Career Center

The Graduate School of Education at California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran) invites applicants for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor or a full-time, non-tenure-track Lecturer of Counselor Education, depending upon qualifications, beginning in Fall of 2024.

The Department of Counselor Education prepares ethical, empathic, and socially responsible counselors and leaders to be advocates for access, equity, and inclusion in educational institutions through a critically reflective curriculum rooted in social change and community engagement. Over 74% of students within the Department of Counselor Education identify as racially minoritized students, and 59% are the first in their families to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. The department offers master’s degrees in both Counseling and College Student Personnel (higher education and student affairs counseling) and Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services (K-12 school counseling). In particular, this newly hired person will be responsible for developing and implementing a new online master’s program in Counseling and College Student Personnel, in collaboration with the department faculty, to begin in Spring 2026. The incumbent will be required to teach at our Thousand Oaks campus in their first year and a half and eventually move to teaching primarily in the online program once it launches in Spring 2026.

The mission of California Lutheran University is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgement, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, the university has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution and McNair Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a demonstrated commitment to and success working in diverse, multicultural, and multi-racial communities, particularly in mentoring African American, Latinx, and Native American students.

Basic Function

Under the direction of the Dean and Department Chair, the Assistant Professor or Lecturer is responsible for providing academic instruction to students for their assigned graduate courses. The Assistant Professor or Lecturer is to serve as an academic advisor to students; contribute to the department and university activities; serve on faculty or university committees; engage in scholarly activities and/or creative endeavors (if hired as a tenure-track Assistant Professor).

Responsibilities for full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor

• Carry a 24-unit course load per academic year, primarily teaching courses in the Counseling and College Student Personnel (higher education and student affairs counseling) program. Requirements for meeting load expectations may include both a blend of instruction and administrative work related to the online master’s degree program implementation. E
• Within that context, the expectation is to create creative assignments and activities in one-on-one and classroom instructional settings to foster hands-on, active learning in students that will develop their expertise in the subject matter. E
• Maintain an active research program leading to grants, presentations, and/or publications, with a preference for involving graduate research assistants and collaborators. E
• Observe and evaluate student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects, discussions, and examinations; provide feedback promptly to student inquiries in class, online, or during established consultation office hours. E
• Maintain current, accurate records of course enrollment, attendance, student academic progress, course curriculum; prepare and submit grades, data, and reports related to the course and student progress promptly. E
• Provide a course syllabus to students in each class within the first week of class, as outlined in the faculty handbook. E
• Adhere to the responsibilities related to teaching, advising, service, and scholarly, professional, and creative activities, as outlined in the faculty handbook. E
• Demonstrate active leadership in the department in the construction and implementation of the online master’s program and administrative work connected to the online program’s curricula and fieldwork requirements. E
• Exhibit a commitment to cultural proficiency and an understanding of the diverse academic, social, economic, cultural, and ethnic background of university students. E
• Attend and participate on committees and in the department, division, campus, and University meetings. E
• Evening and weekend hours may be required. E
• Perform related duties as assigned. E

E=Essential Duties

Responsibilities for full-time, non-tenure-track Lecturer

• Carry a 30-to-32-unit course load per academic year, primarily teaching courses in the Counseling and College Student Personnel (higher education and student affairs counseling) program. Requirements for meeting load expectations may include both a blend of instruction and administrative work related to the online master’s degree program implementation. E
• Within that context, the expectation is to create creative assignments and activities in one-on-one and classroom instructional settings to foster hands-on, active learning in students that will develop their expertise in the subject matter. E
• Observe and evaluate student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects, discussions, and examinations; provide feedback promptly to student inquiries in class, online, or during established consultation office hours. E
• Maintain current, accurate records of course enrollment, attendance, student academic progress, course curriculum; prepare and submit grades, data, and reports related to the course and student progress promptly. E
• Provide a course syllabus to students in each class within the first week of class, as outlined in the faculty handbook. E
• Adhere to the responsibilities related to teaching, advising, service, and scholarly, professional, and creative activities, as outlined in the faculty handbook. E
• Demonstrate active leadership in the department in the construction and implementation of the online master’s program and administrative work connected to the online program’s curricula and fieldwork requirements. E
• Exhibit a commitment to cultural proficiency and an understanding of the diverse academic, social, economic, cultural, and ethnic background of university students. E
• Attend and participate on committees and in the department, division, campus, and University meetings. E
• Evening and weekend hours may be required. E
• Perform related duties as assigned. E

