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Working Title:

Asst/Assoc Prof of Indigenous Studies

Institution:

Bemidji State University

Classification Title:

State University Faculty

Bargaining Unit / Union:

209: Inter Faculty Organization

City:

Bemidji

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Unclassified - Unlimited Academic

Salary Range:

Job Description

**Bemidji State University (BSU)** invites qualified applicants to join our team as an **Assistant or an Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies.** The Indigenous Studies (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/indigenous-studies/) program and all of its course offerings are open to all students. No matter what one’s background is, there is something for every academic interest. Through the implementation of institutional, employee, and student Nisidotaading initiatives (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/president/strategic-direction/strategic-plan-2023-2025/nisidotaading-mutual-understanding/) , employees and students will gain knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture, contexts, and ways of knowing. All BSU students are required to take a course that meets the goals of Nisidotaading (Where Mutual Understanding Happens).

The Indigenous Studies major (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/catalog/current/areas/inst) and minor (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/catalog/current/programs/inst) is designed to provide students with critical thinking skills to better navigate the complex world around us. The foundations for the program are in Indigenous ways of knowing and thinking as a way of examining areas of study relating to culture, history, sovereignty, tribal government, education, philosophy and the environment, to name but a few. Being located in Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) lands and waters, the course of study is centered from an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) perspective, with radiating circles potentially including the Indigenous peoples across North America and the world. We are a diverse faculty and we are fully committed to equity and inclusiveness in our programs and classrooms.

Responsibilities of the Assistant or Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies include:

+ Teaching a variety of courses, including survey and specialized courses, in Indigenous Studies, tribal governance, cultures, literatures, and history.

+ Designing and delivering courses for on-campus and online delivery.

+ Working with Indigenous Studies faculty and serve on the Indigenous Advisory Council to the President.

+ Contributing to scholarship within the discipline, serving the University and community, and other associated faculty duties.

+ Advising and supporting students’ academic progress.

+ Contributing to a collegial and supportive environment that advances the goals of the department, including curriculum development, assessment, and other departmental governance activities.

+ Contributing to interdisciplinary teaching and involvement in activities that support BSU’s Shared Fundamental Values (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/about/mission-vision/) .

+ Assisting with programmatic accreditation.

Salary Range:

Depends on Qualifications ($64,066 - $186,015)

Minimum Qualifications

+ Teaching a variety of courses, including survey and specialized courses, in Indigenous Studies, tribal governance, cultures, literatures, and history.

+ Designing and delivering courses for on-campus and online delivery.

+ Working with Indigenous Studies faculty and serve on the Indigenous Advisory Council to the President.

+ Contributing to scholarship within the discipline, serving the University and community, and other associated faculty duties.

+ Advising and supporting students’ academic progress.

+ Contributing to a collegial and supportive environment that advances the goals of the department, including curriculum development, assessment, and other departmental governance activities.

+ Contributing to interdisciplinary teaching and involvement in activities that support BSU’s Shared Fundamental Values.

+ Assisting with programmatic accreditation.

Preferred Qualification

+ Skills/ability to design and deliver online courses.

+ Experience with teaching in higher education (college, university).

+ Education, certification, or training in Indigenous Studies, with attention to methods and critique relevant to chosen field.

+ Knowledge of and experience with diverse cultures and populations.

+ Knowledge and/or experience of assessment.

+ A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

T** **o facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of these minimum and preferred qualifications.

Other Requirements

+ All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time.

+ Official transcript(s) must be provided to Human Resources upon hire.

+ Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) which can be found at https://www.ifo.org/ .

+ In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState's vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.

+ BSU and NTC are tobacco free workplaces (see policy) (http://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/human\_resources/Tobacco%20policy%20for%20HR1.pdf) .

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)

Full-time, Probationary / Tenure Track

Telework (Yes/No)

On-campus and online delivery.

A complete application will include the following attachments:

+ Cover letter, which addresses the required qualifications and your specific interest in working at BSU.

+ Resume/Curriculum Vitae

+ Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework

+ Statement of teaching philosophy

+ Evidence of teaching effectiveness (student evaluations, peer class observations, etc.)

+ Contact information for three (3) professional references.

Inquiries about this position:

Shaawano Uran, Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies

Email: [email protected]

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application, contact Mary Miller at [email protected] .

About

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.

_On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary._

Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.

As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.

BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.

For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.

The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.

Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.

At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.

The City of Bemidji

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district.

The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.

Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year.

Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.

Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter.

Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.

For further information** About BSU (https://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/president/search/presidential-search-profile/about-bsu/) **visit our website at:** **http://www.bemidjistate.edu

**Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at** Bemidji 2.0 (http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2017/february/bemidji-2-0)

Other Resources:

+ Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/

+ 218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/

+ Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/

+ Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji

Statement of** **Notice:

Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.

Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1 , all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.

Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Phone: (218) 755-2502

1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601

_Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service._

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

08-18-2026

Position End Date:

Open Date:

11-03-2025

Close Date:

Posting Contact Name:

Teresa Kay Vincent Hanson

Posting Contact Email:

[email protected]