Adjunct Faculty - Cognitive Science

Naropa University; Boulder (CO); Remote; USD 7,000 - 8,600; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote teaching opportunity

Job summary

Naropa University is seeking an Adjunct Faculty member to teach one section of PSYB57E-A Cognitive Science online for Spring 2027. The 3-credit course runs asynchronously and requires about 45 contact hours, with lessons delivered through Canvas.

The instructor will manage course materials, assessments, and provide timely feedback. This is an 8% FTE position (~3 hours/week) with a remote work location.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology or related field.
• Familiarity with course content, professional ethics and teaching methods.
• An understanding of privilege/oppression and impact on equity, access, opportunity.
• Commitment to inclusive community and ongoing professional development.
• Experience with a Learning Management System such as Canvas.
• At least 1 semester of university-level teaching experience.

Responsibilities

• Create a positive team environment and maintain professional conduct in the course.
• Teach with preparedness for a 15-week semester and online format.
• Utilize Canvas to share syllabus, assignments, and resources.
• Grade assignments, provide timely feedback, and submit final grades.
• Offer one hour of weekly office hours via Zoom or similar platform.
• Attend a faculty meeting each semester when requested.
• Prepare updated syllabus per Academic Affairs deadlines.
• Obtain copyright permissions for course materials as needed.
• Complete required trainings within set timelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Higher-ed teaching

Equity & inclusion

Canvas familiarity

Education

Master’s degree in Psychology

Doctoral degree preferred

Tools

Canvas

Job description

Position Title: Adjunct Faculty: PSYB57E-A Cognitive Science
No. of Positions to Fill 1
Department/Program: Psychology 11100
Work Location: Remote
Reports to: Chair of BA Psychology
FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried
FTE: 8% (3 hrs/week)
Compensation: $3,900 per semester

Application deadline 11/1 or until filled

Job Summary

Teach one section at the Undergraduate Level of PSYB357E Cognitive Science. The section is 3 credits or 45 “contact” hours, offered in the spring semester of 2027, and will be taught in an asynchronous online format.

Course Description

This course concerns the study of thought, conscious experience, and associated mental functions from a variety of scientific perspectives. This multidisciplinary exploration focuses on the high-level mental processes and related brain activity involved in conscious mental life and unconscious information processing. Specific topics include attention, language, intelligences, imagery, emotion, conceptual knowledge, memory, problem solving, expertise, reasoning, and decision making. This course emphasizes the perspectives of information processing, systems neuroscience, and contemplative psychology. Prerequisite: PSYB101e.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a positive team environment and behave professionally with everyone encountered in the course and scope of the job duties.
• Teach with a professional level of preparedness for the duration of a 15-week semester.
• Use the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) to provide students with course syllabus, assignments, and other resources as needed.
• Grade all assignments, provide feedback to students in a timely manner and submit final grades by the deadline established by the Registrar.
• Provide one hour of office hours each week via Zoom or other easily accessible telecommunications/virtual hosting platform, plus availability to students by appointment.
• Attend one faculty meeting per semester, as requested.
• Start with a recent version of the course syllabus submit an updated course syllabus according to the Academic Affairs syllabi instructions to the Office of Academic Affairs by the established deadline.
• Obtain permission from the copyright owner for any copyrighted material to be used in sourcebooks.
• Complete any and all faculty and staff trainings as required by the Human Resources Office or the Office of Academic Affairs within the time period set for completion by those departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology or related field.
• Demonstrated familiarity with course content, professional ethics and teaching methods.
• An understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and the impact these have on equity, access, and opportunity.
• Commitment to co-create an inclusive community and actively participate in related professional development, including openness to feedback and ongoing self-examination.
• Experience with a Learning Management System such as Canvas.
• At least 1 semester of experience teaching at the University level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Psychology or related field.
• At least 2 years teaching at the University level.
• A strong understanding of contemplative pedagogical approaches
• Well-developed understanding of the dynamics of privilege and oppression, and their impact on equity, access, and opportunity.
• Experience as course instructor using Canvas as a Learning Management System.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

Faculty members in our online programs spend most of their time engaging and interacting with students through virtual meetings and online assessments. As a faculty member, you may spend extended periods meeting virtually with students as well as:

• Reading academic texts and materials, student papers, etc.
• Operating personal computer and audio-visual equipment.
• Standing or sitting for hours at a time.

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following

medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20-29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program.

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.