Job Description

Department Summary
The Communication Department at Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) offers students two exciting majors— Communication Studies and Professional Writing; two minors—Human Interaction and Professional Writing & Technical Communication; and certificates in Dispute Resolution, Health Communication, Technical and Medical Writing, Proposal and Grant Writing, and UX Writing.

Our department is exceptionally committed to Oregon Tech’s goals of ensuring that all graduates can communicate effectively, which includes the university’s requirement that all students complete 18 credits of general education coursework in academic and technical writing as well as public speaking and group communication. This requirement reflects the feedback and direction of our Industry Advisory Boards.

Our department’s majors and minors are offered at Oregon Tech’s residential campus in Klamath Falls, but we serve students at all campuses and online through our certificate and general education programs.

For more information regarding the Department of Communications within the College of Health, Arts & Sciences (HAS) at Oregon Tech, please visit: https://www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/communication-studies
Position Summary
The College of Health, Arts, and Sciences at Oregon Tech is seeking an enthusiastic and well-qualified teacher-scholar for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Communication, to begin Fall term, 2024. Qualified applicants are expected to excel in terms of teaching, research, and service.

Teaching (approximately 80% of the workload): The Assistant Professor of Communication will serve as a generalist, teaching a variety of General Education courses, with regular assignments to teach public speaking and small group communication as well as courses within the undergraduate Communication Studies major and minor. We seek candidates who would complement and expand the scholarly focus and course offerings of our Communication Studies and Professional Writing programs.

We are particularly interested in candidates who could extend our course offerings in one or more of these areas:
Digital Media Production
Public Relations/Strategic Communication
Organizational Communication
Conflict Communication
Health Communication

Tenure-track faculty teach 36 “workload units” (credits) over their 9-month appointment which includes three quarters (Fall, Winter, and Spring). This translates to between 3 and 4 classes per quarter, while new faculty in their first academic year receive one-course release each term.

Research & Scholarly Activity: The Assistant Professor of Communication will continue a research agenda that complements their topical area of specialty. Research and scholarly activity may include published work in academic journals or books, conference presentations, and/or other creative forms. Additionally, the department is open to the use of diverse social-scientific, critical, and creative methodologies. Preferred applicants will have a clear plan for applied research that benefits student learning and the University mission.

Service. The Assistant Professor of Communication will be expected to actively participate in service related to the department, university, profession, and/or local community. Additionally, faculty are expected to advise Communication Studies majors starting their second year.

The Communication Department is committed to inclusive thought and action in support of our diverse community. Individuals from historically underrepresented groups and all those who share our commitment to inclusivity and passion for the strength of our diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.
Minimum Requirements
Additional Requirements
Ph.D. in Communication Studies (ABD acceptable with PhD defended by September 15, 2025).
Experience teaching and/or extensive formal education in Communication Studies courses (Teaching Assistant experience will be considered).
Skills with technology such as Microsoft Office, email, calendaring, and learning management systems (such as Canvas), and commitment to continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications
Teaching experience in public speaking, small group communication, and/or intercultural communication
Ability to expand department course offerings in one or more of the following areas: Digital Media Production, Public Relations/Strategic Communication, Organizational Communication, Conflict Communication, and/or Health Communication
Academic advising experience
Internship or externship advising experience
Experience or interest in mentoring undergraduate research projects and/or including undergraduate students in research projects
Background or interest in curriculum assessment