Undergraduate Social Work Adjunct Instructor - National Louis University

Overview:

National Louis University’s Undergraduate College is seeking a Social Work Adjunct Faculty member to join our team, to instruct several of the core Social Work major courses, including, but not limited to:

 

BSW Core Curriculum

• Introduction to Social Work and Social Justice
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment I & II
• Cultural Diversity and Social Justice
• Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families
• Social Work Practice II: Groups
• Social Work Practice III: Organizations and Communities
• Introduction to Social Work Research
• Social Policy Analysis
• Field Education and Seminar I, II & III
• Field Education Supervision

Trauma Informed Practices Concentration

• Trauma Prevention, Intervention and Recovery Practices
• Gender-based and Intimate Violence Crisis Response

 

About NLU:

National Louis University (NLU) is looking to honor its past while defining a bold new future as a contemporary, comprehensive university that prepares diverse students for sustained professional success with a deep commitment to Access, Excellence, Innovation and Equity. The university is focused on inspiring and empowering all learners to be leaders ready to address tomorrow’s challenges in the context of increasing global urbanization. NLU is dedicated to providing a career-building, life-changing education that is accessible to all students. The University offers 80 +programs within its five colleges: National College of Education, Kendall College of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management, Undergraduate College, College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Business and Information Technology. The University serves over 9,700 students per year and has experienced unprecedented growth in its undergraduate programming. Most students are from Illinois, but the University also attracts students from throughout the U.S. and from around the world who take advantage of campus based, blended and online programming.

 

Founded in 1886, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit university offering programs through the doctoral level. NLU is also classified as an Engaged Institution by the Carnegie Foundation and has been named as a top ten institution by Money Magazine where its alumni believe they are making the world “a better place.” The University has had more Golden Apple Award winners among its graduates in teacher preparation than any institution across the state. The University has a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is among the top 25 most diverse national universities according to U.S. News and World Report (2019). Graduates from NLU enter the workforce earning an estimated $43,000 per year after graduation, ranking NLU among the top five of all Illinois post-secondary schools. The University has received more than $80 million in funding for applied research projects in urban development, child development, school improvement, and teacher preparation. NLU recognized as a national leader in closing the post-secondary completion through its innovative approach to undergraduate education. NLU is located in the center of Chicago’s downtown loop, across the street from the Art Institute, in an area which has been recognized as America’s largest campus with over25 institutions and 50,000 students attending a college across the city. In addition, the University has several suburban locations and a Florida regional campus.

Essential Responsibilities:

Demonstrate excellence in teaching:

• Collaborate with faculty team to develop an effective student experience for students.
• Facilitate courses by delivering engaging instruction in a blended or remote, synchronous classroom environment.
• Empower students to develop competency by sharing a passion for the subject and skills being taught.
• Utilize technology-based teaching platforms, including but not limited to an adaptive courseware engine to aid students in the development of competencies.
• Communicate professionally and relate well.

Demonstrate, maintain, and continuously strengthen content expertise:

• Maintain current and active content knowledge in the expertise area that is reflected in instruction.
• Possess appropriate expertise as demonstrated by appropriate credentials.
• Maintain current knowledge of field
• Promote student success with a proactive, high expectations, high support approach:
• Demonstrate and share a passion for postsecondary success for diverse learners and for teaching.
• Demonstrate flexibility in delivery and work schedule to provide personalized student support (includes but is not limited to office hours).
• Identify gaps between student needs and existing resources and services; generate creative resolutions.

 Engage in data-driven instruction and student support planning:

• Track student course data weekly in multiple university data systems as needed.
• Engage in regular data-driven planning meetings with faculty, coaches and support specialists to report student progress and obstacles and to plan student support interventions.
• Engage in regular content area team meetings with peer faculty to review curriculum plans, determine implications of student data, and plan curriculum revisions.
• Participate in continuous improvement of UGC curriculum.
• Actively document and share suggestions for curriculum revision with lead faculty to support ongoing revision/enhancement of UGC curriculum.

