2023 English Tenure Track Assistant/Associate Professor, School of English Studies

Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), located in Wenzhou, China, one of three Sino-American universities along with NYU Shanghai and Duke Kunshan University, is approved by the Ministry of Education of China. Launched in 2012, WKU offers a unique model of higher education in partnership with Kean University, a comprehensive, public university in the state of New Jersey that is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. WKU sits on approximately 500 beautiful acres and currently enrolls about 4,200 students, and it is now in the midst of a rapid growth that will bring enrollment to 7,000 students within the next five years. All instruction is in English and all curriculum is provided by Kean University. In addition to its current 18 undergraduate programs, WKU has been approved by the Ministry of Education for offering 8 Master’s and 3 doctorate programs. Wenzhou is one of the most vibrant and economically advanced developed cities on China’s East Coast, located one hour by plane and three hours by high-speed train from Shanghai.

Wenzhou-Kean University currently offers the following degree programs: Doctor of Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), Biotechnology Science (M.S.), Computer Information Systems (M.S.), Instruction and Curriculum (M.A.), Global Management (M.B.A.), Architecture (M.Arch.), Educational Administration (M.A.), Psychology (M.A.), Finance (B.S.), Accounting (with emphasis on international standards and practices) (B.S.), Global Business (B.S.), Marketing (B.S.), Management (Business Analytics option/ Supply Chain & Information Management option) (B.S.), Economics (B.S.), Graphic Design (B.F.A.), Interior Design (B.F.A), Industrial Design (B.I.D.), Architectural Studies (B.A.), Computer Science (B.S.), Mathematical Sciences (Supply Chain and Management Information option and  Analytics Option) (B.A.), Biology (Cell and Molecular option) (B.S.), Chemistry (B.S.); Earth Science (Environmental Science option) (B.S.); English (English in Global Settings option) (B.A.); Psychology (General option/Forensic Psychology option) (B.A.); and Communication (Public Relations option) (B.A.). In addition, WKU has a substantial commitment to the teaching of ESL/EFL.

About the Job:

The School of English Studies seeks to fill multiple tenure-track positions starting on site for Fall 2023. Areas include:

• Applied linguistics with a special emphasis on interpretation and translation (to teach and conduct research in WKU’s new simultaneous interpretation lab) and/or TESL
• Literature (specialist in Anthropocene studies and global ecocriticism preferred but all areas of literature will be considered)
• Rhetoric and composition and/or technical and professional writing

A tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor is a full time, 10-month employee who teaches 24 credits per academic year (6-credit course release per academic year is available in the first two years of appointment for grant proposal development and other substantial research initiatives). Start-up grant will be provided to launch student-engaging research programs.

Tenure-track appointment requires publications in internationally recognized and vigorously peer-reviewed journals on English, Rhetoric and Composition, Linguistics, or other closely related subjects.

Tenure-track faculty develop and teach courses related to their academic specialty and research interests, in addition to General Education courses as needed. Candidates will be expected to participate in the full range of faculty responsibilities, including high quality teaching, research, advising, student learning support, curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment and retention, office hours, senior project supervision, internship opportunities, research experience for undergraduates, and service to the university and/or professional community.

Teaching experience with non-native speakers in a foreign country is highly desirable. Teaching assignments and related responsibilities may include day, evening, and online courses. Interest or experience in using advanced instructional technologies to improve the teaching/learning process is highly desirable.

All faculty positions are full-time assignments, effective for the start of the Fall 2023 semester. The positions are renewed every three years.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in English, Rhetoric and Composition, or Linguistics is required; ABD can be considered with completion prior to the effective date of employment. A minimum of two years of teaching experience in a college or university setting is preferred. A Ph.D. and/or work experience from a prestigious university are preferred. Approval of work permit application requires candidates to be native speakers if a visa is needed for teaching in China.

Faculty positions at WKU offer:

Annual salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience with the range from $70,000-$75,000 for Assistant Professors; $75,000-$80,000 for Associate Professors. Salary of extraordinary candidates shall be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The University will provide start-up grants to support the tenure track candidates to start their research programs.

A well-rounded healthcare coverage, academic travel up to $2,000, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home traveling up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares), a reimbursement to cover relocation expenses up to $1,000, shuttle bus to campus for work, and up to 8% front-load retirement benefits within accordance with completion of years of service with the University.

WKU tuition waiver up to 80% for spouse/dependent children of faculty for undergraduate programs, and tuition discount of private/international kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools for children of faculty.

The opportunity to teach high quality students with more than 60% of WKU graduates being admitted to the graduate programs of highly ranked universities globally.

Application Information:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled. Candidates should send cover letter, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, a research statement describing research interests, past accomplishments in research, and future research plans, unofficial transcripts, and the email contact information of three professional references. Please send all materials to Search Committee Chairperson at wkuenglish@wku.edu.cn. Three current letters of recommendation are required before advancement. Official transcripts for all degrees are required before appointment.

Background Screening: 

Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background Screenings.