Visiting Professor – QERC Semester

Full Time, January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023 (6 month appointment)

WORK SCHEDULE

Full time, January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023

WORK SITE

Quetzal Education and Research Center, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica

Reports to

Director, Quetzal Education and Research Center

Department

Quetzal Education and Research Center

Effective Date

January 1, 2023

JOB SUMMARY

The Quetzal Education and Research Center at Southern Nazarene University invites applications for a full-time, half-year visiting instructor/assistant professor of Biology/Environmental Studies in the Department of Biology serving in the study abroad program in the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica.  The start date is January 1, 2023.

The Quetzal Education and Research Center offers a spring term study abroad program to undergraduates.  As part of a university rooted in the Wesleyan theological tradition, we invite our students to live relationally, to embody service and social justice, to use empirically sound research methods, and to reflect thoughtfully about self, others, and creation. Additionally, QERC hosts educational and research groups, including Summer Research Experiences in the May-July.

The visiting professor serves as the onsite faculty member coordinating the spring semester program, undergraduate student research, and serves as liaison to other course instructors who teach one- or two-week educational modules in the program. This person will be supported by the QERC Director and other SNU staff stationed in the U.S.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions:

• Teach elements of QERC semester courses in the candidate’s specialized field(s). QERC classes include Tropical Ecology and Sustainability, Tropical Field Research, Tropical Medicine, Biblical Theology and Global Stewardship, and Central American History and Culture.
• Support and mentor students engaged in field experience and field laboratory activities.  
• Support the development of a strong and vibrant living-learning community in the semester program. The person in this role must be passionate about creating a safe, welcoming environment in which students feel supported, encouraged, challenged and valued.  The visiting professor, supported by an on-site intern and staff at Southern Nazarene University, will foster the development of a living-learning environment, providing a space for students to be shaped and molded with the hope that students will then go out and change the world.  As a member of the SNU faculty, the visiting professor must serve as a Christian role model and uphold the SNU mission of Character, Culture, Christ.
• Maintain existing monitoring projects and develop and deploy community-based science projects to enhance the residents of San Gerardo de Dota in understanding the ecology of their home. 
• Provide logistical support for QERCs educational and research activities. This includes assisting the Director with coordinating all QERC activities on site, including travel logistics and contacts for educational activities. The person in this role will assist with student orientation, coordinate with the QERC Director to establish on-site policies and procedures for students and guests, and responsibly lead travel study experiences during the semester experience, e.g. The cross-country Biome Tour. 
• Collaborate on course development and assessment with the biology department chair and other unit faculty and staff.
• Use appropriate technology to enhance instruction and assessment.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of contacts with scientific and educational communities throughout Costa Rica. Provide appropriate services to researchers in the San Gerardo area. Actively cultivate the exchange of research and educational resources.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Southern Nazarene University is an expression of the Church of the Nazarene. According to SNU policy, all faculty and staff must possess a strong personal Christian commitment and be committed to the SNU mission to make Christlike disciples through higher education in a Christ centered community.   
• An understanding of the importance for diversity, inclusion and equity.
• Master’s degree in biology, environmental studies, or a related field.
• Competence in conversational Spanish at the Upper Intermediate level.
  A demonstrated understanding of the importance for diversity, inclusion and equity, particularly as it relates to intercultural relations in an international educational setting.
• Ability to build and maintain positive interpersonal relationships.
• Intrinsic motivation and ability to work independently on teaching-related tasks
• Ability to work collaboratively with other staff both in person and remotely.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ABD or Ph.D. in biology, environmental studies, or a related field with research experience in the neo-tropics.
• Study-abroad experience
• Residence life experience (e.g. dorm RA)

Supervision Received:

Receives supervision and work assignments from Director, Quetzal Education and Research Center, although other staff members in the unit may provide work direction.

Supervision Exercised:

May be responsible for the coordination of work assignments for interns.

Apply Online for this position at http://snu.edu/snu-careers

Salary and benefits

The salary for this position is $30,000 for six month, plus on-site housing, and some meals.

Generous benefit structure including family health insurance plan (shared cost), long term disability, dental insurance, group life insurance, retirement matching, tuition remission, vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays.   