E=Essential Duties

Knowledge Of

• Experience teaching and/or expertise in at least two of the following areas: career development theories, college student development theories, counseling theories and approaches, group/individual counseling, social justice education, and higher education retention theory.
• Principles and best practices of effective teaching, both in-person and online andragogy
• Student learning outcomes and methods of assessment
• University curricula
• Community and campus resources, services, programs, and professional available to students
• Methods of gathering, analyzing, and preparing data
• Modern computing technology
• Record-keeping techniques about student enrollment, attendance, and progress

Ability To

• Demonstrate a thorough and accurate knowledge in the subject field
• Deliver course curricula in various learning styles, particularly in online courses
• Mentor a diverse population of adult learner students.
• Exhibit a commitment to cultural proficiency and an understanding of the diverse academic, social, economic, cultural, and ethnic background of university students.
• Exhibit sensitivity to and understanding of the needs of students with disabilities.
• Integrate current and emerging instructional delivery technologies into the learning process to enhance teaching and the educational experience.
• Maintain professional standards that protect student confidentiality.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Work constructively with their colleagues and to treat faculty, staff, administrators, and students with respect and professionalism.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt practical courses of action.
• Demonstrate commitment to professional excellence and continuous growth within subject field or discipline.

Minimum Qualifications for full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor

• Possession of an appropriate earned doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in higher education and student affairs, higher education counseling, or a related field. ABD will be accepted, but will come in at the rank of Instructor.
• Evidence of professional experience working as a practitioner in higher education and student affairs.
• Experience teaching at the graduate level, preferably in the area of higher education and student affairs and/or counseling.
• Demonstrated experience teaching and mentoring students in a graduate program, either as a graduate teaching assistant, adjunct instructor, and/or a junior faculty member.
• Evidence of research and scholarship in higher education and student affairs.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and equity. Please see CLU’s diversity statement: https://www.callutheran.edu/about/diversity.html

Minimum Qualifications for full-time, non-tenure-track Lecturer

• Possession of a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs, higher education counselor, and/or a closely related degree with at least five years of experience as student affairs/higher education administrator/counselor.
• Experience teaching at the graduate level, preferably in the area of higher education and student affairs and/or counseling.
• Demonstrated experience teaching and mentoring students in a graduate program, either as a graduate teaching assistant, adjunct instructor, and/or a junior faculty member.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and equity. Please see CLU’s diversity statement: https://www.callutheran.edu/about/diversity.html

Preferred Qualifications

• 6 or more years as a professional working in higher education and student affairs; familiarity with diverse higher education institutional types is preferred (e.g., community colleges, four-year public, four-year private institutions).
• Experience teaching and mentoring adult learner students in online curricula and programs.
• Knowledge of and experience with local, state and national educational issues and trends across the P-22 pipeline.
• Expertise in qualitative and/or quantitative research methodology and interest in teaching research and assessment courses.
• Engagement in professional associations, such as the Association for the Study of Higher Education, ACPA – College Student Educators International, and/or NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
• Willingness to take on leadership roles and service opportunities within the department and University over time, including but not limited to fieldwork coordination and/or department chair.

Review of applications will begin October 2, 2023 and the position will remain open until filled. Please apply on-line at https://careers.callutheran.edu/postings/ Make sure to include the following with your application:

1. A cover letter, including a statement about how the candidate’s experiences will further the HSI designation of the university and the unique needs of racial and ethnic minoritized students
2. A complete resume/curriculum vitae
3. A brief statement of teaching philosophy and how the candidate’s teaching adapts to the needs of racial and ethnic minoritized students and first-generation graduate students, particularly in an online master’s program
4. A one-page statement of research, creative, and/or scholarly activities (for those being considered for the tenure-track assistant professor position only)
5. List of references (optional)