Director Of Studies

Additional Information

Long-listed candidates should be prepared to provide two administrative references, two academic letters of recommendation, a teaching statement, and a sample syllabus.

Applications must be submitted by August 9th, 2024. The interview process will begin in late September and continue throughout the fall semester. The expected start date is July 1st, 2025.

This is a four-year term position with possibility of renewal.

This position allows flexibility for remote work but requires significant on-campus presence during the academic year.

All formal written offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required

• Minimum of 8 years' relevant work experience

• Supervisory experience

Position Description

The Committee on Degrees in Social Studies seeks a Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). The DUS works in close collaboration with the Program Chair, the Director of Administration and Operations, and other senior staff on curricular planning, hiring, faculty support, community development, and overall management of this undergraduate interdisciplinary honors program with over 250 students and 30 faculty. This is a 50% administrative appointment that will be attached to a 50% open rank, non-ladder position as lecturer or senior lecturer, to be determined by the appointee's record of scholarship.

• Works together with the program Chair and Director of Administration and Operations (DAO) on strategic planning and implementation of current and future curricular programming.

• Holds primary responsibility for generating all original content for high-level reports on the program and curriculum, including the Annual Academic Plan and Visiting Committee Reports.

• Trains and oversees daily management of the program's senior administrative team, including two Associate Directors of Undergraduate Studies (ADUS) and the Course Director for Social Studies 10.

• Works with the ADUS for First-year and Sophomore Advising to coordinate the program's pre-concentration advising needs and the Student Affairs/DIB Committee.

• Works with the ADUS for Junior and Senior Advising to coordinate support programming for thesis research and writing, training new senior thesis supervisors and graders, and resolving thesis concerns that arise between students and their supervisors.

• Organizes and serves as director for the Board of Instruction, an internal curricular committee that tracks and manages students' academic progress.

• Organizes and serves as director for the Board of Advisors. Oversees academic calendar for advising initiatives. Mentors faculty and staff on advising policies and practices. Manages undergraduate students' advising assignments.

• Advises undergraduates on all aspects of the concentration. Provides feedback on course selection and curricular and progress. Guides thesis writers on topic selection, research design, and finding a thesis supervisor. Supports students with unusual or challenging academic or personal issues.

• Coordinates (working together with the Chair, DAO, and senior staff) the hiring of lecturers, preceptors, and College Fellows and oversees their orientation and integration into the program.

• Assists ladder and non-ladder faculty with developing and revising course content and implementing effective pedagogy. Reviews and evaluates first-year non-ladder faculty.

• Works with administrative support staff to implement programming, provide coverage of duties, support student course registration, organize communication with students, and prepare informational material for concentration website and in college publications.

• Represents the program at external meetings and University Committees. Attends Harvard FAS monthly Faculty meetings. Engages with relevant university offices that support and develop policies for undergraduate learning.

• Serves as Course Head for Social Studies 99, supervises 1-2 senior theses, and teaches one junior tutorial each year.