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Assistant Professor of Communication (Communication Theory)

Salary

$61,075.00 - $63,651.00 Annually

Location

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University - St. Joseph, MN

Job Type

Exempt, Faculty, Full Time

Job Number

02095

Department

Communication - SJU Coordinate

Opening Date

09/19/2025

+ Description

+ Benefits

Position Summary

The Strategic Communication Studies Department at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor tenure-track faculty position with primary focus on communication theory.

Review of application materials will begin on Oct. 10, 2025. Preliminary interviews will begin in November.

Why Join Us?

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees.

Join a committed team dedicated to safety, community, and service in a supportive and values-driven work environment.

To learn more about our benefits, visit mycsbsju.edu/jobs.

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

+ The Strategic Communication Studies Department at CSB and SJU is a dynamic and interdisciplinary team of nine teacher-scholars with a broad range of specializations.

+ We are dedicated to providing students with a strong liberal arts education and career readiness, which is why the department recently reimagined the major to include two concentrations: public relations, advertising, and marketing, as well as public advocacy and leadership.

+ Our department contributes to inclusive and supportive learning environments through small class sizes, hands-on learning experiences, and student-centered teaching practices. This includes high impact educational practices, such as community-engaged learning, undergraduate research, global education, and internships.

+ Our major is one of the top six at The College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY HIGHLIGHTS

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB), a liberal arts college for women, and Saint John's University (SJU), a liberal arts college for men, are located in the central lakes area of Minnesota, surrounded by more than 3,000 acres of pristine forests, prairies, and lakes. The campuses are minutes away from St. Cloud, an increasingly diverse regional center with a population of over 100,000, and 70 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some CSB/SJU faculty and staff choose to reside locally, while others commute from the Twin Cities. Both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities offer a wide range of fine arts, cultural, dining, recreational, and sporting opportunities.

CSB/SJU are Catholic colleges in the Benedictine tradition enlivened by values of community, hospitality, stewardship, and justice. The schools are dedicated to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons. Students, staff and faculty from many diverse belief systems and backgrounds collectively bring a rich dimension to the academic, cultural, and religious experience at CSB/SJU. We welcome faculty who devote themselves with passion and integrity to their disciplines and to a transformative education of their students. Please view our brochure regarding Higher Education in the Catholic and Benedictine Tradition.

With a total enrollment of approximately 2,900 students, faculty members develop relationships with students in small classroom settings and have opportunities to work closely with students on research projects, experiential learning experiences, and study abroad programs. Recent initiatives to create a dynamic general education curriculum and to develop plans for a new teaching and learning center demonstrate strong institutional support for faculty development.

Institutional Inclusion Visioning Statement (https://www.csbsju.edu/deij)

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) believe that an excellent liberal arts education requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference and that everyone deserves to feel safe and morally valued. To that end, we will challenge our own practices and systems. Our commitment to an inclusive environment will be incorporated into all decision-making processes. We dedicate ourselves to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons.

CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program (click the benefits tab above the position summary section to view more information). For further information regarding our institutions, visitCSBSJU (http://www.csbsju.edu/about) .

The posted wage represents CSB and SJU's good faith estimate of likely compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will be dependent upon several factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skills, and may fall outside of the range indicated.

Responsibilities

Teaching responsibilities for this position include teaching Introduction to Human Communication (an introductory course in communication theory that emphasizes the differences between social scientific, interpretive, and critical theories), Gender Communication or Intercultural Communication, Conflict and Communication, and a general curriculum first-year course that functions as an introduction to students’ general education experience and as a writing-intensive course. The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching 12 credits per semester plus contributing to departmental level and university service, developing scholarship, and student advising. Formal student advising is waived for the first year of employment but will be expected in subsequent years. University level service is not expected until after third year review.

Qualifications

Required:

+ PhD completed by August 2026 in Communication or relevant field (social science emphasis), with demonstrated proficiency in communication theory and interpersonal, organizational, gender, or intercultural communication

+ Willingness to adapt courses to fit department and institution needs

+ Demonstrated ability to teach effectively in person at the undergraduate level

+ Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusive pedagogy

+ Commitment to being an engaged faculty member at a residential undergraduate liberal arts campus

+ Our institution highly values and thrives on working in community. Candidate must maintain a significant on-campus presence (typically at least 3 – 4 days per week) during the academic year, attend department events, and be responsive to students and colleagues during working hours when not on campus.

