Visiting Instructor - Communication

Department: Communication

About WCU: Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:

• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary: The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Department of Communication at Western Carolina University invites applications for an instructor of communication. This is a nine-month, temporary, fixed-term position with an expected begin work date of August 2026.

This job posting seeks a candidate to join a group of instructors responsible for teaching the department’s COMM 201: Foundations of Communication course, part of the university’s general education Liberal Studies Program. COMM 201 is the only course offered to satisfy the C3: Oral Communication requirement within the liberal studies core. Course curriculum includes units in interpersonal communication, public speaking, and small group communication.

This position will responsible for teaching four, in-person sections of the COMM 201 course in each semester during the 2026-2027 academic year. Teaching additional sections of this course may be available depending on university needs.

In addition to our liberal studies courses, the Department of Communication has over 200 majors and minors and offers the B.S. Degree in Communication with concentrations in broadcasting, journalism, health communication, interpersonal & cultural communication, and public relations.

As one of 17 institutions within the University of North Carolina System, Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC, situated in a beautiful valley of the southern Appalachian Mountains, 52 miles west of Asheville, NC and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From its 600-acre main campus and through programs at its instructional site in Asheville and online, WCU serves approximately 12,000 students.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications: A Master’s of Communication or closely related field with a minimum of 18 graduate hours in communication (degree conferral by 8/1/2026). Required teaching skills are limited to interpersonal/organizational communication. Degrees must be from an accredited institution.

Preferred Qualifications: Applicants who have previous university-level teaching experience and are proficient in interpersonal, organizational, or other communication-related areas are desired.

Position Type: Time-Limited Full-Time