Benedictine University is hiring eight new faculty members for its satellite campus in Mesa.
Arizona’s first Catholic university will begin classes this fall.
"There’s no track record of success with a campus here in Mesa," said Dean Mick Carroll. "We’re really starting from scratch and I think that might spook some people who might worry, ‘how long are we going to be around.’"
So Carroll said he’s looking for professors who are willing to take a risk. They will not be traditional tenure-track positions, but they will require innovative teaching in fields like Theology, Nutrition, Fine Arts and Criminal Justice, Carroll said.
That’s because Benedictine classes will be lecture-free. The curriculum will be interactive and focus on problem-solving. Benedictine is one of five schools opening satellite campuses in Mesa. The city of Peoria is also seeking non-profit private colleges to boost economic development.