Application Deadline:

10/31/2023

Position Details:

The Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences at Texas Christian University invites applications for the position of Instructor starting August 1, 2024. A doctoral degree in a field that provides the capacity and experience to teach courses in the environmental and sustainability sciences is preferred. This position also has the potential for promotion within the rank after a minimum of five years of service.

The instructor’s primary responsibility will be to teach sections of our non-majors, introductory level environmental science course, ENSC 10143 Contemporary Environmental Issues, and coordinate the associated labs each semester. This course introduces students to the significant environmental and resource problems that confront us in the 21st century. We expect the candidate to provide administrative oversight of this course, which includes establishing and maintaining consistent curricula. The successful candidate will also be expected to support our growing emphasis on sustainability by developing and teaching related courses at all levels, bringing currency and creativity to curriculum development.

Outstanding teaching is a hallmark of the TCU experience, and we expect the candidate to be committed to student learning, bring innovation into the classroom, as well as integrate technology into the curriculum. Teaching accounts for 80% of the instructor’s responsibilities (equivalent to four courses per semester) with service and professional activity accounting for the remaining 20%. We expect this person to provide counsel and guidance to students in the form of advising, and participate in departmental activities, including serving on committees.

This is an exciting time to join the Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences at TCU as we build on our strengths in sustainability. We have six faculty members committed to quality growth and approximately 60 undergraduates and 15 graduate students. We collaborate closely with the Departments of Biology and Geological Sciences, among others, and the Institute for Environmental Studies, which oversees our international programs, including a rhino conservation program in South Africa.

Department Details:

We are a student-centered department that is committed to the teacher-scholar model. Teaching is central to our department’s mission; we hire faculty who are passionate about teaching and highly trained in their area of teaching specialty.

Research plays a major role in the professional life of our tenure-track faculty. Our research programs support our teaching mission and allow us to expose students to the process of science when they conduct research in our labs.

Advising and mentoring students is a critical part of our mission. Faculty members have an open-door policy for students, and students feel comfortable meeting with faculty outside of designated office hours.

Our department’s curriculum and all faculty-related policies have been developed via consensus of the faculty. We work together as a team, with the utmost respect and appreciation for all types and ways of contributing to our students and their success. Collegiality and teamwork are a hallmark of our department.

The Environmental and Sustainability Sciences Department is housed in the Sid Richardson Building, which has undergone recent, multi-million-dollar renovations such that both research and teaching facilities are state of the art. Our labs are well equipped for a relatively small department. TCU’s library, including online resources and personnel, is considered a strength by the Environmental Sciences faculty. See www.ensc.tcu.edu for more information about the department.

School/College Description:

The TCU College of Science & Engineering (CSE) encompasses 10 departments (Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Nutritional Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychology) as well the Ranch Management Program, which offers both an undergraduate degree and a one-year certificate program. The College is also home to the Pre-Health Professions Institute, the Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development, the Institute of Behavioral Research, and the Institute for Ranch Management. The College is the second largest at TCU in terms of both undergraduate enrollment and number of majors. CSE contains a disproportionate percentage of high achieving students, as evidenced by the fact that almost one-half the students in the Honors College have majors in the College of Science & Engineering. Research opportunities abound for undergraduates, with over 40 percent of majors engaging in a substantive experience during which they work one-on-one with their faculty mentor. The College also has five doctoral programs and 16 master’s programs as well as two graduate certificate programs. The College faculty are true teacher-scholars, for whom instruction and research are viewed as complementary activities.

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:

Please submit a cover letter and CV along with a teaching statement and a DEI statement.

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.