Director of General Engineering

Apply now Job no: 543577
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: San Luis Obispo
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Engineering

In support of Cal Poly’s College of Engineering’s rapidly diversifying student population, we seek an established, tenured/tenure-track faculty scholar firmly rooted in engineering education, focusing on broadening participation in engineering to serve as the Director for the General Engineering Program. This unique opportunity includes serving as a member of the College of Engineering Council with a leadership role in promoting and achieving inclusive and equitable success in the college. We specifically desire an individual who has experience and demonstrated motivation to contribute to the university's strategic initiatives such as supporting Cal Poly as an emerging HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and/or the CSU Black student success initiative. We strongly encourage scholars from historically excluded groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, Black, Latinx/e, Asian American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, biracial and multiracial, and scholars with disabilities to apply.

Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), in the classroom, in scholarship, and in service experience. This position is part of a university-wide cluster of searches designed to increase curricular coverage of areas related to DEI, as well as to promote inclusive and equity-minded teaching strategies across the university. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to the university’s goals in these areas. Candidates selected through this DEI cluster hire will be given start-up funds to support their work in DEI and a dedicated mentor will be given upon appointment. Once hired, candidates will collaborate with their dean and others to develop a plan for utilizing these funds for supplemental compensation, assigned time, or professional development activities.

The Director of General Engineering will have the typical requirements of Teaching, Scholarship, and Service, but much of the service will be in a leadership position within the college. Below are examples of the activities in each of these categories.

Teaching

1. Teach Introduction to Engineering course to approximately 80 First time First year students each fall; Interdisciplinary Senior Project course sequence; and a new Junior level community service based General Engineering course, Ethical Engineering in the Anthropocene, included in the Semester Curriculum which will begin in Fall of 2026.
2. Develop new engineering courses with an emphasis on social/technical integration and/or Social Justice.
3. Advise General Engineering students completing independent senior projects. Advise master’s students in Engineering Education related theses.
4. Research and publish engineering education research related to increasing participation of historically marginalized groups.
5. Develop research that can include undergraduates or master’s students.
6. Apply for and receive grants to support scholarship especially from NSF.

Service and Leadership

1. Coordinate management of the General Engineering Programs similar to a department chair (scheduling, budget, yearly reporting, etc.) and supervise the administrative assistant for the program.
2. Academic advising for all General Engineering students, including working closely with Engineering Student Services.
3. Develop and coordinate periodic program review for the General Engineering program.
4. Manage and convene General Engineering faculty affiliates committee.
5. Lead and participate in initiatives that advance the college's strategic goals, including service on college level committees (bi-monthly College council meetings, curriculum, assessment, etc.).

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Qualified candidates with industry experience are encouraged to apply. Anticipated hiring ranges:

Assistant Professor: $111,000 to $122,000
Associate Professor: $119,000 to $136,000
Full Professor: $136,000 to $142,000

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences, and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The General Engineering program is a unique program within the College of Engineering. It serves several roles including a place for undecided first year students to start their path to a degree and a program that allows a handful of students to customize their studies to reach beyond a single engineering department while receiving a broad education that addresses new or evolving areas of engineering. The program has approximately 150 students, most of which enter general engineering as undecided college of engineering first time students. The program graduates between 10 and 15 students each year. The program has a strong emphasis on student success, flexibility, and compassion. We particularly support students who come from historically marginalized identities or situations. Because General Engineering does not have tenured faculty, a successful candidate for this position will have a tenured home in one of the nine disciplinary departments (Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering).

Cal Poly is committed to the teacher-scholar model. As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogic skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines. As scholars, faculty should be engaged in scholarly work that is of very high quality as evidenced by external peer review. As colleagues, faculty are encouraged to perform service activities at all levels of the University.

The Cal Poly College of Engineering strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as part of our focus on equitable student success. The Cal Poly College of Engineering is excited to invite applications to fill multiple tenure-track faculty positions across eight departments to start September 2025. Successful applicants show evidence or demonstrate the potential to implement inclusive and equity-minded teaching strategies as well as increase curricular coverage of the intersection of engineering and computing with societal challenges, particularly around DEI issues. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to the college’s goals in these areas.

The college is searching for positions in the following disciplines:

1. Biomedical Engineering
2. Civil Engineering
3. Computer Science / Software Engineering
4. Electrical Engineering
5. Environmental Engineering
6. Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
7. Mechanical Engineering

In addition to the standard new faculty support, candidates with DEI focused scholarship and/or pedagogy will have the opportunity to apply for additional funds to support their DEI work.

The Cal Poly College of Engineering has an active National Science Foundation ADVANCE gender equity program and is committed to a pluralistic campus community through equal opportunity and work‐life balance. You will be joining a college that strives to be compassionate and supportive of colleagues, staff, and students. You will have the opportunity to teach and develop courses and advise students on projects and research. You will be supported in your efforts to establish an externally funded research program, mentor students, contribute to an inclusive and welcoming community, and provide services to the department, the college, and the university.

An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Engineering Education, Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field from an accredited institution or international equivalent is required for appointment. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) will be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to or by the start of the appointment.

Candidates must demonstrate experience in working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment. Candidates must have a strong commitment to teaching excellence and laboratory-based instruction, dedication to continued professional development and scholarship in engineering education, and a broad-based knowledge of an engineering or computer science discipline. As a member of the college of engineering leadership, candidates must have a desire to lead and participate in strategic initiatives which increase participation of those who have historically been marginalized in engineering and computer science. Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching, and the ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings is required.

The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively with students, staff, and faculty from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The successful candidate will show evidence of attention to on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across their teaching, scholarship, and service, and an eagerness to participate in college leadership activities with an emphasis on activities that support historically marginalized students.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in conducting world-class scholarship in engineering education research, experience developing interdisciplinary student experiences (including courses and curriculum), and providing compassionate hands-on student mentoring.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. NOTE: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

Faculty employees who wish to apply for permanent residency will be responsible for retaining an immigration attorney. All filing and attorney's fees will be incurred by the faculty member.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, applicants are encouraged to provide the following supplemental documents: (1) a cover letter providing some details of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; (2) a current CV; (3) a statement of teaching philosophy; (4) a statement of goals and plans for research; (5) a copy of unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required prior to appointment) (6) a diversity statement that demonstrates the candidate's experience with respect to supporting the college of engineering’s goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In particular, our vision statement is: “The Cal Poly College of Engineering will be nationally recognized for its rapidly diversifying student population and unique, inclusive Learn by Doing educational and applied research experiences.” Candidate’s diversity statement should convey how their teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly will contribute to this vision. Examples include highlighting the candidate’s experience and/or intentions with respect to: implementing inclusive classroom environments, the intersection of DEI in your research/scholarship, mentoring students with diverse backgrounds, outreach to under-represented student populations, and previous professional development in diversity and inclusion topics.

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. For full consideration, candidates are encouraged to apply by the Review Begin Date, December 30, 2024. Applications received after this date may be considered.

Advertised: Nov 06 2024 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close: