Asst. Professor - Education jobs in Petaluma, CA

Department Of Nursing

Faculty Employment Opportunity

Job no:532825

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: Sonoma

Categories: Tenure-Track, Full Time, Instructional Faculty – Unit 3 CFA – California Faculty Association

Department of Nursing

(Tenure-Track) Assistant or Associate Professor depending on experience in teaching in higher education.

Start date August 2024

Our Commitment

Guided by our core values of diversity, sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability, Sonoma State University offers an exceptional educational experience that fosters intellectual, social, and personal growth. As the only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges in California, we are uniquely positioned to foster ethical exploration, civic engagement, social responsibility, and global awareness combined with a solid foundation in an academic discipline. We have a strong commitment to graduating students who have the ability to think critically and communicate effectively in an ever-changing world. The unique campus culture fosters our Seawolf Commitment to integrity, respect, excellence, and responsibility and is integrated into all campus life. We nurture inclusive excellence through a celebration of the rich diversity of our local communities and our interconnected global economy. Members of the University community are expected to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are fully committed to the rights of students, staff and faculty with disabilities in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. SSU is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

The University

Sonoma State University’s beautiful 274-acre campus is located in Sonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. The campus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning and access to a community of rich cultural, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, Sonoma State University is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University System.  As members of the largest public higher educational system in the nation, we provide accessible, high quality education to more than 9,000 students. Sonoma State University is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and endeavors to employ faculty and staff reflecting the ethnic and cultural diversity of the region and state.

Faculty Responsibilities

In addition to teaching and scholarship, faculty are expected to engage in service to the department, school, and community, and must be a California state resident during time of employment.  Sonoma State is committed to the Teacher/Scholar model and places an emphasis on faculty support of undergraduate research and professional opportunities for students. Faculty are also encouraged to participate in our distinctive curriculum across our three programs and to foster our commitment to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 through excellent teaching, advising, and mentoring. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the University’s Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Policy. Aligned with the California Faculty Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, during the first 2 years of the probationary period the instructional assignment will be reduced by 2 courses per academic year. All faculty are required to have the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

The Department

​​As we surpass our 50^th year educating nurses in this community, we are proud to be acknowledged in the top 10 Nursing programs in the country. The Department offers a variety of campus-based programs, fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the California State Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). These include a traditional pre-licensure BSN, post-licensure BSN, and Family Nurse Practitioner-MSN, requiring a full spectrum of teaching content and expertise across multiple modalities. Students are educated to practice in a variety of settings including community health agencies, advanced practice settings, and acute care settings, with focus on underserved communities. Active community partnerships support consistent clinical rotation sites for students, and offer additional service-learning opportunities, yielding mutually beneficial experiences for agency, student, and faculty.

The faculty in the Department of Nursing have collaboratively identified and defined our collective core values that guide our nursing philosophy and pedagogy.

• Integrity

Integrity is essential to every aspect of professional nursing that faculty believe includes upholding principles and standards, truth telling, humility, honesty, and veracity. Additionally, integrity includes adherence to the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics concepts of sincerity, authenticity, taking responsibility for actions, living in accordance with one’s principles, trustworthiness, and consistency of values, actions, and outcomes. These principles are demonstrated when one chooses to do the right thing when no one is looking, regardless of recognition.

• Love

The application of Dr. Jean Watson’s theory is demonstrated as the practice of loving kindness (Watson, 2018). Love reduces separation and builds connection between people (Adib-Hajbaghery & Bolandian Bafghi, 2020). “Love, as an aspect of human care, means respect for kindness, self-esteem, dignity, and human values” (Adib-Hajbaghery & Bolandian Bafghi, 2020, para. 3). Love is actualized by demonstrating compassion, empathy, respect, humility, and generosity.

• Equity

Equity requires unencumbered access and elimination of barriers, leading to optimal outcomes and health justice. “Equitable care aims to provide the entire population with safe, efficient, and reliable nursing services at all levels of health” (Rooddehghan, ParsaYekta, & Nasrabadi, 2019, p. 598).  Faculty are committed to dismantling systemic oppression and share Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of “equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where [we] will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few” (King Jr., 1961 as cited by UNAC - HCP).

• Accountability

Accountability is taking responsibility for choices, acknowledging autonomy of nursing and all actions taken in practice. As licensed practitioners, nurses have the responsibility to adhere to standards of care.  Nurses must recognize their personal and professional power and understand the universal impact of their actions and decisions. Faculty create and support a system of just culture in educational and clinical practice environments. Part of following ethical conduct requires a nurse to be answerable to self and others for their actions.

• Courage

Courageous practice is acting on one’s values to assure just outcomes. This includes speaking the truth, not being a passive bystander, and having moral courage to advocate for safety, equity, and quality across healthcare roles and structures. Nurses demonstrate courage by managing conflict with skill and respect, and maintaining an active engagement in the care of our patients and the environments in which we work. Interactions across disciplines and dynamic reflection of personal and professional values uphold excellence and counter all forms of injustice and discrimination.

• Reflexivity

 “Critical reflexivity is personal analysis that involves challenging” individual beliefs and assumptions to improve practice (Timmins, 2006, p.49). This allows for continuous improvement, growth, and authenticity, which includes examining values, feelings, thoughts, reactions, and motives (Nairn et al, 2012). In order to advance optimal health and educational outcomes, faculty practice and promote reflexivity through a process of shared wisdom and perspective-taking.

