Assistant Professor Rhetoric Composition Jobs in California

Position overview
Position title: Assistant Professor of Teaching in the University Writing Program
Salary range: Posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See salary scale table [ https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/policy-covered-october-2025-scales/t1.pdf ]. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience and will be determined by final placement at rank and step. $80,800 to $104,700
Anticipated start: September 1, 2026
Application Window
Open date: February 28, 2026
Most recent review date: Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The University Writing Program at the University of California, Riverside, is seeking applicants for Assistant Professor of Teaching in the First-Year Writing Instruction and Academic Student Employee (ASE) Mentoring.
Salary Range:
Posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See salary scale table [ https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/policy-covered-october-2025-scales/t5-0.pdf ] Salary will be commensurate with education and experience and will be determined by final placement at rank and step.
Anticipated Start Date:
September 1, 2026
Position Description:
Assistant Professors of Teaching in the First-Year Writing Instruction and ASE Mentoring are responsible for teaching large format composition courses that fulfill the UCR Writing Requirement. These courses are supported by Academic Student Employees (ASE's), whom the Professor of Teaching will work with and mentor. The Professor of Teaching will also participate in the larger University Writing Program mentoring program that includes a yearlong series of teaching practicums and is a vital part of our continuing pedagogical instruction for graduate students.
Assistant Professors of Teaching in the First-Year Writing Instruction and ASE Mentoring develop effective curricular models for composition instruction, including the shaping of syllabi for first-year writing courses and the application of grading standards consistent with program and UC priorities. They assist the Associate Dean of the University Writing Program with projects such as text selection, development of the program manual, the grading handbook, and program evaluation.
Classroom teaching in addition to and part of the duties of the Assistant Professor of Teaching in the First-Year Writing Instruction and ASE Mentoring include six 4 or 5-unit composition courses (2-2-2 or some variation) as well as engagement with English 301/302 in the Fall, English 302 in the Winter, and 302 in the Spring. Each 300-level training course grants two units. Primary instructional responsibility for 302 courses may count in place of a regular composition course.
Other responsibilities include ongoing interaction with the other University Writing Program Assistant and Associate Directors, collaboration with Division of Undergraduate Education staff on student success initiatives, using data to inform practice, including the occasional exchange of one or more duties, as supervised by the Director.
Appointment at the tenure track Assistant Professor of Teaching level requires evidence of excellent teaching, a record of scholarly professional activity including professional leadership, and demonstration of a commitment to campus service.
Please note that this level designation is only for application review purposes, not the ultimate appointment level of the finalist.
Professor of Teaching Series:
Professors of Teaching are faculty positions designed to meet the long-term instructional needs of the University. All appointments in this series require achievement in three areas: teaching, scholarly professional activity, and service.
Professors of Teaching are members of the academic senate when appointed at 100%. An appointee in this series is assigned a heavier instructional load in recognition that the amount of research or other professional achievement expected is less than for ladder rank faculty. Teaching responsibilities vary according to the nature of the appointment.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
A Ph.D. or an Ed.D. in a relevant discipline is required for Assistant Professor of Teaching level. Degree required by time of appointment by September 1, 2026, or Candidates must be ABD or have met the requirements for the Ph.D. or Ed.D.
Additional Qualifications:
Tenure track Assistant Professor of Teaching level:
• Proven record of excellent teaching
• Record of scholarly professional activity and experience
• Experience developing and teaching first-year writing courses.
• Experience mentoring graduate students and facilitating pedagogical development.
• Evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in instructional and pedagogical practice and service.
Preferred Qualifications:
UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.
Application Instructions:
Applications and materials will be submitted using UCR's online application system located at [ https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF02225 ].
Complete applications will include a cover letter, a current CV, evidence of excellence in teaching, a statement of the applicant's teaching philosophy, and contact information for four references, In addition, the candidate should submit one or more samples of professional writing, preferably accessed through links in the CV. Applicants are required to specify the level they are applying for in their cover letter.
Review of applications will begin May 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
A Ph.D. or an Ed.D. in a relevant discipline is required for Assistant Professor of Teaching level. Degree required by time of appointment by September 1, 2026, or Candidates must be ABD or have met the requirements for the Ph.D. or Ed.D.
Preferred qualifications
UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.
Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Evidence of Excellence in Teaching
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Samples of Professional Writing - The candidate should submit one or more samples of professional writing, preferably accessed through links in the CV.
  If links are not in the CV, candidate may upload documents here.
  (Optional)
• Statement of Research/Creative Activity (Optional)
• Misc / Additional (Optional)
• Misc / Additional (Optional)
• Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 4-5 letters of reference required

Letters of recommendation must be solicited through the UC Recruit system and must be present before application can be reviewed. All individuals should be external (outside UCR), qualified persons of a rank equal to or above the rank sought by the candidate.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02225
Help contact: ericc@ucr.edu
About UC Riverside
The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission ( https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement ) is a preferred qualification.
We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC's criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal ( https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf ).
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.
For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH .
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination .
For the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf .
Job location
Riverside, CA