Assistant Professor of English, Rhetoric and Composition
Proudly standing as the nation’s oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has been a stalwart and highly respected institution of higher education since our founding in 1837. For over 185 years our alumni have emerged as leaders and left their mark on the social, economic, and political history of Philadelphia, the surrounding region, the nation, and the world. Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney University is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility.
Here at Cheyney, we value scholarship, diversity, integrity, respect, and service. We are committed to maintaining a vibrant educational community that is dedicated to promoting scholarship and lifelong learning for its students, offering wide student access to resources to ensure an opportunity for all to acquire an education, encouraging freedom of thought and freedom from discrimination by ensuring a respectful environment, and provide outreach and service to external and constituent communities, demonstrating their understanding of the importance and value of service.
We’re looking for exceptional individuals who share our values, embrace our mission, recognize our potential, and covet the opportunity to continue to move our historic University forward. CU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; generous retirement plans; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.
Cheyney University invites applications for a Tenure-track Assistant Professor of English (Rhetoric and Composition) to serve as the director of the Writing Center, to teach composition courses with a focus on developmental composition courses and to engage in effective teaching, scholarly and professional development, university service, and community service as outlined by the University tenure and promotion policies and procedures. This position is for fall semester 2025.
Primary responsibilities include the following:
- Direct or operate the writing center
- Teach composition courses with a focus on developmental composition
- Train Writing Center assistants
- Advise students
- Complete course and program assessment
- Engage in department and university service
- Participation in extra-curricular activities such as open house, student organizations, and internship programs is encouraged.
- Requirements
Ph.D. in English with a specialization in Rhetoric and Composition or a closely related field by the onset of employment.
- Experience in teaching developmental composition courses
- Experience in developing and implementing innovative approaches in developmental education
- Experience in directing or operating writing centers
- Well-versed in writing center pedagogy
- Experience in teaching minority students from disadvantageous groups
- Teaching/research background on the intersection of composition and various social issues
- Employment of best practices in the field.
- Well-versed in outcomes-based learning
- Effective use of technology in the classroom
- Student-centered in practice
- Experience in developing and teaching distance education courses
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
- Instructions for Applying
A complete online application will include the following attachments. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the search committee.
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Unofficial Transcript(s)
- Statement of teaching philosophy
- Statement of diversity
- Contact information for three professional references
