Open date: August 1, 2024
Deadline to apply: While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are asked to submit their complete application package by October 11, 2024 (extended).
The Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education within UBC’s Faculty of Education, one of the world’s leading faculties of its kind, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured) in Special Education, with a specialty in the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students.
Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xwməθkwəy’əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS) in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia invites applications for an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured) position in Special Education with a specialty in the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2025, or as mutually agreed upon between the University and the successful candidate.
The Special Education program at UBC concerns the education of students with exceptionalities, such as students with visual impairments, developmental disabilities, emotional or behavioural disorders, learning disabilities, gifts and talents, and those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. It is one of only two graduate programs in Canada in Special Education with a concentration in the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Students can choose a Master’s of Education (MEd; capstone project-based) or Master’s of Arts (MA; thesis-based) program depending on their level of interest in conducting research, or complete a PhD program. The Master’s program is appropriate for students with a special interest in meeting the language, educational, psychosocial, and communication needs of learners who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. Completion of the program meets eligibility requirements for the Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CAEDHH) Certification to become a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Canada. This program is comprehensive and designed to allow students to specialize and work in early intervention and/or K-12 settings across itinerant, small group, and/or specialized school settings with learners who utilize a variety of languages (e.g., American Sign Language, English, Langue des signes du Québec [LSQ]). The program consists of a cohort model with students from across Canada and all courses are offered virtually/online. For more information on the Special Education program, please visit this link.
The successful candidate for this position must possess a doctoral degree in Special Education, or a similar field, with an emphasis on the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, or a closely-related area. We are looking for a scholar who is committed to contributing to new and emerging interdisciplinary research clusters focused on d/Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families across Canada. In addition, the successful candidate must be able to foster the Faculty of Education programs that will train specialized professionals to support learners who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing and their families. Candidates must demonstrate a promising (Assistant Professor) or established (Associate Professor) record of scholarly accomplishments and teaching in areas relevant to the education of students who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing. A demonstrated commitment to excellence in research, teaching, service to the field, and practicum supervision is important.
Preference will be given to applicants who have: (1) lived experience in the field; (2) evidence of successful teaching in early childhood, school age (K-12), and/or post-secondary settings with students with exceptionalities, particularly those who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing; (3) expertise in online course design and delivery; (4) knowledge and proficiency in sign language(s); (5) research focused on learners who are Deaf and hard of hearing; and/or (6) demonstrated enthusiasm about collaborating across the Department, the Faculty of Education, the University, and the Community. Additionally, preference will be given to applicants who are graduates of Council on Education of the Deaf accredited programs.
The successful candidate will be expected to: (1) engage in sustained and productive scholarly activities, including securing external research funding; (2) teach undergraduate and graduate courses within the Department; (3) co-coordinate the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing graduate concentration in the Special Education program; (4) engage in knowledge dissemination of research through publications and conference participation; (5) provide research supervision to master’s and doctoral students within your program, the Department, and the Faculty; and (7) contribute to scholarly and educational communities and service work of the Department, the Faculty of Education, and the University. The annual workload for this position is 12 credits (equivalent to four courses).
This is a tenure stream position in the Professoriate stream. For appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, the successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment and promotion in subsequent years in accordance with the Collective Agreement. An appointment at the rank of Associate Professor (with tenure) is subject to a positive review of the successful candidate’s record of achievements based on UBC’s appointment and tenure criteria as specified in the Collective Agreement, following the University’s established appointment processes. For more information on the review process and criteria for appointment and promotion in this stream, please visit this link. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. The expected pay range for this position is $130,000 – $150,000 for an Assistant Professor, or $150,000 – $190,000 for an Associate Professor. Starting salary is determined both by the candidate’s qualifications and experience and by their placement on the career progress scale within the Faculty of Education.
The Department of ECPS is the largest of the six academic units in the UBC Faculty of Education and has 40+ tenure stream faculty members across five program areas, including Counselling Psychology; Human Development, Learning, and Culture; School and Applied Child Psychology; Special Education; and Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology. Over 400 graduate students, including 140 PhD students, are currently enrolled in the Department. The Department has strong ties to schools, community, and governmental agencies, and other units across campus and in the community, and runs the Faculty of Education’s Psychological Services and Counselling Training Centre.
UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading Faculties of its kind in the world, tied 1st in Canadian rankings and ranked 10th globally. Our work advances educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that affirms diversity, equity, and innovation, and takes part in international collaboration in an interdependent globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For more information on the Faculty of Education, please visit this website.
ECPS, the Faculty of Education, and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to and expertise in decolonizing, reconciliation, anti-racist, and social justice approaches to teaching and learning, and have a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and teaching effectively in a welcoming environment. For more information about Faculty of Education’s commitments and initiatives related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, please visit this link.
Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package that includes:
(i) a cover letter indicating the position being sought (Assistant Professor or Associate Professor) and outlining potential contributions to the Department (please also indicate if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident);
(ii) a curriculum vitae;
(iii) a statement of teaching philosophy and positionality within the field;
(iv) evidence of teaching effectiveness and excellence (including course outlines and student evaluations, if available);
(v) two or three sample publications that are most relevant to this position;
(vi) an equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) statement that describes and documents your contributions to EDID through your teaching, research, service, and community engagement, addressing the following three areas: (1) understanding of and knowledge about EDID, (2) track record in advancing EDID, and (3) future plans for EDID; and
(vii) names and contact details of three references. Letters of reference will only be requested from candidates who are advancing to the next stage in the search process.
Complete applications must be provided in the format of one bookmarked PDF file, addressed to Dr. Jennifer Shapka, Department Head, and sent electronically to Ms. Kay Mun (Head’s Assistant) at kay.mun@ubc.ca. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the Equity Survey is required as part of the application process. Accommodations are available on request for all applicants with disabilities at all stages of the search process. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact educ.hr@ubc.ca.
While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are encouraged to submit their complete application package by October 11, 2024 (extended). Questions regarding this search and the application deadline should be directed to the Department Head, Dr. Jennifer Shapka, at jennifer.shapka@ubc.ca.
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Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the British Columbia Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. All applicants will be required to complete a confidential equity survey.
