Job Title
Adjunct Instructor, Director of Debate
Department
Communication Studies
Terms and Hours
Part Time Adjunct Faculty, Semester by Semester Basis
Salary Range
Per semester: $1,400 per credit hour (or equivalent); $4,200 per 3-credit lecture class. $2,100 for serving as Director of Debate.
Benefits
Part Time, non benefits eligible.
Job Summary
The University of Portland Department of Communication and Media invites applications for Adjunct Instructors to teach Speech and Debate courses and serve as the Director of Debate for the Speech and Debate Team, to be relaunched in the 2026-2027 academic year. Examples of expected Speech and Debate courses include COM 227 Debate and COM 416 Political Rhetoric in the Digital Age.
Adjunct Instructors are hired on a per semester basis and teach assigned Communication, Media or Debate courses, not to exceed six credit hours (or equivalent) per semester. Additionally, this adjunct position will serve as Director of Debate and will be instrumental in relaunching the Speech and Debate Team, with duties to include: actively recruiting University of Portland students and prospective students to participate in the Speech and Debate Team; providing individual and group coaching sessions on campus; planning and executing the debate tournament schedule for the academic year; and traveling, coaching, and chaperoning the Speech and Debate Team to at least two and up to six regional and/or national tournaments per academic year. Most tournaments are two-three days long. The Director of Debate will be responsible for arranging transportation, traveling with the team, planning meal times, and coordinating student schedules to ensure on-time participation in all rounds. At tournaments, the Director will usually be expected to judge a number of 60-90-minute speech rounds each day. Tournament days usually last 12 to 16 hours. The number of annual tournaments will be dependent on the number of UP student participants and the budget for team activities.
Please visit the Department of Communication and Media website for information about the department.
Core Duties
- Teach assigned Debate, Communication and/or Media courses using evidence-based instruction practices.
- Plan and execute the debate tournament schedule for the academic year.
- Provide individual and group debate coaching sessions.
- Travel, coach, and chaperone the Speech and Debate Team at regional and national tournaments.
- Recruit UP students and prospective students for participation in the Speech and Debate Team.
- Provide a supportive learning environment and facilitate effective student learning.
- Adhere to course curricula, methods, practices, and lesson plans as developed by the Department of Communication and Media.
- Adhere to University and College of Arts and Sciences policies and processes related to class instruction and team activities, including but not limited to syllabus requirements.
- Conduct regular student assessments and provide timely graded feedback including homework, quizzes, and exams.
- Access the online learning system and other network resources to assign homework, communicate with students, complete grading and other assessment tasks.
- Conduct student meetings by holding regular office hours outside of regularly scheduled class time.
Education & Experience
- Required: Master’s degree in debate, communications, or related-field
- Required: Teaching or instructional experience
- Preferred: Experience teaching at the college or university level
- Preferred: Experience teaching and coaching debate, argumentation, and/or public speaking at the college or university level
Certifications & Licenses
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Demonstrated effectiveness in inclusive and student-centered teaching.
- Strong orientation towards continued learning and applying learning in the teaching environment.
- Evidence of a commitment to teaching and student mentoring.
- Competence with and commitment to inclusive excellence; ability to be an effective partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff.
- Commitment to collegial collaboration (e.g., teaching, research, or service) both within the department and across the University.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and effectively handle sensitive and personal information with sound judgment, tact, and discretion.
- Effective ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level of sophistication required for teaching duties including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, and learning and course management systems (Moodle/Canvas and Banner).
Physical Requirements
- Frequently: sit, perform desk-based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork.
- Frequently: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and push/pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
- Frequently: ability to interact and communicate with members of the University and others as necessary.
- Requires the ability to travel domestically by car and air.
- Requires the ability to attend events on- and off-campus.
Working Condition
- Hours of employment: sometimes may require working flexible and/or longer hours, including evenings, nights, and weekends when necessitated by projects, class, or tournament schedules.
- Travel: travel to local and domestic away competitions will be required.
- Stress from work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.
Work Standards
- Respect for the University’s mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross institution. The University’s mission statement states in relevant part: “we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world.” The University’s Statement of Inclusion states in relevant part: “Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class, age, or disability shall be treated with respect and dignity.”
- Promote culture of safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Compliance with laws and policies and procedures: subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University, departmental, and other applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to, the personnel, business, and/or other policies of the University.
- Compliance with driving-related laws and requirements: when conducting university business while driving, must comply with the Oregon Vehicle Code and University of Portland driving requirements.
- Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work professionally with all University of Portland community members, external organizations, and any other person or organization employee interacts with in his or her University capacity.
