| Position Title: |
Assistant Professor in Communication Studies |
|
| Location: |
Big Rapids (Main Campus) |
|
| Department: |
33500 - Humanities
|
|
| Advertised Salary: |
$66,000 to $69,000; Salary commensurate with education, experience, and other requirements. |
|
Benefits:
|
Comprehensive benefits package (health care, vacation, etc.). Please see the following link for a list of benefits offered with this position.
Faculty Health Benefit Plans
|
|
| FLSA: |
Exempt |
|
| Temporary/Continuing: |
Continuing |
|
| Part-Time/Full-Time: |
Full-Time |
|
| Union Group: |
Ferris Faculty Association (MEA-NEA) |
|
| Term of Position: |
9 Month |
|
| At Will/Just Cause: |
Just Cause |
|
| Summary of Position: |
The College of Arts, Sciences and Education at Ferris State University seeks a diverse group of outstanding applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position. We seek a generalist in Communication with demonstrated ability to teach core general education courses and a focused specialty area aligned with program needs in emerging media, broadcast presentation, or sports communication and coaching. The successful candidate will teach a combination of general education communication courses, that may include Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication and Small Group Decision Making. In addition, candidates should have expertise teaching and developing undergraduate courses in at least one of the following areas: Social Media and Digital Communication (particularly broadcast presentation skills), Sports Communications, and/or Coaching (health, corporate, athletic).
• Teaching may include undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Candidates are expected to foster a meaningful learning experience for our students, faculty are expected to be student-oriented, advise, and integrate current technology into the learning environment.
• Additionally, faculty will participate in collaborative efforts to foster curricular efforts, participate in assessment of student learning, and further develop programmatic enhancement.
• Specifically, we expect the candidate to be willing to engage students outside the classroom, support and expand our existing academic initiatives, and be willing to mentor students beyond a traditional academic advising role.
• In support of teaching, candidates will engage in scholarly/professional activities and participate in department, college, and university committees.
• Off-campus and online teaching may be required.
• Courses are to be taught in person on one of Ferris State University's Campuses. The candidate(s) selected for the position must reside in Michigan after acceptance of employment and will perform duties at a Ferris site.
The anticipated start date of this position is August 2026. |
|
| Position Type: |
Faculty - Temporary & Continuing |
|
| Required Education: |
• Ph.D. in Communication or related field (completed by August 1st). |
|
| Required Work Experience: |
• Higher education teaching experience, particularly in general education and foundational skills courses.
• Evidence of scholarly potential or an active research agenda. |
|
| Required Licenses and Certifications: |
|
|
| Physical Demands: |
- Office Environment
- Bending
- Carrying
- Reaching
- Sitting
- Twisting
- Repetitive movement
- Standing
|
|
| Additional Education/Experiences to be Considered: |
• Experience teaching undergraduate students in one or more of the identified specialization areas.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive and student-centered pedagogy.
• Experience integrating applied, hands-on learning into communication coursework. |
|
| Essential Duties/Responsibilities: |
• Teach full-time during the 9-month academic year.
• Recruitment of students (including Dawg Days, Admitted Student Days, visits to high schools or career tech centers, and other University-outreach events) will occur throughout the academic year and include some Saturdays.
• Serve on program committees and represent the program(s) on College and University committees.
• Collaborate with faculty on curriculum development, assessment, and quality assurance.
• Candidate is expected to teach at the Big Rapids or Grand Rapids campuses.
• Teach and coordinate elective courses in areas of expertise.
• Collaborate in design and implementation of additional undergraduate and graduate degrees.
• Maintain records and conduct assessment, advising, and all other administrative features of the position in accordance with policies and procedures developed by the university, college, school, department, and/or program.
• Perform duties in accordance with established University policies.
• Act as liaison between the program and professional organizations through active, individual involvement and, potentially as the program-appointed representative.
• Enthusiastically support student success through active involvement with individual students, student organizations, and student competitions, both within and outside of the classroom.
• Remain current in the profession.
• The position reports to the Department Chair or Director and the Dean.
• Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty and staff to thrive authentically.
• Support, promote, and develop University student enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Ferris State University's philosophy places excellence in teaching as the first priority while encouraging involvement in scholarly activity.
• Work with colleagues to develop new curricular initiatives.
• Faculty members also have professional responsibilities which may include advising students, orientation and registration of students, participation in university committees, keeping regular posted office hours (which are scheduled at times convenient for students), and participation in traditional functions which have academic significance (ex. reporting initial student participation data and submitting final grades on time).
• Faculty members may be required to teach off-campus or in an on-line environment.
• Any other duties assigned within the position classification area. |
|
| Marginal Duties/Responsibilities: |
|
|
| Skills and Abilities: |
Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, educational, socioeconomic and life experiences. |
|
| Required Documents: |
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Unofficial Transcript 1
- Teaching Philosophy
- Other Additional Document
|
|
| Optional Documents: |
|
|
| Special Instructions to Applicants: |
Unofficial Transcript 1 (REQUIRED): Applicants must attach a copy of unofficial transcript of doctoral degree. Transcript must include: Institution name, applicant name, date degree attained, degree awarded. Finalist will be required to submit an official transcript.
Other Additional Document (REQUIRED): Sample syllabus/syllabi of courses taught and research philosophy statement.
|
|
Initial Application Review Date:
|
February 2, 2026 |
|
| Open Until Position is Filled?: |
Yes |
|
Posting Close Date:
|
|
|
| EEO Statement: |
Ferris State University, an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, is committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within its community. Ferris offers employment opportunities to qualified candidates seeking careers in a student-focused environment that values opportunity, collaboration, diversity and educational excellence. Learn more about the Ferris Mission and community at ferris.edu. The University actively seeks applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. For more information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit: Ferris Non-Discrimination Statement. |
|
| |
Click here to learn more about working at FSU and KCAD. |
|
| |
|
|
