Rhetoric Professor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary
The Program for Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) and the College of Arts & Sciences Residential Academic Program (A&S RAP) at the University of Colorado Boulder invite applications for a joint Assistant Teaching Professor position. The successful candidate will teach lower and upper-division undergraduate courses for PWR with opportunities to contribute to an Interdisciplinary Writing Certificate , a minor in Writing and Public Engagement , and PWR's ten areas of academic expertise . The candidate will also teach lower-division undergraduate courses for the A&S RAP. We seek a colleague committed to first-year composition as well as to sustainability with experience developing inclusive writing pedagogies focused on environmental writing, environmental rhetorics and justice, and rhetorics of science. We especially seek candidates whose teaching attends to the intersections of environmental and social justice, pointing to the ways in which climate, policies, and discourses impact vulnerable communities and the planet. An anticipated start date for this position is fall 2026.
To support this joint appointment, we especially seek a candidate who is committed to lower-division writing education and to creating a dynamic, collaborative learning environment for CU Boulder's incoming class of students. We strongly desire candidates who engage in innovative digital pedagogy and strive to enhance students' digital, information, and AI literacy. A strong interest in working with first-year and transfer students is also highly valued.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
This Assistant Teaching Professor role is designed as a dual position, with the successful candidate teaching for both the Program for Writing & Rhetoric (PWR) and for the A&S Residential Academic Program (RAP).
PWR is an active community of teachers, scholars, and writers committed to making writing central to undergraduate education. Many teaching professors are active writers, publishing op-eds in local newspapers; poems , fiction , and creative non-fiction for literary journals; and scholarly works for composition studies and beyond . Through small class sizes and intensive workshops, we train students to think critically and write persuasively in diverse genres, modes, and media and contexts-academic, civic, professional, and personal.
PWR's award-winning program has been made possible by a long tradition of highly valued and long-serving teaching professors working alongside a small group of tenure-track faculty. Together, PWR faculty strive to expand students' critical literacy practices and open up opportunities for students to present their work publicly , engage with community organizations , and produce journals of undergraduate writing such as Hindsight . PWR is also committed to expanding applied writing curricula at CU Boulder by working on writing across the curriculum and writing in the disciplines initiatives.
Like CU Boulder on the whole, PWR is committed to generating a community and a curriculum whose excellence is premised on diversity, equity and inclusion. PWR seeks candidates who share this commitment and demonstrate understanding of the experiences of those historically underrepresented in higher education. PWR welcomes applications from minoritized racial and ethnic identities, ciswomen, non-normative genders and sexualities, persons with disabilities, and others who have encountered legacies of marginalization.
The College of Arts & Sciences Residential Academic Program (RAP) believes inclusive and effective teaching begins with recognizing and supporting the many ways students learn, grow, and engage. Our educators foster welcoming classroom and community environments that value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. RAP faculty are committed to evidence-based and innovative teaching practices that challenge and support students through active learning, mentorship, research, and creative engagement. Our programs emphasize clear learning goals, thoughtful curriculum design, and continual improvement through feedback and reflection. Beyond the classroom, we strive to cultivate belonging, identity, and meaningful connections that support students' academic, professional, and personal development.
The RAP mission is to provide an inclusive living-learning environment that helps first-year students to develop a sense of intellectual purpose and equips them to become active participants in the life of a major research university. Through small classes, connections with faculty and staff who are experts in undergraduate education, and rich offerings of curricular and co-curricular activities, the RAP supports students in the development of habits of inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity that will prepare them for a lifetime of learning and leadership.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Teaching small (~20 students), seminar-style courses to first-year students in the College of Arts & Sciences RAP. Course material and expectations must be coordinated with what is provided in the PWR cognate department.
• Teaching lower (in RAPs & PWR) and upper-division (in PWR) undergraduate courses capped at 19 students.
• Developing and hosting cocurricular activities for students in your RAP courses, designed to enhance the classroom experience and build community between students and faculty.
• Participating in departmental service, including but not limited to mentoring students, serving on committees, serving the A&S RAP and PWR departments and the broader campus community.

What You Should Know
This unique position works within both the PWR (50%) and RAP (50%) departments.
The PWR is a community of educators whose primary interest is student-engaged pedagogy. We are committed to challenging our students to think and compose in ways that are both rigorous and provocative. The PWR prizes innovation grounded in tenets of composition best practices. The PWR is currently working to design an interdisciplinary science writing minor as well as a new major in Public and Professional Writing. PWR seeks a candidate who can contribute to both these degrees, should they come to fruition. As a program with a strong commitment to civic, public, and community engagement, PWR is also seeking a candidate who prioritizes applied, hands-on learning experiences for students.
RAP faculty cultivate enriching living-learning communities that serve as hubs of support, connection, and academic curiosity for first-year students. They are expected to dedicate extra time to their students as compared to what is typically expected in most other introductory-level classes. RAP faculty get to know their students as individuals, track student performance more closely, connect students with campus support services when needed, and provide general mentorship to students as they adapt to college-level academic work. The RAPs function as a foundation of support for first-year students and serve as a springboard for their continuous intellectual, personal, and social growth at CU.
PWR/RAP Assistant Teaching Professors

• Hold a position with 85% of duties and responsibilities allocated to teaching and 15% to service.
• Regularly teach 12 credit hours per semester of lower and upper-division courses each year, with class enrollments capped at 19 students.
• Hold renewable, multi-year positions with the expectation of long-term professional commitments to teaching.
• Contribute service to the unit, college, and/or campus in ways that are appropriate to rank.
• Participate in local, regional, and national professional development activities.

What We Can Offer
We offer a starting salary of $62,500 per academic year with full benefits. Assistant Teaching professors are eligible for faculty development funding as well as program, college, and university-wide teaching awards and grants. Salary adjustments based on annual merit evaluations are made annually contingent on available funds.
Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require

• A PhD in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies or an M.A. in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies + 5 years of teaching in higher education. Candidates must demonstrate inclusive writing pedagogy and the ability to work with a range of diverse students. Candidates must have a PhD/terminal degree/or equivalent degree/experience in-hand by August 1, 2027.
• Candidates must have demonstrated experience teaching in environmental rhetorics and rhetorics of science as well as experience teaching digital, information, and AI literacies.
• Candidates must have demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence through teaching, research, and/or service.

What You Will Need

• Two years of higher education experience teaching a wide range of lower-division and upper-division courses that align with and extend PWR's extensive course offerings.
• Strong preparation for contributing to PWR's mission and various initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to student-centered pedagogy that promotes critical multi-literacies while considering diverse abilities and needs.

What We Would Like You to Have
Experience teaching in multiple instruction modes including in-person, remote, and hybrid.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Cover letter that speaks directly to identified needs and required qualifications in the job ad.
2. CV
3. Two Sample Syllabi: (combined into one pdf) one for a first-year writing course; another for a writing course of your choice

• Shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide a brief statement of their teaching philosophy.
• Finalists can expect to participate in an hour-long zoom meeting to include a multi-modal delivery of a 20-minute teaching demonstration and a 30-minute follow-up interview with time for candidate questions.
• The position will begin in Fall 2027.

During the application process you will need to enter contact information for two references. Final candidates will be asked to provide 2 letters of recommendation. The hiring committee will use reference information listed in the application to directly request recommendation letters from references.
For full consideration, applications must be submitted by Monday, October 15, 2026.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs .
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.