Job Title: Assistant Professor - Criminal Justice
Location: Valdosta State University
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 278445
About Us

As a comprehensive institution of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is a welcoming, aware, and vibrant community founded on and dedicated to serving our communities' rich and diverse heritages. Through excellence in teaching, basic and applied research, and service, VSU provides rigorous programs and opportunities that enrich our students, our university, and our region. As such, the VSU mission consists of three interrelated parts that includes a student mission, university mission and regional mission. The university is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity and citizenship. As members of this community and proud Blazers we strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University, as stated in the Blazer Creed and reflected in our commitment to the University System of Georgia's Core Values.

Valdosta State University is a learning environment based on trust and mutual respect in which open dialogue, vigorous debate, and the free exchange of ideas are welcome. The University is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity, and citizenship. As members of this community, and proud Blazers, we will strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University.

Civility - A Blazer shows courtesy and compassion as well as respect for the dignity of every human being.

Integrity - Each Blazer is responsible for his or her own actions, and our community is stronger when we contemplate the context of our decisions and uphold the principles of trust and honesty.

Citizenship - Every Blazer has an interest in the well-being of the community, and, therefore, a duty to stay informed, to make positive contributions, and to offer support to those who need help.

As a Blazer, we pledge to uphold the core principles of Civility, Integrity, and Citizenship.

Job Summary

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice seeks applicants for a tenure-track faculty position beginning August 1, 2025, to teach in the Criminal Justice program. The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching courses in the candidate's area of expertise, maintaining scholarly productivity, and participating in service at the department, college, and university levels.

Housed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the department has more than 100 faculty and half a dozen staff members committed to academic success across six academic departments and three interdisciplinary programs. The department is the second largest in the college and is home to the Center for Applied Social Sciences. The Criminal Justice program is the largest in the department, and the second largest in the College serving over 400 students. Program faculty possess doctorate and master's degrees in criminal justice, several have prior practitioner experience, and one faculty has earned a Juris Doctorate. Faculty teach undergraduate courses in a variety of modalities that include face-to-face in the classroom, hybrid, and online. The Master's in Criminal Justice Administration is offered completely online.

Review of completed applications will begin December 2, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. For more information on the position contact Dr. Shá Wilfred , Interim Head, via email spgray@valdota.edu or phone 229-333-5943.

Applicant materials should include:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Letter of interest that address teaching philosophy and research interests

• Unofficial transcripts of academic degrees

• Contact information for at least three professional references

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching a four-course load (12 hours) during the academic year (Fall and Spring semester), maintaining scholarly productivity, and participating in service at the department, college, and university levels. Teaching responsibilities will include a broad range of CJ courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels in both traditional and online formats. The successful candidate is expected to teach across all levels and instruction modalities.

Typical Allocation of Duties

Teaching and scholarship - 80%
Teaches classes and conducts/presents research in the employee's academic discipline.

Service - 20%
Participates in service at the department, college, and university levels.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, Criminology or a closely related discipline (must have 18 graduate level hours in Criminal Justice and/or Criminology) by the appointment date.

• Demonstrated experience teaching a variety of criminal justice courses.

• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, as well as scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience developing and/or teaching criminal justice online courses .

• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative setting.

• A record of mentoring students.

• Practical experience working in the criminal justice system.

• Research or experience in forensics.

• Research or experience in virtual reality, cybercrime, or artificial intelligence.

Proposed Salary

Commensurate with experience

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Applicants are required to provide:

• professional references with current contact information

• documentation of academic credentials

• employment history

Please note that during the search process, VSU reserves the right to:

• ask candidates who will serve in Positions of Trust to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment,

• view social media outlets, and

• remove job postings without additional notification.

Employment is contingent upon:

• successful completion of a background check investigation, including a criminal background check

• reference checks

Employment may also be contingent upon the job-based requirements if applicable for your position:

• satisfactory credit check

• successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)

• pre-employment drug testing

• confirmation of credentials

After initial hiring, employees will be required to successfully complete all of the following training:

• New employee orientation

• VSU's Annual Compliance Training:
  • USG Ethics Policy

  • Conflict of Interest/Outside Activities Policy

  • Drug Free Workplace

  • Sexual Misconduct and Title IX

  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

  • Motor Vehicle Policy

  • Workers Compensation (new hires)

  • Georgia Open Records Act (new hires)

• USG Cybersecurity Training (required twice yearly)
  • Job-specific training such as: FMLA and Worker's Compensation, Budget Manager training, Purchasing Training (ePro & PCard), and Defensive Driving

Equal Employment Opportunity

Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the individual.

Background Check

• Standard

Accommodations

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings, apply for a job on this site, or participate in the search process as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Catherine Wills, in the Office of Human Resources at croark@valdosta.edu.