Asst/Assoc/Full Teaching Professor - American Sign Language

Position Overview

The Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas (KU) invites applicants for a full-time, non-tenure track position at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Teaching Professor. The successful candidate must have teaching experience in American Sign Language and the ability to develop in-person, hybrid and/or online courses. This is a 9-month appointment with an initial comprehensive review after 3 years. Reappointment is subject to the successful outcome of a comprehensive review, budget availability, and best interest of the department, School, and University.

KU is a Carnegie Research-Extensive Institution with a student body of over 28,000 students representing every state and more than 113 foreign countries. The University is located in Lawrence, a city with a population exceeding 95,000. KU is approximately 30 minutes from urban schools in Kansas City, Kansas and 45 minutes to Kansas City, Missouri. KU has an Edwards campus in the Kansas City metro area.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate, and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Job Description

80% Teaching/Advising

The standard teaching expectation is four, 3-credit hour courses per fall and spring semester or the defined equivalent. Additional summer teaching is available and encouraged. The teaching faculty member is expected to:

• Perform as the instructor of record for all assigned courses as designated by the Departmental Chair or facilitate a team-teaching model. Prepare for and attend all class meetings. In case of absence, faculty member must make arrangements for a substitute to teach class or propose some other relevant assignment. Classes should not be canceled.
• Develop assignments, administer assessments, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades.
• Hold regular office hours for students involved in classes taught. Be available for office hours each week, including reasonable appointments if a student cannot meet during scheduled office hours.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in independent research projects or master’s projects.
• All faculty members are expected to be active in advising, including supporting program plan development and revision for graduate students.
• Supervise and mentor graduate teaching assistants, including through classes designed to educate students in the methods and expectations of classroom teaching in the discipline.
• Engage in program evaluation with other faculty including state-level and national accreditation processes.
• Adhere to department, School, and University policies.
• Maintain relationships with local programs and school districts to support student teaching and practicum placements.
  
  
  

10% Scholarly Engagement

• Active in scholarly engagement activities including but not limited to carrying out course transformation, assessment of learning outcomes, development of pedagogical teaching practices that expand and delivers new methods of teaching to precipitate dynamic learning engagements or other activities to implement innovations in teaching and learning.
• Scholarly engagement is broadly defined, but typically, not exclusively, includes participation in or presenting professional development and workshops, scholarly presentations at meetings, publications, documenting and disseminating the results of inquiry into improving teaching and learning.
  
  
  

10% Service

• Teaching faculty members are expected to participate in appropriate professional activities, such as attending faculty meetings, carrying out departmental committee assignments, attending national and international meetings or conferences, serving the School and University as appropriate. Teaching faculty are full voting members of the department faculty except on personnel matters involving tenure-track faculty. Support faculty with various program responsibilities. Teaching faculty are expected to serve on, or chair graduate student committees as allowed, needed, or requested.
  
  
  

Collegiality

All faculty members are expected to act in a manner that promotes collegial relationships and shows respect toward students, staff, and colleagues. Faculty members are expected to meet satisfactory standards of performance in all three areas of responsibility and to carry out those responsibilities in accordance with the Faculty Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.

Required Qualifications

For rank at Assistant Teaching Professor:

• Earned doctorate in linguistics, Deaf studies, Deaf education, or a related field with a stated focus on American Sign Language by the start date of the appointment.
• Native or near native proficiency in American Sign Language
• ASLTA Certification (American Sign Language Teacher’s Association)
  
  
  

For rank at Associate Teaching Professor:

• Earned doctorate in linguistics, Deaf studies, Deaf education, or a related field with a stated focus on American Sign Language by the start date of the appointment.
• Native or near native proficiency in American Sign Language
• ASLTA Certification (American Sign Language Teacher’s Association)
• At least 6 years of experience in a full-time Teaching Professor role at an institution of higher education.
  
  
  

For rank at Full Teaching Professor:

• Earned doctorate in linguistics, Deaf studies, Deaf education, or a related field with a stated focus on American Sign Language by the start date of the appointment.
• Native or near native proficiency in American Sign Language
• ASLTA Certification (American Sign Language Teacher’s Association)
• At least 12 years of experience in a full-time Teaching Professor role at an institution of higher education.
  
  
  

Additional Candidate Instructions

To be considered, candidates must submit an online application. A complete application will include:

• Evidence of teaching and/or supervision effectiveness
• Teaching statement
• CV
• Transcripts
• Cover letter detailing your qualifications
  
  
  

Letters of recommendation will be requested from selected applicants as the search process moves beyond the initial screening round.

Review of applications will begin March 27, 2026 and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

Jennifer Kurth

Chair and Professor

Department of Special Education

jkurth@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

commensurate with experience

Application Review Begins

Friday March 27, 2026

Anticipated Start Date

Saturday August 15, 2026