Position Description

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) at the University of Connecticut invites applications for a non-tenure track Instructor in Residence at the Stamford campus. The responsibilities of the individual hired will be to serve as Coordinator of the Early Childhood specialization at the Stamford campus and to teach early childhood courses.

The HDFS Department has 37 full-time faculty from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Faculty are located across the state at four campuses where the Department offers the HDFS major. The Department includes staff and about 40 graduate students, 500 undergraduate majors, and 150 undergraduate minors. UConn Stamford is an urban campus at the center of one of Fairfield County’s robust business communities, just 45 minutes from New York, which gives students ample opportunities for internships and careers. The campus serves 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, including many first-generation college students. It offers 15 undergraduate majors, including Psychological Sciences, Sociology, Digital Media and Design, and Communication. The candidate for this position will join four full-time HDFS faculty at the Stamford campus.

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. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. 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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will teach a variety of undergraduate courses such as child development, early childhood education curriculum and methods, fieldwork placement supervision, teaching practica, and/or professional development and advocacy. The standard teaching load for this position is teaching seven courses per academic year or its equivalent. Other responsibilities include serving as the coordinator of the Stamford early childhood specialization including maintaining a working relationship with the community practicum setting, undergraduate advising, and some service to the Campus, Department, and/or University. Candidates are not expected to maintain an active research program. Successful candidates will highlight a commitment to equity and be expected to: broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; integrate diverse experiences into instructional methods; and/or provide leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse populations and intellectual interests.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree (or equivalent foreign degree) completed in Early Childhood Education, Human Development and Family Sciences, Psychology, or other relevant discipline.
• Teaching experience in an institution of higher education or demonstrated capacity to teach courses with documentation of a commitment to teaching.
• Early childhood teaching experience with children ages birth through age 5.
• The ability to contribute through teaching and/or public engagement to the diversity and excellence of the Department and UConn Stamford.
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience teaching courses in child development, early childhood education curriculum and methods, fieldwork placement supervision, teaching practica, and/or professional development and advocacy.
• Administrative or leadership experience in an early childhood program.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to teaching and/or mentoring a diverse student population.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, non-tenure-track position at the Stamford campus with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2024. In-residence positions are one-year appointments, but may be renewed annually, and can lead to multi-year contracts. Salary will be commensurate with background, 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/26977 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Teaching statement (e.g., teaching experience, mentoring experience, teaching philosophy, courses prepared to teach);
• Commitment to diversity statement (e.g., values around diversity, equity, and inclusion; diversity-related experience in teaching and service; plans to continue to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice);
• Contact information for three (3) letters of reference. References will not be contacted without notification of the candidate.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more information please visit: Human Development and Family Sciences, Early Childhood Specializations, and UConn Stamford. For questions about this position, please contact the search committee chair, Rachel Cohen, rachel.c.cohen@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 to 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.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

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.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.