2023 Director of the English Writing Center and Tenure Track Assistant/Associate Professor, School of English Studies
Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), located in Wenzhou, China, one of three Chinese-American universities along with NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University, is approved by the Ministry of Education of China. Launched in 2012, WKU offers a unique higher education model in partnership with Kean University, a comprehensive public university in the state of New Jersey that is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls approximately 4,200 students, and is now in the midst of rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students over the next five years. All instructions are in English and all programs are provided by Kean University. In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education to offer 8 master’s programs and 3 doctoral programs. Wenzhou is one of the most dynamic and economically advanced developed cities on China’s east coast, located one hour by plane and three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai.
Wenzhou-Kean University currently offers the following degree programs: Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), Biotechnology Science (MS), Computer Information Systems (MS), Teaching and Curriculum (MA) , Global Management (MBA), Architecture (M.Arch.), Educational Administration (MA), Psychology (MA), Finance (BS), Accounting (with a focus on international standards and practices) (BS), Global Business (BS), Marketing (BS), Management (Business Analytics Option / Supply Chain & Information Management Option) (BS), Economics (BS), Graphic Design (BFA), Interior Design (BFA), Industrial Design ( BID), Architecture Studies (BA), Computer Science (BS), Mathematics Sciences (Option Supply Chain and Management Information and Option Analytics) (BA), Biology (Option Cell and Molecular) (BS), Chemistry (BS); Earth Sciences (Environmental Sciences option) (BS); English (English option in global settings) (BA); Psychology (general option/forensic psychology option) (BA); and communication (public relations option) (BA). Additionally, WKU has a substantial commitment to teaching ESL/EFL.
About the position:
The School of English Studies is looking for an innovative and dynamic Writing Center Director to manage the new WKU Writing Center. This is a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of English position that will begin on-site in the fall of 2023. Duties include:
- Managing a brand new writing center, including scheduling tutoring sessions and coordinating teachers and peer tutors
- Develop writing center marketing initiatives and outreach to the university community
- Organize and lead writing workshops on a variety of topics related to academic writing across all disciplines for undergraduate and graduate students
- Teaching a writing center pedagogy course required from peer tutors in addition to other writing courses
- Conduct a Writing Center Outcome Evaluation
- Management of the writing center budget
- Conduct academic research related to the pedagogy of the World Writing Center
A tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor is a 10-month full-time employee who teaches 24 credits per academic year. Six-credit course release per academic year provided for writing center administration. An additional course release of six credits per academic year is available during the first two years of appointment for the development of grant proposals and other major research initiatives. A seed grant will be awarded to initiate engaging research programs for students.
The tenure-track appointment requires publications in internationally recognized and rigorously peer-reviewed journals on the rhetoric and composition and/or pedagogy of the writing center.
Tenure-track faculty develop and teach courses related to their academic specialty and research interests, in addition to general education courses, as needed. Applicants will be expected to participate in the full range of faculty responsibilities, including high quality teaching, research, advising, supporting student learning, curriculum development, assessment programs, student recruitment and retention, office hours, senior project supervision, internship opportunities, research experience. for undergraduate students and service to the academic and/or professional community.
Teaching experience with non-native speakers in a foreign country is highly desirable. Teaching assignments and related responsibilities may include day, evening, and online classes. Interest or experience in using advanced instructional technologies to enhance the teaching/learning process is highly desirable.
All faculty positions are full-time assignments, beginning in the fall 2023 semester. Positions are renewed every three years.
Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in English or Rhetoric and Composition with an emphasis on Writing Center pedagogy; ABD can be considered with completion prior to the effective date of employment. A minimum of two years of experience teaching at a college or university and tutoring international students is preferred. A Ph.D. and/or work experience at a prestigious university is preferred. Experience in teaching and tutoring Chinese students will be an advantage, as will experience in the administration of a writing center. Work permit application approval requires applicants to be native speakers if a visa is required to teach in China.
The faculty positions at WKU offer:
The annual salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience within a range of $70,000 to $75,000 for assistant professors; $75,000 to $80,000 for associate professors. The salary of extraordinary candidates is determined on a case-by-case basis.
The University will provide start-up grants to help tenure-track applicants start their research programs.
Full medical coverage, college travel up to $2,000, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home travel up to $6,000 (2 round-trip international airfares) , reimbursement to cover moving expenses up to $1,000, commuting to campus for work, and up to 8% early retirement benefits in accordance with completion of years of service at the University.
WKU tuition waiver of up to 80% for faculty spouses/dependent children for undergraduate programs, and private/international kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school tuition reduction for children teachers.
The opportunity to teach high quality students with over 60% of WKU graduates admitted to graduate programs at highly ranked universities around the world.
Application information:
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should send a cover letter, CV, statement of teaching and writing center philosophy, research statement outlining research interests, past research achievements and future research plans, transcripts of unofficial notes and email contact information for three professional references. Please send all materials to the Chair of the Search Committee at [email protected]. Three current letters of recommendation are required prior to advancement. Official transcripts for all degrees are required prior to appointment.
Background check:
Wenzhou-Kean University performs background checks on all job applicants upon acceptance of a conditional offer and may engage a third-party administrator to perform background checks.
