University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Assistant Professor and Associate/Full in Mass Communication/College of Liberal Arts

Job Class Code: 10031

FLSA: Exempt

Posting Number: FRGV1716

Location: Rio Grande Valley

Division/Organization: Provost – Academic Affairs

Tenure Status: Tenure Track

FTE: 1.0

Scope of Job:

The Department of Communication at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley invites applications for two tenure/tenure-track positions, one at the level of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) and one at the level of Associate Professor (tenured) or Professor (tenured) in Mass Communication/Broadcast/Print Journalism to begin in the 2025-2026 academic year.

The department is particularly interested in applicants with a strong research agenda and teaching interests in Spanish Language News Media (Broadcast/Print Journalism), who could help create and lead a new Mass Communication program with a bilingual/bicultural/biliterate English/Spanish Language focus with courses taught in Spanish. The positions will also require teaching courses in English in the existing BA and MA programs in Mass Communication, as the successful candidates contribute to the development and implementation of the new degree program in Spanish Broadcast/Print Journalism. The tenured position will take the lead on the development of this program in the coming years. The successful candidates will teach undergraduate courses such as Writing for Mass Media, Reporting, Copy Editing, Broadcast News Writing, Specialized Reporting, and Multimedia Storytelling, as well as courses in their area of specialization at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

About UTRGV: UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.

Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration.

UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit https://www.utrgv.edu/index.htm.

Minimum Qualifications:

-Assistant Professor: A completed doctorate in Communication with a specialization in Journalism, or related field, and native or near native proficiency in oral and written communication in both English and Spanish. Applicants must present evidence of active research that includes publications in peer-reviewed journals; potential to effectively teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels; potential to supervise and mentor research activities of students; potential to maintain active programmatic research, and potential to obtain external grant funding.

Candidates for a tenured appointment must be tenured at their current institution. To be eligible for the rank of Associate or Full Professor in the program candidates must meet the department and institutional requirements for tenure.

– Associate Professor: Beyond the above requirements, requirements include a demonstrated ability to independently conduct programmatic research activities that meet the departmental and institutional requirements for the rank of associate professor; and a high degree of teaching proficiency and commitment to professional service.

– Professor: Beyond the above requirements, requirements include scholarly professional experience demonstrated through an exemplary record of publications in peer-reviewed journals, external funding, and a distinguished record of accomplishments that have led to a national reputation in the applicant’s area of expertise. Applicant’s professional activities should meet the departmental and institutional requirements for the rank of professor.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:

Preferred Qualification:

Prefer experience with the development of bilingual English/Spanish Mass Communication programs, professional experience with broadcast/journalism in Spanish or bilingual news outlets, and experience teaching courses in broadcast/journalism.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

License or Certification Required?: No

Number of Vacancies: 2

Desired Start Date: 09/01/2025

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date: 10/10/2024

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Complete all sections on the application. If you are applying for the first time, please complete all biographical information including address, email and phone number. You may update this at any time by selecting to edit your profile in the application. Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

Additional Information:

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Please Note:

Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/5718333