Calvin University invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track social work faculty members to join the Sociology & Social Work Department beginning in August 2024. These openings are at the rank of assistant or associate professor.

REQUIREMENTS

The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study.

Candidates who hold a PhD in social work or a related field are preferred. Candidates with a master’s degree in social work and five years of relevant experience will also be considered. The department seeks faculty colleagues who are able to contribute to areas of departmental need, especially teaching courses on social research, social statistics, macro social work, and global social work; teaching courses in the Calvin Prison Initiative; and administrative leadership for the Social Work program.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level as well as an active stream of relevant research and publication. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.

The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES

Faculty members typically teach 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church (See Educating for Shalom and Faculty Expectations.) Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments.

FACULTY RESOURCES

Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.

ABOUT THE SOCIOLOGY & SOCIAL WORK DEPARTEMENT

The Sociology & Social Work Department offers bachelor of arts (BA) degrees in sociology and criminology and a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree. We are a team of seven full-time faculty and one staff member committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and mentoring students. Please consult the department website for additional information.

ABOUT CALVIN UNIVERSITY

Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,000 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit. For more information, please visit http://www.calvin.edu/go/facultyopenings.

Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment. Calvin does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age.  Calvin University is an educational agency of the Christian Reformed Church and, in compliance with Title VII and other applicable law, reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religion.

TO APPLY

Complete the online application process and attach the following:

• Letter of application that addresses the requirements and responsibilities of the position, including your interest in teaching and scholarship at a Reformed Christian University
• Full curriculum vitae
• Three letters of reference

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Questions can be directed to Stacia Hoeksema, director of the social work program, stacia.hoeksema@calvin.edu.

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.  

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.

About Calvin University

Calvin University equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. The bachelor of social work degree at Calvin University is designed for students who want to prepare for a career of Christian service as a professional generalist social worker. The program is carried out in the context of the mission of Calvin, which is to offer a Christian education enriched by the insights of the Reformed heritage. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for entry-level professional social work positions. The BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

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