Visiting Instructor - Communication - #000555

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
* 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Department of Communication at Western Carolina University invites applications for an instructor of communication. This is a nine-month, temporary, fixed-term position with an expected begin work date of August 2026.

This job posting seeks a candidate to join a group of instructors responsible for teaching the department's COMM 201: Foundations of Communication course, part of the university's general education Liberal Studies Program. COMM 201 is the only course offered to satisfy the C3: Oral Communication requirement within the liberal studies core. Course curriculum includes units in interpersonal communication, public speaking, and small group communication.

This position will responsible for teaching four, in-person sections of the COMM 201 course in each semester during the 2026-2027 academic year. Teaching additional sections of this course may be available depending on university needs.

In addition to our liberal studies courses, the Department of Communication has over 200 majors and minors and offers the B.S. Degree in Communication with concentrations in broadcasting, journalism, health communication, interpersonal & cultural communication, and public relations.

As one of 17 institutions within the University of North Carolina System, Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC, situated in a beautiful valley of the southern Appalachian Mountains, 52 miles west of Asheville, NC and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From its 600-acre main campus and through programs at its instructional site in Asheville and online, WCU serves approximately 12,000 students.

A Master's of Communication or closely related field with a minimum of 18 graduate hours in communication (degree conferral by 8/1/2026). Required teaching skills are limited to interpersonal/organizational communication. Degrees must be from an accredited institution.

Applicants who have previous university-level teaching experience and are proficient in interpersonal, organizational, or other communication-related areas are desired.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire. Finalists will be asked to provide official transcripts. The search committee will contact listed references for finalists only.

Please include the following:

For questions or additional information please contact:
Dr. Scott Eldredge, Professor/Department Head, at saeldredge@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.