Assistant Director, WAC

About the Job

Hiring Salary Range: $75,000-$85,000 DOQ

Application Review will begin on August 1, 2024, but the posting will remain open until the position is filled.

The Assistant Director provides campus-wide instructional support services to undergraduate and graduate faculty/instructor populations who assign various modes of writing. For the WEC Program, they serve as lead contact, facilitator, and resource for a "caseload" of 10-20 undergraduate-enrolling departments and programs engaged in a process of developing, implementing, and assessing the impact of comprehensive Undergraduate Writing Plans. For TWW, they design, facilitate, and assess instructional support workshops and research-based discussions, develop instructional support resources, lead writing retreats, and conduct instructional consultations. In addition, this position includes the possibility of teaching one course per semester (two per year) in the University's Department of Writing Studies. Other responsibilities are described via the application link.

This position serves also as a core member of the WAC team and is suited to people who feel able to toggle between close collaboration and independent responsibility. Responsibilities balance administrative behind-the-scenes tasks with faculty/instructor-facing programming and consulting.

We welcome applications from candidates who prize opportunities to both investigate and support effective writing instruction across academic disciplines, to facilitate quietly radical curricular and pedagogic transformations, and to join our collaborative team. The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission and is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. All WAC team positions are annually renewable; salary is commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications. We will conduct a first round of interviews via Zoom.

Position Responsibilities:

Serve as lead consultant assigned to specific undergraduate units participating in the WEC process:

• Facilitate constructive faculty meetings within undergraduate departments.

• Maintain regular, proactive communication with faculty members in assigned WEC units.

• Maintain detailed records tracking unit participation in the WEC process.

• Participate in annual panel-assessments of student writing.

• Collect, synthesize, analyze, and report upon multiple forms of data related to faculty, student, and professional perceptions of discipline-relevant writing and writing instruction.

Manage and serve as a lead facilitator and instructional consultant for the Teaching with Writing Program:

• Develop, design, facilitate, and assess in-person and online programming for the annual series of instructional workshops, pedagogic discussions, and faculty writing retreats.

• Co-lead and assess annual large-enrollment TA workshop, "Commenting on and Grading Student Writing."

• Conduct individual and group teaching consultations, in both in-person and online formats, with faculty members, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants from all University of Minnesota departments, colleges, and schools.

• Develop, disseminate, and revise online materials focused on integrating relevant writing and writing instruction into courses across the curriculum.

• Maintain database records of instructional support activity and co-compile annual reports using these data.

Teach, as enrollments allow, two sections per year of WRIT1301 University Writing, in the Department of Writing Studies.

Serve as a Core Member of the WAC Team:

• Work collaboratively to plan, implement, and assess WAC programs' short-and long-term vision and programming, modifying practices and procedures as necessary to improve efficiency and impact of activities.

• Collaboratively write, edit, and publish programmatic materials and descriptions of activities on the WAC program's website (which includes Teaching with Writing and WEC project pages).

• Meet regularly and maintain regular virtual and in-person communication with WAC team members about activities and findings.

• Meet and collaborate with Center for Writing colleagues on an as-needed basis.

Contribute to WAC scholarship locally, regionally, and nationally:

• Disseminate program findings by presenting at academic conferences and contributing to publications.

• Remain cognizant of current developments within, and scholarship about, Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Rhetoric/Composition, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field plus four years of full-time professional work experience, or a BA/BS with at least six years of full-time relevant post-degree experience.

• More than two years (four semesters) of experience teaching academic writing (or teaching with writing) as instructor of record for courses offered at a college or university.

• At least four years of experience organizing and delivering instructional support to faculty members in a college or university writing across the curriculum and/or faculty-development program. This support can have been offered in a variety of modes, but must have included face-to-face workshops and instructional consultations.

• Evidence of outstanding communication abilities (written and spoken).

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of five years of experience conducting WAC/WID-focused faculty development activities that include offering teaching workshops and consultations to faculty members and graduate student instructors in diverse post-secondary disciplines.

• More than four years (eight semesters) of experience teaching first-year writing as instructor of record at a college or university.

• Administrative experience related to an undergraduate program at a college or university.

• Experience integrating writing and writing instruction across and within undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

• Research in writing/teaching that has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals.

About the Department

The University of Minnesota's WAC-oriented activity began in the late 1980s and was initiated by one part-time director on a limited budget drawn from a shared endowment. Now, with substantial fiscal support from central administration and a 5+ member staff, the program offers a robust menu of interdisciplinary programming and a comprehensively structured system of intradisciplinary support to all instructors at our large, public, research university and, through topical institutes and consulting, to the international WAC/WID community.

https://wac.umn.edu

Benefits

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you'll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off

• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program

• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans

• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts

• University HSA contributions

• Disability and employer-paid life insurance

• Employee wellbeing program

• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity

• Financial counseling services

• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).