu/.

Any questions about the position may be sent to Eric Brunner, Director of Graduate Studies, School of Public Policy, at eric.brunner@uconn.edu.

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.