Lecturer (Temporary - 25% time) - Forests and People

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst seeks an instructor for Forests and People for the Spring Semester 2023. The instructor of this course will teach one section of this three-credit course (NRC 225), with in-person instruction and the option to use multi-modal instruction.

Essential Functions

Examples of duties:

• Teach NRC 225 (3 credits) during the Spring 2023 semester.
  • Forests and People is designed as a second-year class in the core curriculum of the Natural Resources Conservation major and is a required class within the Society of American Foresters’ accredited Forest Ecology and Conservation concentration. It is also an elective course for Stockbridge School students. Forests and People serves as a comprehensive introduction to forest history, science, and conservation for any interested UMass or Five College student (i.e., there are no prerequisites). The goal of the course is to demonstrate to students the importance of forests to society, help them understand the close relationship between forest well-being and human well-being, and provide a foundation for upper-level coursework in forest ecology and conservation.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master’s degree in a forestry, ecology, or natural resources related field.
• Prior teaching experience.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience with forest ecology, particularly in the Northeastern United States.
• Prior experience teaching at the college level, particularly large lecture classes.

Additional Details

• This course meets three times per week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 12:20 pm -1:10 pm, beginning in February 6, 2023. The instructor for this course will be provided the most recent course materials used in the course for use and adaptation as they see fit. The expected enrollment for the course is 180 students. The instructor will also have access to office space to hold office hours and, given adequate student demand, will be supported by one 10-hour per week graduate TA and one 10-hour per week undergraduate TA for grading and office hour support. Forest Ecology and Conservation faculty are available for support and to help align the course content with learning goals of the major and concentration.
• This is a temporary, non-benefited position.

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, 10 hours per week, 25% FTE.

Salary Information

Salary commensurate with experience.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume/CV, a brief (400 word) statement of interest and teaching experience, a Statement of Diversity (see below), and contact information for three (3) professional references.

As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community, CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. In addition to the application materials above, candidates will need to submit a Statement of Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Diversity Statement should identify past experiences and future goals. These contributions may result from lived experiences, scholarships, and/or mentoring, teaching, and outreach activities. (https://www.cns.umass.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion)

Apply by October 15, 2022 in order to ensure priority consideration. The search may remain open until a suitable candidate pool has been identified

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.