Updated: August 17, 2020

SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Southern Nazarene University values each person created in the image of God, therefore, we also desire to be a community that reflects representation of diversity. We care about inclusion and equity through the refining of our character, the way we create culture and the way we serve Christ. Our University values reconciliation through God’s love.

SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

NON-DISCRIMINATION/EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Non-Discrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Southern Nazarene University policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, veterans status or any other legally protected class in the recruitment and admission of students, in all personnel actions or decisions including, but not necessarily limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, demotion, termination and salary, and in the operation of all university programs, activities, and services. Any concerns regarding discrimination on the basis of categories listed above should be addressed to the appropriate person: 

Students contact:

Dean of Students

Southern Nazarene University

Office of Student Life

6612 NW 42nd St.

Webster Commons, Lower Level, Suite 110A

Bethany, OK 73008

405-491-6336/ Email: kbradley@snu.edu

Employees contact:

Director of Human Resources (or immediate supervisor)

Southern Nazarene University

6729 NW 39th Expressway

Bresee Hall, Room 306

Bethany, OK 73008

405-491-6333/ Email: gcollier@snu.edu

Chief Diversity Officer

Vice-President for Intercultural Learning and Engagement

Southern Nazarene University

6729 NW 39th Expressway

Bresee Hall, Suite 200

Bethany, OK 73008

405-491-6600/ Email: lcrouso@mail.snu.edu

Anyone with questions or concerns regarding sex discrimination or the university’s compliance with Title IX can contact the university’s Title IX Coordinator:

Executive Vice President

Southern Nazarene University

6729 NW Expressway

Bresee Hall, Suite 202

Bethany, OK 73008

405-491-6306/ Email: mredwine@snu.edu

TITLE IX DISCLOSURE

Regardless of other language in this policy notwithstanding, Sexual Harassment (including Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking), as defined in the Sexual Harassment Policy, will be governed exclusively by the Sexual Harassment Policy and processes provided in it.  All other forms of sex-based discrimination are governed by this policy, including sex-based Harassment, as defined in this policy, that does not rise to the level of Sexual Harassment as defined in the Sexual Harassment Policy.

Conduct that is initially raised through a formal complaint under the Sexual Harassment Policy may also be addressed under this policy, in the institution’s discretion, when: (i) the conduct, or some part of it, may amount to a violation of this policy regardless of whether it meets the definition of Sexual Harassment under the Sexual Harassment Policy; (ii) the formal complaint, or some part of it, has been dismissed under the Sexual Harassment Policy; or (iii) a final determination of a formal complaint has been made under the Sexual Harassment Policy and separate or additional action may be necessary to enforce this policy.

Discrimination is material, adverse treatment of an individual based on a protected category.

Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct on the basis of a Protected Category that explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

A person's subjective belief that behavior is intimidating, hostile, or offensive does not make that behavior harassment. The behavior must create a hostile environment from both a subjective and objective perspective and must be so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives a member of the community of the ability to participate in or to receive benefits, services, or opportunities from the university’s education or employment programs and/or activities. In determining whether a hostile environment exists, the university examines the context, nature, scope, frequency, duration, and location of incidents, as well as the relationships of the persons involved.

• Non-sex-based VAWA crimes.

Note that, when addressing domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking that are not sex-based (i.e., that are not covered by the university’s revised Sexual Harassment policy), the university will need to provide VAWA protections to the parties.

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Southern Nazarene University prohibits all unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex or gender in its educational programs and activities, except where the University has been granted exemptions from certain Title IX regulations on religious grounds, including the specific religious tenet of the University. 

No individual will be subject to any form of retaliation, discipline, or other adverse action for reporting conduct in violation of the university’s nondiscrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement, assisting/cooperating in making a complaint, or assisting with the investigation of a complaint. Any individual who believes they have experienced or witnessed retaliation should immediately notify the appropriate member(s) of the administration as identified above. Those found to be engaging in any type of discrimination in violation of law or university policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to an including dismissal or termination of employment.

*Christian faith and employment at Southern Nazarene University: Southern Nazarene University is an expression of the Church of the Nazarene. It reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Section 702-703, U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964).