MSW Adjunct Faculty Pool 2026-27 (External)

Position Announcement

Position Details Proposed Start Date: 09/16/2026 Working Title: MSW Adjunct Faculty Pool 2026-27 External Department: 240100 - SSW Campus MSW Program Position Number: D97731 Representation: AP - AFT Local 3571

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU School Dept: The PSU School of Social Work (SSW) envisions a world where all people lead fulfilling lives in affirming just and equitable communities. Rooted in justice, relationship, and community collaboration, PSU SSW advances knowledge and creates social change through teaching, research, practice, and advocacy. Our core values and beliefs include collective care, responsive learning, knowledge that serves the community, partnership, and social change.

The SSW provides accessible interdisciplinary educational opportunities and actively works to bring about structural change through its teaching, training, workforce development, research, and advocacy. The SSW includes three undergraduate majors: Human Services, Child, Youth, and Family Studies, and BSW, and two graduate programs: MSW and PhD.

The PSU Master of Social Work (MSW) Program is ranked among the top 25 of all social work programs nationally and serves students across the U.S. through its online option and statewide through its on-campus and satellite options. The MSW Program prepares masters social workers for practice and leadership with diverse individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.

This position is open to subject matter experts interested in teaching on campus in Portland in our online program or in our satellite educational centers in Bend and Eugene, Oregon. Applicants who demonstrate an interest in and ability to realize the mission, values, and vision of the School are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly those with knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to racial equity and critical anti-oppressive and social justice-oriented frameworks.

Each academic year, the School of Social Work recruits a part-time faculty workforce pool to teach in our various educational programs. We look for candidates whose qualifications, expertise, and interest match our teaching needs. We do not guarantee we can match applicants with their preferred courses; we look to hire instructors who can teach across the curriculum. We are committed to hiring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.

Persons with lived experience from communities of color, women, persons with disabilities, low-income communities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and members of Oregons nine federally recognized Indian tribes are encouraged to apply.

The MSW Program will collect applications on an ongoing basis to fill vacancies throughout the academic year. Review of applications occurs as new sections or instructors are needed.

Part-Time Faculty/Adjunct Instructor Duties

• Attend orientations to teaching and course preparations
• Prepare course syllabi and update prior to the course open date or the first day of class
• Prepare and personalize course shell for instruction on Canvas LMS prior to course open date, including developing introductory video, assignment explanation videos, and ten weekly content videos for online courses
• Make contact with students enrolled in their courses within the first week of the term to introduce self
• Respond to student emails or phone calls and acknowledge their requests for assistance in a timely manner
• For online courses, faculty are in contact with students at least three times per week and engaged with student discussion boards
• Grade and return papers providing robust feedback within a reasonable time for assignments submitted in Canvas
• Provide required office hours for students to meet with you in person or online
• Online students tend to need evening and weekend options
• Address observed student conduct concerns, professional, ethical, or academic in a timely manner
• Submit final course grades on Canvas for each student in assigned classes

Minimum Qualifications

• M.S. or M.A. in Social Work or closely related field and two years post-degree practice experience in the field of social services
• Seminar and Liaison positions require two or more years in combination of the following:
• Faculty liaison
• BSWMSW practicum instructor
• Staff supervisor
• Social work educator trainer
• Community member in service to social work higher education

All adjunct candidates are required to be living in either Oregon or Washington for the academic year 2026-2027.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous graduate teaching experience

Key Cultural Competencies

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement
• Adheres to all PSU policies, including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct

Environmental Stewardship

• Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship practices, resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals

Required Professional Standards of Conduct

• At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, maintaining a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff
• It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct, which are available at www.pdx.edu/hr/professional-standards-conduct

Compensation

• Adjunct faculty are paid per credit hour per the AFT Collective Bargaining Agreement

Application Instructions

• Additional Information:
• Please submit a brief cover letter, resume, CV, and 3 professional references, including contact name, phone number, and email address
• In your cover letter, specify areas of expertise, teaching interests, specific targeted populations, what makes you qualified to teach in these areas, and evidence of teaching and training effectiveness, if applicable

Note

• The applicants for the School of Social Work Adjunct Posting will be in an open pool
• If you have not been contacted about your application, it will remain active in the pool for the remainder of the academic year
• There are no guarantees that the school will be hiring for any particular course
• Adjunct positions are required to re-apply to PSU every academic year
• All adjunct candidates are required to be living in either Oregon or Washington for the academic year 2026-2027

Search Details

• Posting Close Date: Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Filled
• Supplemental Questions:
• Are you interested in teaching and have expertise in direct social work practice? Yes No
• Are you interested in teaching and have expertise in macro social work practice - policy, communities, and organizations, advocacy? Yes No
• Are you interested in teaching and have expertise in social justice and racial equity? Yes No
• Are you interested in teaching and have expertise in research? Yes No
• Do you have a Masters Degree in Social Work? Yes No
• Do you have a PhD or DSW in social work or related discipline (e.g., public health, human development, family studies, education)? Yes No
• How did you first find out about this position? PSU website, Indeed, Chronicle of Higher Education, Higher Ed Jobs, HERCJobs, Referral, Professional Listserv, Professional Journal, Other (please specify in comment box)