Assistant Professor of English / Writing Center Director

Western Kentucky University; Macomb (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Illinois University invites applications for the Assistant Professor of English/Writing Center Director position. The successful candidate will lead the Writing Center, teach writing courses, and engage in scholarly activity. This tenure-track role offers a supportive environment and opportunities for professional development within a diverse and inclusive academic community.

Benefits

Health and Dental Insurance

Vision Plan

Life Insurance

Paid time-off

Tuition Waiver programs

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required by appointment time.
• Two years college teaching experience.
• Focus on technology, digital media or writing program administration.

Responsibilities

• Direct the University Writing Center and teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Conduct research and develop new courses.
• Serve on relevant committees.

Skills

Commitment to writing studies best practices

Teaching diverse students

Education

Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition, Writing Studies

Job description

Assistant Professor of English / Writing Center Director

Category: Faculty Positions

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Department: ENGLISH

Locations: Macomb, IL

Posted: May 29, 2025

Closes: Open Until Filled

Type: FT - Continuous

PositionID: 188606

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Recognized as a "Best Midwestern College" by the Princeton Review. Western Illinois University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, serves nearly 6,300 students at its traditional, residential campus in Macomb, IL and its metropolitan, non-residential branch campus in Moline, IL.

Job Description:

APPOINTMENT: August 21, 2025

RESPONSIBILITIES:The faculty member will be expected to direct the University Writing Center and teach relevant undergraduate and graduate courses, conduct research, and serve on committees. Undergraduate teaching would include courses in our professional writing minor and major option, and our first-year writing program. Graduate teaching would include courses in writing studies. Additionally, the faculty member may develop new courses in their area of expertise. The director of the University Writing Center receives a reduced teaching load and a supplemental contract in the summer.

RANK & SALARY: Assistant or Associate Professor. This is a tenure-track, 9-month appointment. Salary ranges from $7,242 to $8,835 per month, commensurate with experience.

Western Illinois University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits.

These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans, (HMO's, OAP's, QCHP, and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long-Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts (HAS, MCAP, and DCAP), 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans.

Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.

Other benefits available to eligible employees include: paid time-off, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Waiver programs, and discounts to the local YMCA. For a full list of benefits as a WIU employee, please visit our Benefits Homepage: http://www.wiu.edu/ vpas/human_resources/benefits/.

For questions on benefits, or eligibility, contact our benefits team at [e-mail] or by calling 309-298-1971.

Requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition, Writing Studies, or related field required by time of appointment
• Demonstrated commitment to contemporary best practices in writing studies
• Two years of college-level teaching experience
• Demonstrated focus on any or a combination of the following: technology and digital media; digital rhetoric; multimodal composition; writing program administration (writing center, first-year composition, and/or WAC/WID); professional/technical writing

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated success in teaching students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds with varying levels of academic preparation
• Experience in writing program administration (first-year composition, WAC/WID, and/or writing center) or curriculum development and assessment

For a degree to be considered, it must be conferred from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution of higher education (or equivalent from an international accrediting body). Unless otherwise stated, the degree must be conferred at the time of appointment.

Since 1899, Western Illinois University has provided outstanding educational opportunities to individuals in west central Illinois and well beyond our region and state. WIU's traditional residential campus in Macomb, Illinois, is the educational, cultural and athletic center of the region, while the WIU-Quad Cities non-residential branch campus in Moline, Illinois, is the only public university in the immediate Quad Cities region.

WIU-Macomb, IL: Western's traditional, residential main campus offers a comprehensive slate of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education, and post-baccalaureate certificates. A diverse community in west central Illinois, Macomb features a unique blend of agriculture, industry, service, retail, education, and culture. Macomb serves as the county seat, with connections across the state with Amtrak providing twice-daily service from Macomb to Chicago (and point in between). Macomb is located approximately 75 miles from the Quad Cities International Airport (Moline, IL) and 70 miles from the Greater Peoria Regional Airport (Peoria, IL).

WIU-Quad Cities: Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Moline, Illinois, the WIU-Quad Cities campus is the only public four-year regional university that serves the Quad Cities region. Designed as a metropolitan commuter campus, WIU-Quad Cities offers select undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Moline is located just 80 miles north of the Macomb campus and is centered within a diverse, bi-state community of 383,000 that offers a broad range of cultural, social, and entertainment amenities and experiences, as well as varied businesses and industries.

Western Illinois University fosters respect, equity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. WIU is committed to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity. We value inclusion as a core value and as an essential element of Western's public service mission. WIU embraces individual uniqueness and a culture of inclusion that supports broad and specific diversity initiatives. Western believes in the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society as integral to the success of all individuals.

At WIU, we will:

• Maintain a safe and secure environment for all members of our University communities. Educate and empower students, staff, and faculty to be social justice advocates.
• Provide curricula, programs, training, resources, and environments that reflect and strengthen the diversity of our communities, and to elevate cultural awareness and understanding.
• Ensure fair, equitable, and inclusive access to University facilities, programs, resources, and services.
• Create inclusive and equitable policies and practices.
• Diversify the University's workforce by assessing hiring practices to attract, retain, and develop talented staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
• Address intergroup disparities through areas as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.
• Create a University wide diversity plan to ensure a continued commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity.

More than 61 undergraduate degree programs, 41 graduate programs, two doctoral programs and 16 post-baccaulaureate certificate programs prepare students for a successful career after graduation.

Student Resources

More than 200 student organizations at Western provide social, academic, recreation, athletics, service, academic, and many other opportunities for students to grow and learn, develop leadership skills, and much more.

Numerous concerts, lectures, films, dance performances, cultural events and more are presented and performed each year, along with numerous major theatrical and dance productions and studio shows, and a variety of service-oriented projects and activities, all in a diverse and inclusive campus environment.

The Multicultural Center is home to four cultural and resource centers: The Gwendolyn Brooks, Casa Latina, the Women's Center, and the LGBT*QA Resource Center. These cultural and resource centers promote WIU's goal of enhancing justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion through educational programming and advocacy.

The University's athletics program, based on the Macomb campus, sponsors 17 NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's and women's varsity sports. All varsity sports compete at the Division I level through The Ohio Valley Conference.

Application Instructions:

Complete applications include:

1) A letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position;

2) Current curriculum vita or resume;

3) The names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of three current professional references;

4) Copies of unofficial academic transcripts (Official transcripts will be required for selected candidates);

5) Sample syllabi for first-year and/or upper division writing courses;

6) Teaching and/or administrative philosophy;

7) Writing sample.

Please upload the requested documents by clicking APPLY NOW or by navigating to the WIU Employment page at the following URL http://www.wiu.edu/employment/

**Note** Individual documents must be under 2 MB in size in order to upload.

Screening will begin on June 12, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

Western Illinois University endeavors to provide a safe environment for its employees and students and requires candidates to submit to a background investigation upon offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon compliance with University policies and procedures relating to the receipt and evaluation of information contained in the background investigation.

Western Illinois University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, veterans, women and individuals with disabilities. WIU has a non-discrimination policy that includes discrimination based on an individual's membership in the following classes: sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other classes protected by state or federal law.

Questions regarding the search may be directed to:Department Chairperson Dr. Marjorie Allison at [e-mail].

For assistance with the online application system contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

Phone: [phone]
Text Telephone: [phone]
[e-mail]