U of South Carolina Lancaster - TT (late 2014 search)

[socprof]

USCL is hiring an Asst Prof of Sociology. See link for job ad here: uscjobs.sc.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1403233386710

I posted this on the 2013-14 "New Positions" page, but figured it'd be more likely to catch peoples attention here. This is a very late search for a TT sociology position to begin in August 2014. My spouse and I were the two sociologists, but we both recently accepted positions at Valdosta State. For the time being, they are only replacing with a single position. 

USCL is primarily a two-year school in the USC system. As sociology faculty, we still had the opportunity to teach upper-division courses as well (primarily due USCL's role as a Palmetto College Campus--Google "Palmetto College" for more info about this). The official teaching load is 4-4, but untenured TT faculty get a course reduction to a 4-3. The bulk of this position is teaching-based, but some scholarship is required as well. There's no real guide for how much production is "enough," but a few peer-reviewed journal articles will position you well for tenure (as long as your teaching and service are in good order).

Note: Regardless of what dates you may see on the official job ad, USCL is accepting applications until a hire is made. If you're interested, please apply. USCL is a very friendly, comfortable working environment (and family friendly too).

[load]

How does anyone survive teaching a 4-4?

[loaded]

"How does anyone survive teaching a 4-4?"

You should start your cover letter with that!

I taught on average a 4-5 getting myself through doctoral studies and managed to publish in top journals and still present at conferences. You learn how to do it. That's how.

[difference]

The ability to succeed/survive teaching a 4/4 is very dependent on class sizes and expectations. Not all schools that classify themselves as teaching schools actually have small class sizes. There is a big difference between a 4/4 with class sizes that are 10-15 students each vs. a 4/4 with 30-50 students per class. I wish job ads clarified this. Half the time school websites post such inaccurate information about their faculty to student ratio.

[preps]

Surviving a 4-4 is all about the preps. If you have, say one upper division and three general sociology sections each semester, it's really not that bad. You're just spending a few extra hours teaching general sociology each week. It is essentially two preps per semester, and less if you get to teach general sociology again in the spring. I would prefer this 4-4 over a 3-3 with three preps each semester.

As a side note, if you are still on the market and want a tenure track job, you should jump on this one. I have no idea what their 4-4 looks like but it is a tenure track job and at least one of their faculty is apparently upwardly mobile. Kudos also to the original poster for watching out for your old program and helping get some candidates applying, as well. I respect that. Many would cut and run.

[replacement]

This is who you're replacing usclancaster.sc.edu/faculty/guittar/index.html