Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas 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 Americas 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 Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems 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 the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

The School of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Hospitality & Tourism Management (MESH), one of three schools in the College of Business, invites applications for a nine-month Instructor fixed-term faculty position in Entrepreneurship beginning in January 1, 2025.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to contribute to the mission of the Entrepreneurship program, which seeks to prepare graduates to be Business Ready to meet the needs of the industry and become leading professionals in their field. The mission is achieved through sound theoretical course work, research and innovative learning activities, industry engagement and service learning.

This position requires teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, delivering experiential and applied learning to students, teaching both online and face-to-face courses, advising, and service activities. The normal teaching load is 24 semester hours per academic year (4 classes per semester).

The successful candidate will engage in scholarly research leading to publication in quality journals. Western Carolina University recognizes and rewards all legitimate forms of scholarly activity described by Ernest Boyer: scholarship of discovery, scholarship of integration, scholarship of application, and scholarship of teaching and learning.

The successful candidate will contribute in the further development and growth of the Entrepreneurship program at Western Carolina University. A commitment to active engagement with professionals in the regional business community supporting economic development is expected. Willingness/ability to participate in and/or develop collaborative working environment will be required.

Candidates must be team-oriented and willing to work in a highly energized and collaborative environment. Successful candidates must be committed to working with diverse student and community populations.

A Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship or an appropriate business field from an accredited institution or a terminal degree in a closely related field. If ABD, the dissertation must be successfully defended by the end of the Fall 2024 semester.

Professional entrepreneurship industry experience and evidence of professional and community service.

Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to public engagement through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Qualified applicants must submit the following documents online:
1) a letter of application,
2) curriculum vita,
3) contact information for three professional references and
4) copies of transcripts from terminal degree.

For questions or additional information, please contact: Dr. Charlie Parris, email: ctparrish@email.wcu.edu or 828-227-4882. Please do not email application materials.

* 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 masters degree transcript, if you hold such a
degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as 'Degree
Awarded,' 'Degree Conferred,' or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest
completed degree.