Ethnic Studies Librarian-Assistant Professor

Ethnic Studies Librarian

Tenure Track Faculty Position

Research & Instruction Services Unit

University Library

Rank: Senior Assistant Librarian

Salary Range: $85,000-$89,700

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the University Library. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our campus initiatives and our Principles of Community can be found on the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s website. 

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

 Student Population. Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2023, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 24,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 56% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 53% Hispanic/Latinx, 22% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 3% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-three percent of students enroll in our STEM majors and our top five enrolled programs across the university are mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, and finance, real estate, and law. 

 Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

As a part of the application for faculty positions, all candidates must submit a Student Success Statement that demonstrates their commitment and record of contributions to diversity and equity through their teaching, scholarship, or service by speaking to at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria below.

Candidates should explain how they have engaged in the criteria below in their pedagogy, scholarship, and/or service, as well as the level to which these efforts have been consistently incorporated into their work.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria:

1. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;


2. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;


3. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;


4. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;


5. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;


6. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;


7. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;


8. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and


9. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

University Library

As an essential department within the Division of Academic Affairs, the University Library supports student learning and success and fosters faculty productivity by providing efficient access to resources, information, and data and offers a full suite of public services including research support, instructional services, and public programming for students, faculty, staff, and the general community in support of the University's instruction, research, and public service missions. The library serves as one of the key public spaces on campus for students to work, study, and collaborate. The library faculty and staff strive to create a welcoming, inclusive, and innovative learning environment that fosters exploration, discovery, research, and scholarship while offering students a variety of study spaces and technology to support their academic studies.

 Research & Instruction Services Unit

The Research and Instruction Services (RIS) unit provides assistance to users in accessing the Library's rich information resources. We also help our students develop information skills that not only serve their immediate research needs but also prepare them for graduate studies, careers, and lifelong learning. We use a variety of methods, including course-integrated library instruction, special workshops, research assistance in-person or via email, chat, phone, or by appointment, instructional guides, video tutorials, and Frequently Asked Questions.

 Position Details

The Research & Instruction Librarian fills a crucial role in the University Library's Research & Instruction Services (RIS) Unit. As a full-time tenure-track library faculty member at the Senior Assistant Librarian rank, the Ethnic Studies Librarian serves as the library’s subject librarian for students, faculty, and staff in the Ethnic and Women’s Studies (EWS) Department and supports interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies courses and initiatives across campus. As the subject librarian, the incumbent provides research consultations on Ethnic Studies topics for the faculty and students and offers both course-integrated instruction sessions for EWS and cross-listed classes as well as general library workshops focused on Ethnic Studies disciplinary resources and research.

The Ethnic Studies Librarian provides general research assistance in-person at the Research Help Desk and virtually via Zoom, chat, email, and phone. The incumbent offers in-depth research consultations to individuals in-person or virtually. The librarian teaches course-integrated instruction sessions in assigned disciplinary areas, designs and delivers library-sponsored workshops on disciplinary-specific and general topics. This librarian also develops online learning resources, such as research guides and tutorials as needed to support student learning and research in Ethnic Studies.

The Ethnic Studies Librarian is responsible for direct outreach to the EWS department and to faculty in related disciplines, participates in library outreach activities, and helps to design and deliver public programming. In addition, the subject librarian facilitates communication between the University Library and EWS department in support of student success and faculty productivity. Working collaboratively with EWS faculty and library faculty, the Ethnic Studies Librarian helps advance the CSU Ethnic Studies requirement as outlined in Assembly Bill 1460 (AB1460) and shape its delivery in the context of Cal Poly Pomona’s distinct inclusive polytechnic approach. Working in alignment with Cal Poly Pomona’s commitment to creating and sustaining an inclusive campus climate in which all are welcomed, respected, and where diversity is valued, the Senior Assistant Librarian assists with supporting and improving programs, services, content, and collections to meet the needs of the institution and library users.

The new hire will be a part of the Interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies Faculty and will have the opportunity to engage with the Office of Interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies and the faculty affiliated with it. This is a space for collaboration across disciplines and methodological vantage points, mentorship, and professional development programming. The faculty hired as a part of the Ethnic Studies Cluster hiring initiative, and the resources to support them, are a key element of CPP’s ongoing efforts to ensure the flourishing of our diverse students and faculty and be the leading inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. 