A small and dedicated team of professionals, the Nursing faculty have co-created a collegial and collaborative culture where individuals are invited and expected to contribute in the identification and achievement of department goals and activities. With a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusivity, curriculum and policies are frequently reviewed and updated to reflect a strong social justice lens. Faculty are supported to develop skills in working across all teaching modalities from clinical and laboratory settings, to lecture and student engagement in both face-to-face and online settings. Opportunities for leadership and growth among faculty are available in a variety of areas, and mentoring is actively offered and encouraged.

Duties of the Position(s)

The individual chosen for the position will teach in the Family Nurse Practitioner Master’s of Science program or the undergraduate BSN program. The clinical emphasis for the undergraduate program is Medical/Surgical and Geriatric content.

The typical teaching load is twelve (12) units total per semester. Newly hired Assistant or Associate Professors have a reduced unit load reflecting nine (9) units of teaching per semester during the first two (2) years. All program courses and descriptions may be found on the nursing website and in the  SSU course catalog. 

Experience is desired in various educational modalities, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats.  The successful applicant will teach and direct didactic (face-to-face, hybrid, and/or on-line) and clinical courses in their specialty area(s). The successful candidate(s) will have aptitude with using learning management systems as an adjunct teaching tool and competence with the evaluation of students and curriculum development in undergraduate and graduate education. This is a campus-based program and while some of the instruction is delivered remotely to students, faculty will have an office on campus and engage in campus-based events and activities.

The successful candidate will provide evidence of scholarship that reflects a particular research focus and area of interest. Faculty is expected to maintain appropriate scholarship and clinical competency commensurate with their academic responsibilities and all licenses and certifications required to maintain professional qualifications. Sonoma State is committed to the Teacher/Scholar model and places an emphasis on faculty support of undergraduate and graduate research.

In addition to teaching and scholarship, faculty are expected to engage in academic advising, to assist the department with program assessment, administrative and/or committee work, to serve on campus-wide committees and work closely and collaboratively as a member of the Sonoma State Department of Nursing team. Faculty are expected to remain current in their specialty and teaching assignment in order to meet accreditation and BRN regulations as well as offering evidence based information across the curriculum through professional development and/or practice as required. 

The successful candidate will be committed to the academic success of all our students and to an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates diversity and differences. To this end, the successful candidate will work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings. In addition, the successful candidate will be ready to join faculty, staff, students, and administrators in our University’s shared commitment to the principles of ethical exploration, civic engagement, social responsibility, and global awareness.

Professional Qualifications

Seeking a candidate to teach in the graduate FNP curriculum or the undergraduate pre-licensure BSN program. The candidate must meet the qualifications of the program. To be recommended for appointment, the candidate must have:

Required for candidate:

Current unencumbered Registered Nursing License  in California

MSN in nursing or equivalent health-related field

Doctorate in Nursing or related field (completion by time of appointment in August 2024)

Clinical recency that fulfills California Board of Nursing requirements as outlined in section 1425 of the California Code of Regulations.

Candidates who apply to teach in the graduate program must have an FNP license and national certification as an FNP, and demonstrate clinical recency according to the California Board of Nursing requirements.

Candidates who apply to teach in the undergraduate nursing program must meet clinical recency requirements for medical/surgical nursing. Geriatric competency is a secondary preference but not required.

To be recommended for advanced rank the successful candidate must provide evidence that they meet criteria based on the Department Standards, including a substantial record of teaching in higher education, scholarship, and service commensurate with the faculty role described within the university and the Department Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion criteria listed (http://academicaffairs.sonoma.edu/faculty-affairs/tenured-faculty/re-appointment-tenure-promotion).

To be recommended for tenure, a candidate must demonstrate satisfactory performance in these areas:  teaching effectiveness; scholarship, research, creative achievement; service to the University; and service to the community.  Although tenure may be granted at any time, contract provisions specify "the normal period of probation shall be a total of six (6) years of full-time probationary service and credited service, if any.  Any deviation from the normal six (6) year probationary period shall be the decision of the President following his/her consideration of recommendations from the department or equivalent unit and appropriate administrator(s).” Tenure is required for promotion above the level of Associate Professor.

Rank and Salary

Service credit depends upon academic preparation and professional experience. The salary range for an Assistant Professor is $88,644 - $94,140. For an Associate Professor the salary range $94,140 - $102,132.

• Cover Letter* which includes:
  • Description of how you meet job requirements
  • Description of research interest 
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion commitment
  • Teaching philosophy
• Curriculum Vitae*
• Student Evaluations (if available)
• References* (The committee is requesting a total of five (5) professional references.)
  •  Two (2) references listed on the CV will be contacted directly by the search committee.
  • Three (3) references listed on the application will be asked to upload confidential letters of recommendation.

Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent upon presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee’s identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU.

Application Deadline

Applications received by December 4, 2023 will be given full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

Questions concerning this position may be directed to:   

Search Committee Chair: Dr. Krista Altaker

Email:  Krista.Altaker@sonoma.edu

Questions concerning the application process may be directed to:

Academic Personnel Department

facultysearch@sonoma.edu

The ADA Coordinator is also available (hrleaves@sonoma.edu) to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

Other Information

The university is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

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.

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