Instructions for Potential Professors
In the competitive landscape of academic appointments, a tenure-track faculty position at Oberlin College requires a well-rounded approach to teaching and research. The application process involves submitting a cover letter, a teaching statement, and a research statement that align with the institution's mission and academic environment.
The cover letter, typically one page in length, serves as an introduction to the applicant's qualifications. It is essential to concisely highlight how one's teaching and research interests align with Oberlin's focus on effective teaching, research, and service.
The teaching statement, spanning 2-3 pages, should detail past teaching experiences, including classroom teaching, mentoring, or outreach, and address one's approach to pedagogy. This includes discussing methods for adapting to diverse student backgrounds, needs, and goals, as well as sharing insights from pedagogical training or literature engaged with. Candidates should also provide ideas for general audience or first-year seminar classes or other electives.
Candidates are encouraged to highlight other interests or skills and things that particularly attract them to Oberlin College in the cover letter. In the teaching statement, it is crucial to provide details about past teaching experiences, pedagogical workshops/conferences attended, science education literature read, and approaches to teaching and working with students.
The research statement, 3-5 pages in length, outlines research plans with an emphasis on their potential to thrive and evolve at Oberlin College. This includes detailing potential student involvement, integrating research into the liberal arts environment, and providing context for the research area, skills, and insights brought to the research. Candidates should also outline plans for research and how undergraduate students can contribute meaningfully, with projects that require student involvement starting from Winter Term and potentially continuing through semesters, summer, or year-long senior honors projects.
While not explicitly mandated, a strong plan to involve students in research and potentially secure funding to support these activities is generally favourable for tenure-track candidates at liberal arts institutions. The applicant may seek external grants to acquire advanced equipment like the ABC system, and expects to need start-up funds for equipment, with ballpark budgetary information provided.
The applicant anticipates having collaborations with others, whether established from graduate work or newly formed. Additionally, the applicant is expected to engage with the wider College community, potentially serving on committees like admission, athletics, 3-2 engineering, musical studies, and student life.
In conclusion, a successful tenure-track faculty application at Oberlin College requires a comprehensive approach to teaching and research, with a focus on effective undergraduate teaching, student involvement, and integration into the liberal arts environment. Candidates should strive to concisely and effectively communicate their qualifications, teaching philosophy, research plans, and engagement with the wider College community in their application materials.
A successful tenure-track faculty candidate at Oberlin College should demonstrate a continued dedication to education-and-self-development and career-development through their focus on undergraduate teaching, research, and community engagement. In their cover letter, they should outline how their interests align with Oberlin's mission and express their enthusiasm for job-search opportunities within the college's academic environment.
