"Director of Honors Learning Communities and Open Rank Professor (Lecturer) Faculty"

The Honors College at the University of Utah invites applicants for a core faculty (Lecturer) position level with an administrative component. This position prioritizes directing Honors learning communities, and also includes teaching a 2/2 course load, and appropriate service in support of the college's mission. The initial appointment will be for three years, and the position is renewable on an ongoing basis. This hire may be made at the Assistant or Associate Professor (Lecturer) level, depending on candidate's prior experience. Honors faculty positions offer competitive salaries and outstanding benefits. While all Honors faculty are welcome to maintain scholarly profiles, renewal and promotion for this position are contingent on administration in the director position, teaching performance, and service.

As director managing Honors learning communities is central to this position. Honors learning communities are intended to support all Honors students (>2,400) in progress towards successful completion of the Honors degree (including required coursework and thesis). The faculty director will be responsible for ensuring coordination across all learning communities activities inside and outside the Honors College (including partnering across campus to support our students), developing/expanding communities for 2nd through 4th year students, and the associated supervision of learning communities staff. Developing and implementing programming for the thesis support that happens in the 3rd and 4th year communities is a central current focus for this role.

The faculty director of Honors learning communities will have a reduced course load of 2/2. The faculty candidate is expected to teach interdisciplinary Honors seminars drawing upon their expertise in STEM and/or quantitative social sciences, and courses in research related writing that supports students in writing their theses.

We are seeking to have a faculty member begin by January 1, 2026; earlier start dates are possible.

Qualifications

Oversight and further development of learning communities is central to the position. Learning communities are co-curricular bodies that support college transition, major selection, and thesis completion and include significant participation by student peer mentors. Thus, successful candidates will have prior experience with student success programming (both curricular and/or co-curricular), previous managerial or supervisory experience of full-time staff and student leaders, and have demonstrated excellent communication and collaboration abilities in prior roles.

A STEM or quantitative social sciences Ph.D. is required. Candidates must be able to teach varied interdisciplinary seminars to students in all majors, and be successful teachers, creative in their pedagogy and dedicated to wholistic student mentorship. Experience in mentoring undergraduate scholarly and creative work is also valued. Successful candidates will be comfortable with and excited about the opportunity to teach research-related writing courses for students writing a thesis in STEM fields.

Candidates must have completed the Ph.D. before the position start date. Applicants who are ABD will be asked to supply a letter from their dissertation director attesting that the degree will be awarded before the position start date.

Applications

A complete application will contain:

1. A cover letter addressing the candidate's experiences related to developing and overseeing student-focused programming, including staff supervision; teaching experience and interests; and potential contribution to the Honors College;
2. a CV that clearly indicates both candidate's administrative, management, and oversight experience; and teaching and service;
3. a statement of teaching philosophy that speaks to interdisciplinarity and writing (300 words);
4. contact information for three references, at least one of whom can speak to administrative, management, and oversight experience;
5. representative syllabi of courses taught;
6. an unedited set of teaching evaluations for the courses with syllabi submitted, if available (optional) uploaded as “Applicant Document-Other”

To ensure full consideration, complete applications should be submitted by October 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed until position filled.

The Honors College

The Honors College at the University of Utah is one of the oldest Honors programs in the country. Known for our commitment to interdisciplinary forms of thinking and innovative pedagogy, we help students on their path to becoming informed and ethically engaged citizens by emphasizing research skills, global education, and the importance of investing in one's community. Our students are highly motivated and socially conscious, and the faculty and staff of the Honors College are a close-knit community of collaborative and creative individuals.

The University of Utah

Offering an exceptional research and teaching environment, the University of Utah is located on the traditional homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute and Ute peoples. It is the state's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Interdisciplinary hubs such as the Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence, the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, the Interdisciplinary Exchange for Utah Science (NEXUS), the Responsible AI Initiative, and the Utah Energy and Power Innovation Center (U-EPIC) provide faculty with abundant research and teaching support. Salt Lake City, which has been named one of the top ten mid-sized American cities, is home to a vibrant film, theater, and music scene. It has also become known internationally for its craft breweries and the diversity and quality of its restaurants. A thriving center for innovation and the arts, Salt Lake is surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains, which offer plentiful opportunity for outdoor activities, including nine ski resorts within an hour of campus. A refugee resettlement city, Salt Lake is diverse: 22% of its residents are Latinx, and it has the seventh highest proportion of LGBTQ residents among U.S. cities.

University of Utah is committed to supporting faculty, staff and students in leading balanced lives while achieving success in their endeavors. We aim to create a space that is welcoming for all, where all employees are engaged meaningfully and have ample opportunity to succeed.

Department: 00012 - Honors Program
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Non Tenure Track
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Requisition Number: PRN01393CF

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/188340

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu