Assist/Assoc/Full Professor of the Practice - Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Kansas (KU) is a new program being developed in the School of Professional Studies, located on the KU Edwards Campus (KUEC) in Overland Park, KS in the Kansas City (KC) Metropolitan area. KUEC has been a KU presence in KC for 30 years, playing a crucial role in the Greater KC professional community. The campus now offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs with classes geared toward working professionals, available in the evening, online and in-person.

The KU School of Professional Studies (SPS) was created in 2019 with a vision to transform students’ lives and improve communities through innovative, student-focused, and exemplary academic programs that lead to rewarding careers in an array of fields that serve the workforce needs of KS and beyond. SPS offers a variety of disciplines, course formats, class schedules, student services, aid, and more to meet the needs of diverse students who may work full-time, have considerable commitments outside of the classroom, have prior college-level education or otherwise need a different approach to earning academic credentials. SPS continues to launch new degree programs aimed at supporting the needs of future students and is poised for significant growth over the next 5 years.

KUEC and SPS have a reputation for employing innovative teaching techniques and serving the unique needs of non-traditional students. KUEC and SPS faculty enjoy an interdisciplinary and collaborative atmosphere focused on supporting faculty in building rewarding careers while improving the success of students we teach. Employees typically enjoy a hybrid work environment, providing sufficient flexibility for a healthy work-life balance.

KU will be offering baccalaureate programs in Criminal Justice starting during the academic year 2023-24 to meet the growing employment demands of law enforcement, corrections, policy, courts administration, and related workforce needs in the KC metropolitan area, the greater KS and MO region and nationally. The BA and BS in Criminal Justice are degree completion programs designed for undergraduate students with a strong interest in understanding how agencies and institutions function as part of the criminal justice system. Students will learn about different ideas of justice and come to understand the impact the justice system has on lives of individuals and communities through law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. In addition to understanding the historical context that shaped current agencies and institutions, students will have the opportunity to engage timely topics like constitutional rights, police use of force, collaboration with tribal nations, alternatives to incarceration, and the use of evidence-based practices.

The degree paths are particularly designed for students who have already earned an associate’s degree or equivalent hours and are looking to complete the last two years necessary for a BA or BS degree. The program can be completed fully online, or hybrid, based on students’ location and preference. This program fits well with other transfer degrees within the SPS. It will leverage the current transfer community infrastructure to help recruit students from area community colleges. KUEC’s location is just blocks from the regional police training academy, there are opportunities to engage with several partner agencies in the KC region. First-year college students at KU may also declare the major.

This program is offered through the School of Professional Studies and based at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, KS. Courses will be offered online and in-person at both the KU Edwards and KU Lawrences campuses. In an effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education.

Position Overview:

The Criminal Justice/Professor of the Practice is a 12-month position with both Teaching and Service responsibilities. The Asst/Assoc/Professor of the Practice serves a 3-year limited term, that may be renewed pending comprehensive evaluation. The Professor of the Practice works with the Program Director to provide courses and support for students in Criminal Justice (CRIM) and any extensions of this new program that may be developed in the future within SPS.

Responsibilities include managing course development and design (including course transitioning and development of new online and hybrid courses), delivering classroom and online instruction, and providing academic support for these programs, related long-term curriculum development, student recruitment and admission, student retention, program quality and assessment, community outreach, and alumni development. The position requires an in-person presence primarily at the KU Edwards campus with possible in-person teaching opportunities at KU Lawrence and other KU locations.

In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. KU’s vision is to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society. Our institutional priorities are to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. Additional information is available at https: Jayhawks Rising | Jayhawks Rising (ku.edu)

KU Benefits: KU offers an array of benefits to assist employees with their health, life, retirement, and other needs. Details regarding benefits offered to employees can be found here: Benefits | Human Resource Management (ku.edu)


Job Description:

Teaching – 80%

• Teach eight courses per calendar year in Criminal Justice in-person at the Edwards Campus, Lawrence Campus, and online. Teaching responsibilities include: curriculum development, instructional design, classroom management, grading and teaching improvement in relation to student and colleague feedback, mentoring/advising students.
• Faculty are responsible for keeping curriculum up-to-date and engaging with external organizations to ensure relevance to a variety of workplace needs. In addition to the regular class teaching schedule, it is expected that transitioning courses to online, hybrid and different length formats as needed will be part of the position.
• Faculty adhere to program, School, and University policies.

Service - 20%

• Develop mechanisms to receive constant feedback from the relevant constituencies, including the collaboration with an advisory board and participation in professional meetings to ensure the continued relevance of the curriculum to meet student and workforce needs.
• Coordinate with Program Director to identify program goals for students in appropriate language for marketing; and collaborating with faculty and staff at the KUEC in promotional activities; and recruiting highly qualified students.
• Work with faculty, staff, and the KU Center for Online and Distance Learning to transition/maintain courses for online delivery. Continuously monitor online course offerings to ensure content remains relevant and refreshed on a regular basis.

Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered. A complete online application will include:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Names and contact information for three professional references

In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be 4,000 characters or less:

• Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds, and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Application review begins September 1, 2023 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Update: Estimated start date has been moved to January 1st, 2024; start date could be as late as July 2024 based on candidate and School of Professional Studies' needs.

Kim Warren
kwarren@ku.edu

Commensurate with experience

Friday September 1, 2023

Monday January 1, 2024