Academic Coordinator for Large Enrollment Courses - Molecular and Cell Biology
The Department of Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) seeks a highly organized, collaborative, and dedicated Academic Coordinator to manage, direct, and align operational and instructional components for large-enrollment courses including General Biology Lecture and Laboratory (Bio 1A and Bio 1AL) and Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MCB 102). Serving as the foundational gateway for most biological science majors on campus, and encompassing fundamental principles for MCB majors, these high-impact courses serve over 2,500 students annually across the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. The successful candidate from this search will be offered an initial one-year appointment with possible renewal.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Academic Leadership & Teaching Innovation
- Course Instruction & Design: Provide support to the Instructors for Bio 1A (Lecture), Bio 1AL (Lab), collectively serving ~650 students in regular semesters and ~240 in summers, as well as MCB 102, serving ~450 students each semester and ~200 in summers. Partner with faculty on curriculum improvement -such as establishing digital quiz banks, developing post-lab assessments, and designing future case studies (e.g., pedigree analysis or genetic counseling experiments).
- Quality Assurance & Faculty Support: Attend lectures regularly to assist with logistical issues and verify that exam coverage remains aligned with classroom instruction. Onboard and mentor new faculty regarding campus systems, student expectations, and departmental policies.
2. Examination, Grading, & Standardization
- