Faculty - Adjunct Professor, School of Education, (SPED) Endorsement

About North Park

Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Responsibilities:

Instructions for the course(s) are listed below. The courses listed below represent those offered in the School of Education.

For full course descriptions, please refer to the catalog at northpark.edu.

North Park University offers a comprehensive Special Education (SPED) LBS1 Endorsement program for educators seeking to enhance their skills in teaching special education. Four classes are required for the LBS1 approval. These courses are available to both undergraduate and graduate students; undergraduate courses are 3000-level, graduate courses are 5000-level.

Required Courses:

1. Survey of Teaching Exceptional Learners
• Undergraduate Level: EDUC 3430
• Graduate Level: EDUC 5430
2. Characteristics of Special Needs Students
• Undergraduate Level: EDUC 3431
• Graduate Level: EDUC 5431
3. Psychological and Educational Assessment for Special Populations
• Undergraduate Level: EDUC 3436
• Graduate Level: EDUC 5436
4. Methods of Teaching Students With Special Needs
• Undergraduate Level: EDUC 3437
• Graduate Level: EDUC 5437

As part-time instructors, adjunct faculty are contracted on a term-by-term basis. There is no guarantee of continuous employment. The adjunct instructor will teach to a diverse student population. Course timing is at the discretion of the academic department offering the course. The Adjunct faculty will be informed of the course's timing before being offered an official contract.  In some instances, flexibility in course timing may be available. The list of duties below represents the minimum expectations of all faculty:

o    Utilize the NP syllabus template, approved textbooks, supplemental course materials, and Canvas LMS.

o    Submit a personalized course syllabus to the dean in electronic format at least one week before the course start date.

o    Adhere to the printed course schedule meeting times and locations.

o    While there is no formal office hours requirement, you are expected to be available to students outside of class by email and by appointment as needed.

o    Ensure that all assessments within the course are graded and returned to the students promptly.

o    Mid-term grades must be submitted for traditional undergraduate classes.

o    Final grades and all course obligations must be completed by the due date published by the Registrar each term, typically the week after finals. This is required for the adjunct assignment & contract to be considered satisfactorily fulfilled.

o    Attendance records: Federal regulations require North Park University to certify for financial aid purposes that students who receive a non-passing grade have attended classes and to determine the last date they participated in an academic-related activity. Thus, faculty must document the last date a student participated in an academically related activity, which includes attending class, taking an exam, or other similar activities.

• Master’s degree in Special Education
• Possess a clear understanding of North Park University’s mission of Christian higher education.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Desired:

• Terminal degree in a related field.
• Experience using Canvas or a comparable learning management system (LMS).
• Experience teaching at a university level.
• Familiarity with online instruction.