Application Deadline:

Open Until Filled. Review of applications starts on September 30, 2024.

Position Details:

The English department at Texas Christian University seeks an Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Rhetoric and Composition to serve as Director of Composition.

We are looking for a colleague with a commitment to directing composition programs based on decolonial and anti-racist approaches to writing. Preference will be given to candidates whose research focuses on writing program administration and/or composition pedagogy, particularly in the areas of anti-racist writing assessment and/or social justice in the teaching of writing. Expertise in digital and multimodal literacies is also desirable. We seek especially applicants whose teaching and administrative practices are informed by the perspectives of underrepresented groups. This position follows several new hires in the English department committed to anti-colonial praxis.

TCU offers approximately 150 sections annually of two required composition courses (ENGL 10803 Writing as Inquiry and ENGL 20803 Writing as Argument) taught by graduate students, full-time continuing instructors, tenure-stream faculty, and adjuncts. Primary responsibilities of the Director of Composition include curricular design and pedagogical development and working with the TCU Core Curriculum, the Center for Digital Expression, and the Center for Writing. Staffing and scheduling are handled collaboratively with other department administrators.

The Director of Composition is a 9-month faculty position with an additional stipend for summer work. This position is supported by an Assistant Director of Composition, a yearly position held by an advanced graduate instructor. The successful candidate will join a cohort of seven tenure-stream rhetoric and composition faculty in a department with a strong commitment to a range of writing genres across the curriculum.

Tenure line faculty have a regular 3/2 course load, and the Director of Composition receives one course release each semester (with additional releases available for graduate contributions). All faculty teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, mentor undergraduate and MA theses as well as PhD dissertations, and serve on graduate student committees. The successful candidate will contribute to the dynamic graduate program in Rhetoric and Composition as well as support our undergraduate minor and major in writing and rhetoric. The position carries a competitive salary and internal research support.

Department Details:

The TCU Department of English has 36 full-time faculty members and offers
three majors (English, Creative Writing, Writing and Rhetoric), an MA program, and two PhD programs (English and Rhetoric and Composition).

School/College Description:

Named for TCU’s founders, Addison and Randolph Clark, the AddRan College of Liberal Arts is home to the core academic disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. The College includes approximately 155 full-time faculty members, 13 departments (Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Geography, History, Modern Language Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Sociology & Anthropology, Spanish and Hispanic Studies, and Women & Gender Studies), and two units of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (Army and Air Force). AddRan College departments confer 17 Bachelor of Arts and 7 Bachelor of Science degrees, a Bachelor of General Studies, an online master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a Master of Liberal Arts degree, and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in History, English, and Rhetoric and Composition.

University & Fort Worth Description:

ABOUT TCU

Founded in 1873, Texas Christian University sits on 302 acres nestled in a primarily residential part of Fort Worth, just minutes away from downtown. The University includes seven schools and colleges, in addition to the John V. Roach Honors College and the Burnett School of Medicine.

Currently, TCU enrolls more than 10,200 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students. Twenty-eight percent of students self-identify as a member of a minority group, five percent are international students, and forty-five percent are from out-of-state. Our students are supported by more than 2,200 faculty and staff. The University has more than 700 full-time faculty members and is a top 100 National University as classified by US News and World Report and has a Carnegie Classification of R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity.

At TCU, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are an educational imperative directly tied to the University mission, vision, and strategic plan. Fulfilling TCU’s mission to develop ethical leaders and critical thinkers in a global community depends on the University’s ability to attract and retain students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. A diverse and inclusive campus leads to innovation, broadened perspective, and understanding—values that are foundational aspects of higher education. For the fourth consecutive year, TCU has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, which highlights ongoing commitment to build a comprehensive DEI strategy that aligns with core values and creates a campus culture where everyone is respected and included.

ABOUT FORT WORTH

Like TCU, Fort Worth has the approachable, friendly charm of a smaller town, but offers the amenities, cultural activities, diversity and unique personality of a much larger city. Fort Worth, Texas, is the 13th largest city in the United States with an ever-growing population nearing 1 million. Fort Worth and TCU have grown together in a nearly 150-year relationship. You’ll find that many Horned Frogs remain here after graduation, thanks to the region’s thriving job market. Fort Worth is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States, and the number 1 tourist destination in Texas. In 2018, bizjournals.com ranked Fort Worth the 7th most affordable city to live and work in the United States and U.S. News and World Report named Fort Worth one of the Best Places to Live. Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington all rank among the top 25 most diverse cities in the country.

Fort Worth is known for its vast array of cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. The city boasts three world class art museums—the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The Bass Performance Hall is one of the premier performance venues in the country. Concerts, film festivals and other events are held regularly at Sundance Square, Panther Island and Near Southside venues.

Required Application Materials & Application Instructions:

The successful candidate will demonstrate research and administrative expertise with writing program administration, including details of their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and evidence of successful teaching.

Review of applications will begin September 30 and will continue until the
position is filled. Applications should be submitted online through the TCU
Human Resources website at https://jobs.tcu.edu/en-us/listing/ and should include:

1) a letter of application detailing the applicant’s writing program administration experience and administrative philosophy

2) a CV

A writing sample, teaching materials, and letters of recommendation from three references may be requested at a later time in the process. The candidate’s references will receive an email from TCU asking them to upload a recommendation on the candidate’s behalf. TCU only accepts online applications and documents.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Human Resources at hrtalentacquisition@tcu.edu or 817-257-7790. Other questions may be directed to the search committee co-chairs, Dr. Charlotte Hogg, c.hogg@tcu.edu and Dr. Carrie Leverenz, c.leverenz@tcu.edu.

AA/EEO Statement:

As an AA/EEO employer, TCU recruits, hires, and promotes qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.