Salary: $109,000.00 - $114,000.00 Annually
Location : Aurora, IL
Job Type: Full-Time Faculty
Job Number: College/School: College of Health and Sciences - School of Natural Sciences, Technology, and Math
Department: Computer Science
Opening Date: 09/11/2025
Max Number of Applicants: 50
Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.
AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples' lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work.
We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
At AU we believe that continuous learning is a fundamental part of working life, and our goal is for all colleagues on our campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support our community by providing all employees with opportunities to engage in professional development activities, as well as a range of tuition and employee benefits that can be found
Position Purpose: The College of Health and Sciences at Aurora University invites applications for a full-time Department Chair and Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Computer Science. The successful candidate will oversee and lead our undergraduate and graduate computer science programs as well as our undergraduate cybersecurity program, ensuring curriculum excellence and program growth. The ideal candidate will demonstrate outstanding classroom teaching and strong leadership to expand enrollment and position our computer science and cybersecurity programs as premier destinations for students seeking cutting-edge education in computing fields. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of technology education while making a lasting impact on student lives and career trajectories.
This position is a 12-month academic appointment beginning in the fall of 2026.
Core Competencies: 1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former, and current students, clients, suppliers, and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
2. Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and examined lives. Our singular goal is to empower our students to achieve lasting personal and professional success.
3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities, and events.
Essential Job Functions: The successful candidate will primarily teach undergraduate courses with the opportunity to teach graduate courses that span a variety of areas in computer science, as well as engage in professional activity and service projects that will strengthen the university community. Ideally, the candidate will be able to teach the following courses, including but not limited to introduction to programming, data structures and algorithms, object-oriented design and development, database design and implementation, and programming languages. This candidate will also oversee student internship experiences.
The successful candidate will work well in a highly collaborative departmental environment. The chair leads the department, setting a vision and direction for its future. This involves strategic planning, resource allocation, and ensuring the department operates effectively. A key responsibility is mentoring and evaluating faculty members, fostering their professional growth, and ensuring high-quality teaching. The successful candidate will play a primary role in computer science and cybersecurity curriculum development, ensuring the department's programs are relevant, meet the needs of students and industry, and provide pathways for transfer students. This includes overseeing assessment planning and reporting.
The successful candidate will cultivate and maintain relationships with other academic units, external organizations, and the broader community. This includes meeting with prospective students and their families. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Faculty typically teach three courses per semester and have opportunities for service and professional growth, and development.
Essential Job Requirements: Education: Applicants must have an earned a terminal degree in the field, or possess a master's degree with extensive work experience. Doctorly prepared candidates are preferred, and ABD candidates will be considered as well. Current certifications related to the field are encouraged, as well as prior teaching experience.
Experience: Industry experience and teaching experience preferred. Ability to work with and mentor students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Skills: Demonstrate commitment to fostering a diverse working and learning environment. Demonstrated effective written, oral communication, and/or presentation skills. Commitment to staying current in the field.
Physical Requirements: Ability to interact with individuals, either in person or via technology. Ability to be physically present in class and during office hours.
Application Instructions: Applicants should submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae. Applicants should include their teaching philosophy and inclusivity statement in the cover letter. Applicants will be asked for references in the final stages of the search process. Full consideration will be given to applications received by January 15th, 2026. Applications received after that date may be considered until positions are filled. It is anticipated that the appointment will begin on August 17, 2026.
The pay range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted amount the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The final pay rate will not be below the lowest pay rate listed herein.
Benefit-eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.
Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Aurora University offers competitive, flexible benefits to eligible employees.
- Health Insurance
Choice of HMO or PPO offered through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. - Dental and Vision Insurance
Choice of two dental plans and vision insurance offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield. - Life Insurance and AD&D
1.5 times annual salary, dependent on age. Additional life insurance also may be purchased for self, spouse, and children. - Long Term Disability
60% of salary, taxable and nontaxable options. - TIAA Retirement Account
The University offers a 403b retirement plan, administered by TIAA. Matching contributions offered first day of employment to eligible employees, at the discretion of the University and Board of Directors. - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
FSAs are available for medical costs and dependent care costs. - Paid Time Off
Vacation, personal, and sick leave are provided to eligible employees. - Holidays
The university observes nine major holidays where the university is closed. - Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance for AU undergraduate courses is available to eligible employees and eligible family members beginning the term following one (1) year of regular, full-time employment. Tuition assistance for graduate programs paid at 60% for employee following Senior Leadership approval. - Tuition Exchange Consortiums
AU is a member of the Tuition Exchange (TE) and the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP) enabling full-time employees and eligible family members to be eligible for tuition assistance at more than 600 universities nationwide. Eligibility for the CIC-TEP and TE programs is one (1) year of regular, full-time employment as of 8/31.
To see more benefits details and breakdowns please see our benefits guide
01
Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?
- High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED)
- Associate degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree
- Professional degree
- Doctorate degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
02
How many years of teaching experience do you have?
- No experience
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 1 year but less than 2 years of experience
- 2 years but less than 3 years experience
- 3 or more years of experience
03
Do you understand that this position is not remote and will require you to be onsite or work in a hybrid capacity within the Chicagoland area?
Required Question