Responsibilities

The incumbent in this position assists the RIS Unit by supporting the Ethnic and Women’s Studies Department’s undergraduate students, faculty, and staff in addition to all the cross-listed courses throughout the other campus colleges. The Ethnic Studies Librarian will also oversee the University Library’s outreach to the six Centers for Transformation, Retention, Equity and Empowerment, as well as the Office of Interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies.

For the assigned disciplinary areas listed above, the incumbent performs the responsibilities outlined below.

• Provide research consultations for faculty and students.


• Provide general research assistance in-person at the Research Help Desk and virtually via Zoom, chat, email, and phone, and offer in-depth research consultations to individuals in-person or virtually.


• Offer both course-integrated instruction sessions for disciplinary and cross-listed classes as well as general library workshops focused on disciplinary resources and research.


• Develop online learning resources, such as research guides and tutorials as needed to support student learning and research.


• Be responsible for direct outreach to the departments listed above and to faculty in related disciplines, participate in library outreach activities, and help to design and deliver public programming.


• Facilitate communication between the University Library and department faculty in support of student success and faculty productivity.


• Help advance the CSU Ethnic Studies requirement as outlined in Assembly Bill 1460 (AB1460) and shape its delivery in the context of Cal Poly Pomona’s distinct inclusive polytechnic approach.


• Assist with supporting and improving programs, services, content, and collections to meet the needs of the institution and library users.


• Plan professional learning/development and ongoing continuing education appropriate to position scope and professional goals.


• Establish and sustain an ongoing scholarship record, in accordance with Cal Poly Pomona and University Library criteria for reappointment, promotion, and tenure.


• Participate in Library and University faculty governance activities and fulfill service requirements, in accordance with Cal Poly Pomona and University Library criteria for reappointment, promotion, and tenure.

Minimum requirements include:

1. Master's degree in library or information science or equivalent from a library school program accredited by the American Library Association (degree must be awarded prior to date of hire). 


2. Demonstrated expertise or experience in Ethnic Studies in one or more of the four major racialized groups (Native American, African American, Asian American and/or Latino/a’s*) in two or more of the following areas – education, instruction, professional experience, scholarly research, creative activities, publication, and/or community engagement and service. 


3. Demonstrated understanding of the information needs and methods of scholarly inquiry in Ethnic Studies and related interdisciplinary fields.


4. Demonstrated experience or potential to apply inclusive pedagogies and teaching practices in delivering information literacy instruction and reference services that support student learning and success.


5. Demonstrated experience and commitment to working effectively with students, faculty, and staff in a multicultural/multiethnic campus environment with a substantial first-generation student population. 


6. Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and equity. Evidence should be provided in a Student Success Statement that responds to the prompt above - “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success”.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree OR advanced graduate degree in Ethnic Studies or a related field (primarily in one of the four ethnic and racialized groups: Native American/American Indian/Alaskan Natives, African American, Asian American and/or Latino/a’s*).  Native American includes American Indian and Tribal Nations. African American includes Black Americans. Asian Americans includes Pacific Islanders. Latina and Latino American includes the Chicana/Chicano, Chicanx, and Latinx communities. 


2. Experience with collection development, including familiarity with information resources relevant to Ethnic Studies.


3. Ability to collaborate across disciplines and support interdisciplinary initiatives and manage projects to successful completion.

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of:

1. Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications.


2. A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) that responds to the prompt above - “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success” and addresses at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed (please indicate the criteria numbers in your Statement).


3. Curriculum vitae.

Finalists for the position will:

1. be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview;


2. be required to provide three contacts for professional and/or supervisory references; and


3. be required to give a presentation on a relevant topic related to the position.

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than January 1, 2025.

Salary Range: $85,000-$89,700

Please direct inquiries to Shonn Haren, Search Committee Chair, at smharen@cpp.edu  

Instructions for submitting applications are listed at the Faculty Affairs site for University hires:

Applications accepted only via PageUp—online application portal—for University hires.

Equal Opportunity Employer

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.