 Commit to continuous improvement of self and colleagues (i.e., professional development):

• Create, attend and actively participate in training opportunities provided in online and in-person settings.
• Contribute to a learning culture by participating on committees, supporting local campus events such as orientation and graduation, and participating in various other workshops and meetings.

Qualifications:

Skills

• Passionate about working with a highly diverse student body. Excellent facilitation and classroom management skills.
• Agile and creative in pedagogy and student support. Prepared, yet flexible.
• Empathetic, yet structured.
• Ability to differentiate instruction and support based on student needs. Ability to consistently connect instruction to its real-world relevance, tying in concepts and theories in the classroom to students’ current and future work experiences and highlighting immediate
• Willing to pursue and support students in multiple modalities.
• Technology proficient, including experience with digital tools for teaching, and teaching in either online or blended/hybrid formats.
• Willing and able to use data to inform instruction.
• Effective adult collaboration skills, able to work in teams to support student success.
• Experience using a learning management system. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experienced educators who EXPECT and DESIRE to grow pedagogically.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of full-time professional experience in social work
• Required: Master’s degree in Social Work or related field
• Preferred: Current LCSW credential.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in clinical, supervisory or leadership roles (for Field Education courses and Supervision)
• Preferred: Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional - ICDVP (For Trauma Concentration courses)
• Experience with digital tools for teaching, teaching in either online or blended/hybrid formats
• Teaching to students of diverse backgrounds and abilities strongly preferred.
• Spanish-English bilingual or experience teaching English Language Learners a plus

About the Bachelor of Social Work Program at NLU

             

Program Description: Turn your passion for service and social justice into a career transforming lives and communities. Develop professional competencies to effectively serve diverse communities and effect social change through an inter-disciplinary, social justice perspective. Gain knowledge, skills and experience in social work processes, collaborative problem-solving, direct practice, advocacy and community organizing that leverages the strengths and capacities of individuals, families, groups and communities. The growing profession of Social Work provides numerous opportunities for meaningful employment and graduate education pathways after completion of the degree.

 

Program Mission: The BSW program engages students through inclusive, community-centered educational experiences to develop and practice professional Social Work competencies necessary for effectively serving in diverse generalist practice roles and communities, and successful application to Social Work graduate education pathways.

Through a culturally grounded, equity-minded and justice-driven approach, the program builds on the values and ethics of the Social Work profession to prepare future generalist practitioners with diverse intersectional identities. NLU Social Work graduates will leverage the strengths of individuals, families, groups and communities to effect social change.

 

Commitment to DEI Principles and Practices:

Through direct practice, advocacy, community organizing, and policy changes, Social Work advances racial equity, social justice and social change. The Bachelor of Social Work program leadership and stakeholders demonstrate a systemic commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by upholding social justice and anti-oppressive practices and policies. This commitment aligns with Social Work values, ethics, competencies and culturally grounded practices. DEI principles and practices are reinforced through student engagement and support practices, our integrative curricular model and our programmatic culture. 

 

Program Culture: Our Social Work Program recognizes that the Social Work profession has historically participated in colonizing and oppressive practices. We are committed to cultivating a program and culture which uplifts diverse intersectional identities of all team members, through organizational processes, programmatic aspects and our relationships with each other. Our team members are committed to embodying norms of integrity, accountability and support with open dialogues, inclusive and collaborative processes and a growth mindset towards the promise of an anti-oppressive and justice-oriented Social Work profession.

 

Curriculum focused on Social Justice and Anti-oppressive Practices: Our curricular model intentionally embeds community-based resources, experiences and integrative learning sources. The language, sources, theoretical foundations and instructional design of the BSW curriculum aligns with culturally inclusive and anti-oppressive practices, including opportunities for students to develop critical thinking, reflexivity and collaborative problem-solving skills. The key learning sources leverage primary sources and multicultural community-based organizations

Special Instructions:Please attach scanned or downloaded copies of official transcripts for all graduate and terminal degrees completed and for all relevant graduate coursework. Official documentation from the university(ies) via mail or e-transcript may be required if approved to teach any course(s).