Lecturer or Assistant Professor in Nursing Education

Position Summary

Job Description

POSITION: Western Colorado University invites applications for a full-time faculty position in the Nursing Education Program. This position may be filled at either the Lecturer (non-tenure track) or Assistant Professor (tenure-track) level, depending on qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will support the launch and growth of Western’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and delivers didactic, laboratory, clinical, and simulation instruction. The candidate will have expertise in Maternal-Newborn (Mother-Baby) and Pediatric nursing and will be expected to teach these concepts and courses within the BSN curriculum. Teaching responsibilities may include courses such as Foundations of Nursing, Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Health Promotion and Assessment Across the Lifespan, Nursing Care of Older Adults, Nursing Care of Children and Families, population health, and rural health nursing. Teaching responsibilities will primarily include Maternal-Newborn (Mother-Baby) and Pediatric nursing content across classroom, laboratory, clinical, and simulation settings. Additional courses may be assigned based on program needs and candidate qualifications. The successful candidate will teach a 24-credit load, contribute to clinical supervision and advising, and participate in curriculum development and accreditation activities. Instruction in the clinical simulation laboratory is expected, with opportunities for leadership in simulation and program development. The position requires the person to be on-campus. The Nursing Program emphasizes undergraduate education, rural and population health, clinical excellence, and student success through mentoring, simulation-based learning, and strong community partnerships. Faculty will collaborate closely with the Director of the Nursing Education Program on accreditation, curriculum implementation and evaluation, student recruitment and retention, and the continued development of clinical placements. The team is highly collaborative and committed to nursing education and student development and growth. For more information on the Nursing program, visit: https://western.edu/program/pre-nursing/ Western is unable to sponsor work authorization for this position. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Doctorate in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing education program; or a doctorate in a related field with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and evidence that the graduate degree is relevant to the position Evidence of professional activity appropriate to a tenure-track appointment, including scholarly, clinical, or program development contributions Demonstrated commitment to undergraduate nursing education and teaching excellence For Lecturer Master’s degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program (or BSN with a graduate degree in a related field and relevant experience) Applicants who are actively pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) are also encouraged to apply, provided they have successfully completed at least 10 graduate-level MSN credits prior to the start date. Demonstrated commitment to undergraduate nursing education and student mentoring For Both Positions Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in Colorado (or eligibility to obtain prior to start date) Clinical Affiliate Eligibility Requirement Candidates must meet the credentialing and compliance requirements of Western Colorado University and its affiliated clinical partners to supervise nursing students in healthcare settings. Faculty must be eligible to obtain and maintain clinical privileges, including authorization to oversee student learning and access to electronic medical records as required for instructional responsibilities. Requirements include successful completion of background checks, health clearances, and partner-specific onboarding processes. Minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent) clinical nursing experience Ability to teach in classroom, lab, clinical, and simulation settings Proficiency with instructional technologies, including hybrid and simulation-based delivery Commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment Collegiality, professional flexibility, and willingness to contribute to a growing academic program

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in Women’s Health (OB/GYN), Rural Health/Public Health, Pediatrics, or Mental Health Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in Maternal-Newborn (Mother-Baby) nursing and demonstrated experience teaching Maternal-Newborn and Pediatric nursing concepts in classroom, laboratory, clinical, and simulation settings. Experience in population health, rural health nursing, or community-based practice Experience with clinical simulation design, delivery, and evaluation Experience supporting or participating in CCNE or state accreditation processes Experience developing new programs or curricula Engagement with professional nursing organizations or continuing professional development

Responsibilities

INSTRUCTION (Required for Both Positions) Teach undergraduate nursing courses based on expertise and program needs Primary teaching responsibilities are expected to include Maternal-Newborn (Mother-Baby) and Pediatric nursing courses, including classroom, laboratory, clinical, and simulation instruction. Supervise and evaluate students in clinical, community, rural, and simulation settings Develop and refine curriculum and simulation experiences aligned with accreditation standards PROGRAM & UNIVERSITY SERVICE (Required for Both Positions) Participate in accreditation reporting, curriculum assessment, and program evaluation Support clinical placement coordination and community partnerships Contribute to department, college, and university service and shared governance PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY (Required for Tenure-Track Assistant Professor) Engage in scholarly, clinical, or professional activities appropriate to a tenure-track appointment Participate in professional organizations and conferences Develop as a teacher in applying contemporary pedagogy to nursing programs SALARY / BENEFITS: Lecturer: $62,000–$70,000 annualized salary Tenure-Track Assistant Professor: $80,000–$85,000 annualized salary Western offers an excellent benefits package, including shared premiums for comprehensive health insurance, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free undergraduate tuition for dependents for up to four years. START DATE: September 28th, 2026 (or negotiable) APPLICATION: Apply online at www.western.edu/jobs. Required application materials include: Letter of application Curriculum vitae Transcripts Statement of teaching philosophy Reference list with names and contact information of three references If available and relevant, candidates are encouraged to submit teaching evaluations. In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. QUESTIONS: Please direct questions to: Elizabeth Roten – eroten@western.edu. or Neethu Victor-nvictor@western.edu APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (MDT.) Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte Western Colorado University is a public institution with an enrollment of ~3,700 students. 47% of students are undergraduates, 33% are graduate students, and 80% receive some form of financial aid. Western students represent 17 countries, 50 states, and almost every county in Colorado. With an average class size of 17, Western’s faculty and staff share a strong commitment to personalized, rigorous, and immersive education. Visit http://www.western.edu to learn more about the university. Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, about 200 miles southwest of Denver amidst over 2 million acres of public land and a vibrant ranching community. The Gunnison valley provides robust cultural programming and exceptional outdoor recreation. A network of dedicated community organizations enrich the lives of many in the tight-knit community. Living in the valley, one appreciates a vibrant culture of festivals, exhibitions, performances, wellness activities, and more. In the winter, many enjoy skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and along dozens of miles of cross-country trails. In the summer, bikers, hikers, and runners explore 750-plus miles of singletrack trails, while others delight in fishing, boating, and paddleboarding at Blue Mesa Reservoir or on the Gunnison River and its tributaries. Pre-K-12 students are served by the highly-ranked Gunnison Watershed School District. Western Colorado University encourages qualified candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Western is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETERANS It is the ongoing policy and practice of Western Colorado University to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. No person shall be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Adaaa accommodations

Western Colorado University is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Western will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Human Resources at HR@western.edu or (970) 943-3140.