+ Demonstrated scholarship trajectory

+ Demonstrated commitment or willingness to continue professional & pedagogical development, including willingness to participate in effective pedagogy mentoring

+ Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff

Preferred:

+ Ability to also teach one or more of the following courses: Organizational Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Group Communication, Listening, or Family Communication

To Apply

Applications are accepted online by clicking on "Apply" above.Applicants are asked to provide the following materials:

+ Curriculum vitae.

+ A letter of application which addresses how the applicant's education, teaching interests, and teaching and/or work experience meet the position qualifications.

+ A statement of teaching philosophy, including how you will integrate diversity and support inclusion for all students in the classroom and use innovative/active-learning pedagogies.

+ Unofficial copies of transcripts; official copy required upon hire.

+ Names and contact information of three references.

+ Evidence of teaching effectiveness, for example: student course surveys, examples of learning outcomes, peer or student testimonials, or other materials.

If you require an accommodation to participate in the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (320) 363-5500 or [email protected].

It is the policy of CSB and SJU to conduct a pre-employment background check. An offer of employment is contingent upon a successful background check.

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.

#HEJ

Benefit Program

Faculty

The College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University (CSB/SJU) provides a comprehensive fringe benefit program. This brochure provides a summary of the current benefits offered at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Employees are eligible for coverage in the health insurance plan on the first of the month following date of hire. If you elect medical coverage for yourself, you may also choose to cover your eligible dependents. The employee and CSB/SJU share in the cost of this benefit.

DENTAL INSURANCE

Employees are eligible for coverage in the dental insurance plan on the first of the month following date of hire. If you elect dental coverage for yourself, you may also choose to cover your eligible dependents. The employee and CSB/SJU share in the cost of this benefit.

LIFE INSURANCE

CSB/SJU provides a Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) policy to employees. This insurance is effective on the first of the month following date of hire. The amount of term insurance provided is based on your annual salary.

You may also purchase additional life insurance in increments of one, two, three, or four times your annual salary. There is also a dependent life insurance package available.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY

After one year of benefit eligible employment, CSB/SJU provides disability coverage in the event of an illness or injury that prevents you from working.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT

These plans allow employees to set aside part of their salary on a pre-tax basis to pay for IRS approved expenses.

VISION PLAN

This voluntary plan offers affordable vision coverage for routine eye exams, eyeglass lenses and frames, and contact lenses. Discounts on hearing exams and hearing aids are also included.

TUITION REMISSION

Tuition remission is an educational benefit provided by CSB/SJU. A full-time employee and spouse (if applicable) are eligible for tuition free educational benefits the first full semester after six months of employment. Full-time employees may enroll for one undergraduate course per term, which includes summer: up to a maximum of 2 courses per year.

There is also a tuition remission program for dependent children of full-time employees. This program provides a financial resource to a son or daughter for meeting the tuition costs of undergraduate education. Eligibility begins the fall or spring semester following 5 years (60 months) of continuous full-time employment. There are also two consortia programs in which CSB/SJU participate where employees' children may apply for scholarships to attend other colleges/universities.

Tuition assistance is also available at Saint John's Preparatory School for the dependents of full-time employees.

PARENTAL LEAVE

A one-sixth release with pay due to the birth or adoption of a child in the semester that the new parenting occurs or in the following semester will be granted. New employees are eligible for this benefit immediately. Additional information is available in the Human Resources Office.

SICK LEAVE

Sick leave is earned at the rate of 20 days per academic year and is cumulative from year-to-year to a maximum of 90 days (720 hours). Eligible employees may also use accumulated personal sick leave hours to care for ill family members.

EMPLOYEEASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free counseling resource available to all employees and immediate family members.

RETIREMENT

Defined Contribution Plan

CSB/SJU provides a retirement program for all qualified full-time employees. The program is administered by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA).

Enrollment in the retirement plan will be effective the first day of the month following the date of hire unless the faculty member elects to opt-out.

The faculty/employer contributions are as follows:

Year FacultyContribution CSB/SJU Contribution

1 3% 1%

2 3% 3%

3 3% 5%

4 3% 7%

5 3% 9%

Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity Plan

In addition to the regular plan, a benefit eligible faculty member may voluntarily elect to contribute to this plan.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Saint John's University College of Saint Benedict

Human Resources Office Human Resources Office

Quadrangle 127 Main 223

Collegeville, MN 56321 St. Joseph, MN 56374

Phone (320) 363-5500 Phone (320) 363-5500

Fax (320) 363-6092 Fax (320) 363-6092

*Benefits subject to change annually Revised 11/22/24

Employer

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University, Order of Saint Benedict

Address

37 South College Ave

Saint Joseph, Minnesota, 56374

Phone

(320) 363-5500

Website

http://www.csbsju.edu/