Michigan State University (MSU) and MSU's Lyman Briggs College (LBC) actively promote a dynamic working and learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry. 

LBC invites applications for a teaching-focused faculty position to join the college's Math group starting August of 2023. The successful candidate will teach introductory undergraduate math courses in college algebra, pre-calculus, calculus, and/or statistics, and will have the opportunity to teach interdisciplinary, writing-intensive senior seminar classes. 

Candidates must be committed to undergraduate teaching and must have a master's degree (minimum) or Ph.D. (desired) in mathematics, statistics, mathematics education, or statistics education in hand by August 16, 2023. This position requires expertise in, and enthusiasm for, teaching undergraduate mathematics courses, especially college algebra and precalculus. The successful candidate will be committed to advancing excellence in the teaching of introductory courses in mathematics and will join the college's ongoing efforts to improve undergraduate STEM education, particularly with respect to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B). A scholarly approach to teaching students and mentoring student employees is essential. 

 

This position offers exciting opportunities for individuals interested in teaching in a liberal-arts style residential college with all of the resources of a large 'Big Ten' research university. Founded in 1967, LBC is an interdisciplinary undergraduate residential college within MSU that aims to transform what it means to be a scientist (https://lbc.msu.edu/about/strategic-plan.html). There are approximately 2,000 students in LBC, engaging in curriculum that integrates the natural sciences and mathematics with the human, social, and global dimensions of the sciences. The LBC students are diverse, with 66% identifying as women and 31% identifying as students of an underrepresented racial/ethnic group. Additionally, 32% of LBC students are members of the MSU Honors College and 12% are first generation students. Faculty work closely with students in small classes, and the college is known as a place for interdisciplinary scholarship, teaching and learning, and engagement. The college boasts a dynamic community of students, staff, and faculty who make LBC an exceptional place to learn and work. 

 

The successful candidate will be an Academic Specialist in the Continuing Appointment System. Academic Specialists are long-term, teaching-focused faculty who are outstanding instructors in the classroom, support curriculum improvement, and who support and mentor undergraduates. Academic Specialists also contribute professional service to the college and university, including membership on committees, and have full voting rights in the college. Academic Specialists in the Continuing Appointment System are supported in their professional development and follow a career progression (i.e., reappointment, reappointment with Continuing Status, promotion to Senior Academic Specialist). The successful candidate will start with a three-year probationary appointment that has the potential, after successful reappointment, to become a long-term position in the Academic Specialist Continuing Appointment System (for details see the Academic Specialist Handbook). Reappointment and continuing appointment decisions are based on performance reviews that include peer and student teaching evaluations. 

 

The successful candidate will teach five or six courses each academic year. The math group offers courses in college algebra, pre-calculus, and/or statistics. Many courses are taught with the support of undergraduate learning assistants. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to work on other teaching and learning projects as needs and interests arise. For example they have an opportunity to mentor graduate students on teaching and learning projects or on training grants.

Application materials must be uploaded by the candidate to the Careers @ MSU page. Please prepare and submit de-identified versions of your cover letter, CV, and teaching & DEI&B statements. Directions and rationale for de-identifying candidate materials are provided online at https://lbc.msu.edu/MTHsearch.pdf. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status. 

Minimum Requirements 

• Candidates must have a Masters in mathematics, statistics, mathematics education, statistics education, or a related field.
• At least one full year of teaching experience in undergraduate mathematics courses. 

Desired Qualifications 

To ensure a holistic assessment of candidates, we request that applications include: 

1. a CV, including education background/qualifications, a list of publications, teaching and mentoring roles, leadership positions, contributions to the academic community, and efforts in public outreach. This should be de-identified. 
2.  a de-identified teaching portfolio that includes: a 2-page de-identified teaching statement, and a de-identified exemplar that demonstrates alignment from teaching to learning: a course learning objective, and a brief description of a class activity designed to help students meet the learning objective. 
3. a 1-2 page de-identified DEI&B teaching statement. The applicant should describe how they have previously, and shall in this new position, advance issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through the use of inclusive teaching practices. 
4.  a de-identified cover letter that frames the application in the context of this position in Lyman Briggs College. 

In addition, contact information for three potential references will be asked for in the MSU application system. Letters of support will be solicited from recommenders only for those candidates who are selected for pre-screens and/or interviews. 

The university is requiring all MSU students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with limited exceptions. Learn more at: https://msu.edu/together-we-will/ 

Candidate Selection 

• The initial screening of candidates will use the de-identified cover letter, CV, teaching portfolio, and DEI&B statements.
• After this pre-screening generates a short list of candidates, all remaining candidate materials will be evaluated and letters of support will be solicited from recommenders. 

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. 

 

To strive for an equitable candidate selection process and minimize bias, we will: 1) first evaluate de-identified materials with full names removed or replaced with initials, 2) perform no video interviews, 3) solicit recommenders' letters only for short-listed candidates. 

We actively encourage applications from--and welcome nominations of--applicants within the LGBTQIA+ community, applicants of color, veterans, applicants with disabilities, and applicants from other historically underrepresented groups 

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.