Affiliate Faculty of Spanish – Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Summary: The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Grand Valley State University invites applications for a new affiliate faculty position to begin Fall 2027. Applicants are expected to have a Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Spanish or a related field. This is a full‐time, nine‐month, non‐tenure‐track, renewable teaching position. We are seeking an engaging and dynamic faculty member to teach primarily first- and second-year language classes. Individuals from all backgrounds, including from underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be able to effectively engage with students, colleagues, and community members with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• Qualified applicants will be committed to student-centered undergraduate classroom teaching.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are required for this position, such as the ability to interact and collaborate with others with respect and empathy.
• The successful candidate must have obtained a Master’s degree in Spanish or related field and have a minimum of three years’ experience teaching first- and second-year Spanish at the university level.

Preferred Qualification and Education:

• The ability to teach effectively in diverse modalities (e.g., asynchronous, hybrid).

Responsibilities:

• Affiliate faculty duties include teaching 12–15 credit hours per semester.
• Affiliates usually teach four to five days a week, including some evenings (6:00–7:50 pm), depending on program needs.
• Teaching responsibilities will occasionally include teaching introductory 300-level courses.
• Affiliates are expected to participate in professional development.

Salary & Benefits: Minimum starting salary: $53,000, commensurate with experience.

Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, vision, dental, life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources, and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.

Department: The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures consists of programs in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. The department’s language courses offer not just the chance to study a language, but to engage actively with another culture with a respectful understanding and awareness of its people in alignment with GVSU’s Vision and strategic priorities to “inspire and equip students to be active life-long learners and global citizens.” Departmental values include intercultural competency, high-impact learning experiences, proficiency-based learning environment, and critical reflection, among others.

College: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest and most intellectually diverse college at Grand Valley State University, offering over 50 bachelor’s degree programs, badges, and certificates spanning the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered learning community that welcomes individuals from various backgrounds and engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to offering students an accessible and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education that prepares them for meaningful careers. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

University: Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan. GVSU has multiple campuses—the Valley Campus in Allendale, Michigan; the City Campus located in downtown Grand Rapids, which includes the Robert C. Pew and Health campuses; and several regional centers. The University attracts undergraduate and graduate students with its high-quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities and has been nationally recognized for innovation. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of more than one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. GVSU is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information on Community Resources can be found on the Community Resources page of the GVSU Human Resources website.

How To Apply: Apply online at GVSU Careers. To be considered for the position, applicants must upload the following items to the online application:

(1) A cover letter addressing qualifications and your motivation to teach at GVSU

(2) Curriculum vitae, including a list of three professional references with contact information

(3) Teaching philosophy statement

(4) Graduate transcripts (unofficial transcripts issued to students are acceptable)

(5) Teaching evaluations for three courses or semesters in Spanish at the 100- and 200-level (please combine these into one file)

The online application will allow you to attach these documents electronically to the same file location. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. If you need assistance, email Human Resources at hro@gvsu.edu. Questions about the position may be directed to the search committee chair, Elizabeth Gansen, at gansenel@gvsu.edu.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Application Deadline: Consideration of applicants will begin on January 11, 2027. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University thereafter.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.