Assist / Assoc / Full Professor of the Practice - Criminal Justice

Overview

Assist / Assoc / Full Professor of the Practice - Criminal Justice at the University of Kansas (KU). The Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice is a program in the School of Professional Studies, located on the KU Edwards Campus (KUEC) in Overland Park, KS, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. KUEC has served the KC professional community for 30 years, offering more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs with evening, online, and in-person classes. The KU School of Professional Studies (SPS) was created in 2019 to transform students' lives through innovative, student-focused programs that meet workforce needs in KS and beyond. SPS supports working professionals and non-traditional students with flexible formats and services and is positioned for growth in the next 5 years. KUEC and SPS emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation in teaching, and a culture that supports faculty career development and student success. Employees typically enjoy a hybrid work environment with flexibility for work-life balance. KU launched baccalaureate programs in Criminal Justice in 2023 to meet employment demands in law enforcement, corrections, policy, courts administration, and related fields in the KC metropolitan area, the greater KS and MO region, and nationally. The BA and BS in Criminal Justice are delivered online, as degree completion programs, and as a traditional 4-year program. One degree path serves traditional first-year students on the Lawrence campus; another path serves students with an associate's degree seeking to complete the last two years, which can be completed fully online or in a hybrid format based on location and preference. The position is a 12-month, non-tenured role with Teaching and Service responsibilities. The Asst / Assoc / Professor of the Practice is a 3-year limited term appointment that may be renewed pending evaluation. The Professor of the Practice collaborates with the Program Director to provide courses and student support in Criminal Justice (CRIM) and future SPS program extensions.

Responsibilities

• Teaching – 80% : Teach eight courses per calendar year in Criminal Justice in-person at the Lawrence Campus and online during the summer. Responsibilities include curriculum development, instructional design, classroom management, grading, teaching improvement based on feedback, and mentoring / advising students. Maintain curriculum relevance and engage with external organizations; transition courses to online, hybrid, and varied-length formats as needed.
• Service – 20% : Develop mechanisms for ongoing feedback from advisory boards and professional meetings to keep curricula aligned with workforce needs; work with the Program Director to define program goals for marketing and recruitment; collaborate with faculty and staff at KU Edwards and KU Lawrence for promotional activities and recruiting; coordinate with the KU Center for Online and Distance Learning to transition / maintain online offerings; monitor and refresh content in both in-person and online courses.

Required Qualifications

Assistant Professor of the Practice : 3-5 years

Associate Professor of the Practice : 6-15 years

Professor of the Practice : 16+ years

Application Instructions

Only complete online application packages will be considered. A complete online application includes : Resume, Cover Letter, and names and contact information for three professional references. Application review begins October 20, 2025 and continues until a qualified pool is identified; start date is as early as January 2026, but as late as June 2026.

Contact information : Susan Whitford — susan.whitford@ku.edu

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