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University of North Alabama

Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication - Public Relations

University of North Alabama, Florence, AL, United States

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Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Florence, Alabama
Job Type: Faculty
Division: Academic Affairs
Department: Communication
Opening Date: 12/16/2024
FLSA: Exempt

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. The posted salary and/or position title may be adjusted dependent on the successful candidate's education, experience, and unique qualifications as they relate to the position.
Description

The Department of Communication at the University of North Alabama is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our faculty for a tenure-track, assistant professor position in Mass Communication - Public Relations, beginning in August 2025. This is a nine-month appointment, with an opportunity for teaching in the summer based on departmental need. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Essential Job Duties

The standard teaching load is twelve (12) credit hours per semester. Experience in online teaching or a willingness to learn how to develop and teach online courses is required. The successful candidate will be expected to teach courses in Crisis Management, PR Cases, PR Writing, and other courses as needed.
Minimum Qualifications

A PhD in mass communication or a related area from an accredited university is required (ABD candidates may be considered). Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in public relations or communications and a record of teaching excellence. Review of applications will begin on February 17, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.
Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must upload at the time of application a cover letter, resume/CV, and teaching philosophy, and provide contact information for at least three professional/academic references. Transcripts are also required.

Official transcripts for the highest degree attained are required of the successful candidate, but unofficial copies will be accepted for the application process. If any of your graduate hours in the relevant teaching discipline are taken from a degree(s) that is not your highest attained, an official transcript of that degree(s) must also be submitted. Electronic copies, if available, of unofficial transcripts may be attached under the attachment headings of Unofficial Transcript 1, Unofficial Transcript 2, etc. Electronic copies of unofficial/official transcripts may also be requested to be sent to employment@una.edu. If electronic copies of transcripts are unavailable, hard copies must be sent to: Human Resources, One Harrison Plaza, UNA Box 5043, Florence, AL, 35632 or brought to 601 Cramer Way, Room 226. Official transcripts must be sent directly to HR from the issuing school via email or postal mail to be considered official. Transcripts with a designation of "Issued to Student", or with the student name listed as the recipient will not be considered official. Official transcripts will be required of the successful candidate prior to the start date of the appointment, but unofficial copies will be accepted for the application process. If you attended UNA, please click here to fill out an online, electronic transcript request form. Your transcripts will be delivered to HR and we will upload them to your application packet at no charge to you. For questions, please email employment@una.edu or call 256-765-4291 and select option #2. Selecting an option other than #2 will result in a delayed response.

UNA is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving excellence and strength through diversity. UNA seeks a wide range of applicants for this position so that one of our core values, ethnic and cultural diversity, will be affirmed. UNA is a smoke-free campus.
Faculty Benefit Summary
For more details regarding each benefit listed below, please visit the HR website at or click on the links below. The benefits premiums listed below are effective March 1, 2025.
UNA has a fully-insured group health insurance program with , which includes medical, prescription drug, vision, psychiatric, and substance abuse benefits for full-time university employees, and their eligible dependents. The University covers the full individual premium for eligible employees.Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Health/Vision/RX - Monthly Premiums

Tier Employee Cost UNA Cost Total Premium
Employee $0.00 $649.45 $649.45
+Child(ren) $422.13 $649.45 $1,071.58
+Spouse $649.45 $649.45 $1,298.90
+Spouse & Child(ren) $746.22. $649.45 $1,395.67
UNA also provides dental coverage through The University covers the full individual premium for eligible employees.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Dental - Monthly Premiums

Tier Employee Cost UNA Cost Total Premium
Employee $0.00 $27.54 $27.54
Family $36.34 $27.54 $63.88
UNA provides all eligible employees with basic life insurance at no cost to the employee. The basic life coverage level is 1.5 times the covered employee's annual base salary with a maximum benefit of $400,000. Included with your basic life coverage is Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage at 3 times the covered employee's annual salary. The provider for this coverage is As a member of the , eligible employees have life benefits available through the TRS. Also, for eligible active employees, a death benefit of the payment of accrued sick leave is paid to the employee's beneficiary by the University.
This coverage provides benefits after a 90-day period of disability. The monthly benefit is 60% of the covered employee's monthly base salary not to exceed $10,000 per month. The cost for this benefit is paid in full by the University for eligible employees and the provider for this coverage is

Retirement Plans

The is a defined benefit plan in which participation is mandatory for eligible employees. Eligible employees are categorized by the TRS as Tier I or Tier II members.

Rates below are effective as of October 1, 2024
  • Tier I - Employee contribution rate is 7.5% for regular employees and 8.5% for law enforcement employees.
  • Tier II - Employee contribution rate is 6.2% for regular employees and 7.0% for law enforcement employees.
- this retirement plan is a voluntary, supplemental, deferred compensation plan.

- this plan is a voluntary, supplemental, deferred compensation plan offered by the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
The University provide a $6.00 per month credit to eligible employees to offset the cost(s) for supplemental, voluntary benefits. All full-time regular employees are eligible for this benefit on the first day of the month following the completion of 90 days of employment.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - HealthEquity
  • Cancer Insurance - Allstate
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance - Fort Dearborn Life
  • Life Insurance - Symetra
  • Accident Coverage - Symetra
  • Critical Illness Insurance - Symetra
  • Hospital Indemnity Coverage - Symetra
  • Vision Insurance - VSP
  • Air Evac Lifeteam
  • Long-Term Care Insurance - LTCi Plans


UNA provides remission of tuition to eligible employees and to their spouses and qualified dependent children.

Paid Time Off
- Faculty are not eligible for annual leave.
- Full-time regular employees are entitled to 96 work hours (12 workdays) of sick leave each year at the employee's regular rate of pay regardless of length of service.
- Faculty are eligible for paid holidays.

Miscellaneous Benefits

01

Do you have PhD in mass communication or a related field from an accredited institution?
  • No
  • Yes
  • No, but I have ABD status and will hold a PhD by the time of the appointment.

02

Do you have experience in public relations or communications?
  • No
  • Yes

03

This position is not eligible for sponsorship of any kind. Will you now or in the future require sponsorship?
  • No
  • Yes

Required Question