California Polytechnic State University

Tenure-track Assistant Professor

Communication Studies Department

The Communication Studies Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applications for a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin September 11, 2025. Area of Specialization (AOS): Mass Communication and Media Production. Areas of Concentration (AOC): strategic and/or crisis communication; legacy media; new media, including social media and AI; narratives and storytelling; or social movements and advocacy.

We are seeking applicants with an earned or nearly complete doctorate in Communication Studies, Media Studies, or a closely related field. Preference is for quantitative methodologies. The ideal candidate will have a combination of university-level teaching experience and research potential.

Primary teaching duties would include courses in Media Studies and Media Effects. Additional teaching responsibilities may include classes in Communication Theory, Quantitative Research Methods, Technology and Human Communication, and Public Speaking. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop at least one course related to media production that aligns with the department’s current curriculum as well as the candidate’s expertise. Non-instructional duties include engaging in productive research and scholarship, service, and academic advising and mentorship of undergraduate students.

Interested applicants should complete the online faculty application at http://jobs.calpoly.edu/ and submit it to Requisition #542374. Review Begin Date: 11-8-2024

Salary

Anticipated Hiring Range: $90,276 - $98,244/year, $7,523 - $8,187/month

(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units (three courses) per quarter, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) sees diversity as central to its mission and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment within the college and university. We value our diversity of complex and intersecting identities, while striving to maintain an environment that is socially just, equitable, respectful, and inclusive. The successful applicant should be able to clearly demonstrate how they have infused these values and student learning objectives into their work. They should be prepared to present clear examples of how they would infuse these areas into their work as a faculty member.

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences, and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly’s commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an equal-opportunity employer.

Due to CSU policies, the person hired must reside in the state of California at the time of hire and for the entirety of the appointment.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies, Media Studies or closely related discipline, earned or nearing completion (degree completion expected no later than August 2025)
• Demonstrated success in undergraduate teaching
• Completed at least 1 graduate level coursework in mass communication, media studies, media effects, and/or media production
• Record of scholarship in mass communication or media effects
• Evidence of potential for scholarly and/or creative achievement in AOC (see above)
• Documented experience implementing anti-racism, inclusion, diversity, and educational equity initiatives.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated university teaching experience in undergraduate media studies and/or media production courses
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative methodologies related to media effects
• Demonstrated experience related to media productions and/or AOCs (see above)
• Potential for grant development in areas related to AOC
• Willingness to participate in interdisciplinary programs overlapping with AOC, including course development and possible program curriculum development
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment
• Preference will also be given to those with relevant work experience and those who bring professional capabilities

Special Conditions

All CSU employees are designated “mandated reporters” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. As a condition of your employment, you will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 and any subsequent amendments.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.

About the Department

Currently the Communication Studies Department, in the College of Liberal Arts, has 11 communication professors, and over 30 lecturers, approximately half of whom teach full-time. The department serves approximately 400 majors and 50 minors as well as students throughout the university in our many General Education course offerings. The department’s website is https://coms.calpoly.edu/

How to Apply

To apply, please visit http://jobs.calpoly.edu/, complete a required online faculty application and apply to Requisition #542374. Please upload the following required materials as part of the electronic application:

1. Cover letter (may wish to address the feasibility of conducting research, scholarship, and/or creative activities within the context of a primarily teaching-oriented undergraduate program).
2. Current curriculum vitae.
3. Statement of demonstrated commitment to DEI in teaching, scholarship, and/or service describing past experience, contributions to DEI efforts, the impact on students, faculty, staff and/or your field, and a description of how you will demonstrate a commitment in these areas in teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly.
4. Statement of teaching philosophy
5. Evidence of teaching effectiveness including institutionally administered student evaluations.
6. Unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned, official transcripts showing highest degree earned will be required prior to appointment.
7. Sample syllabi for media studies, media effects, or equivalent course.
8. List of Cal Poly courses for which the candidate is qualified and interested in teaching.
9. Evidence of Research, Scholarship or Creative Activities.

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. For full consideration apply by the REVIEW BEGIN DATE: November 8, 2024. Applications received after this date may be considered.

Projected Start Date: September 11, 2025 

Review Begin Date: November 8, 2024.

Applicants with complete files by the Review Begin Date will be given full consideration.

For questions about the position please contact Megan Lambertz-Berndt (), search committee chair and associate professor, or Dr. Anuraj Dhillon (), department chair and associate professor, Communication Studies Department.