YourPace Part-Time Faculty: Media and Cultural Studies

The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) invites applications for a part-time, remote Adjunct Faculty position in the Media and Cultural Studies concentration within the English and Media Studies Bachelor of Arts program, offered through the YourPace competency-based education (CBE) model. This fully online, asynchronous, 8-week program focuses on guiding students as they critically analyze media forms, cultural practices, and social environments through flexible, outcomes-driven coursework. Courses may include Media, Culture, and Society; Media and the Environment; The Poetics and Politics of Space; and Documentary Film History and Theory. Faculty will support students in developing critical media analysis, visual and textual interpretation, and cultural literacy within a self-paced, student-centered learning model.

Adjunct faculty may serve as Instructors of Record and/or contribute to course development. Teaching assignments occur six times per year with multiple start dates, and faculty report to the Chair of Arts & Humanities and the Director of CBE Education.

UMPI is a public institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). YourPace is a flexible, subscription-based CBE program designed for adult learners. All courses are fully online and asynchronous. Adjunct faculty are compensated according to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements/MOUs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver engaging, student-centered instruction in a fully online, asynchronous environment
• Facilitate student mastery of competencies in critical media analysis, cultural interpretation, and research-based inquiry
• Provide timely, substantive feedback on assessments and projects (within 72 hours)
• Guide students in analyzing media, culture, and social contexts, including issues of power, identity, representation, and environment
• Support student progress in the CBE framework and maintain regular communication via email, Zoom, or phone
• Utilize learning management systems and instructional technology effectively
• Participate in required training related to CBE pedagogy

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Communication, English, Writing Studies, Humanities, Environmental Studies, Cultural Geography, Film or Visual Studies, or a closely related field; OR a master’s degree in another discipline with at least 18 graduate credits in a relevant area
• Demonstrated ability to teach media and cultural studies topics at the college level or equivalent professional experience
• Familiarity with critical approaches to media and culture, including analysis of power, identity, representation, and social and environmental contexts
• Experience using learning management systems and instructional technology
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse student population
• Commitment to competency-based education, including supporting self-paced learning and mastery of clearly defined outcomes

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in English, Media Studies, Cultural Studies, or a related field
• College-level teaching experience in media studies, cultural studies, English, writing studies, humanities, or related fields, particularly in interdisciplinary or general education contexts
• Experience teaching in CBE, online, hybrid, or nontraditional formats serving adult or returning learners
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (student evaluations, peer observations, teaching portfolio)
• A record of scholarly, creative, or professional work related to media, film, cultural analysis, environmental media, or spatial/urban cultural studies
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive and equity-minded pedagogy supporting students from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences
• Experience teaching courses across a broad range of Media and Cultural Studies and/or Environmental Studies topics

Technology Requirements: YourPace Adjunct Faculty are required to have the appropriate technology to teach in a fully online environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Computer (laptop) with appropriate amounts of processing speed
• High-speed internet connection
• Webcam
• Microph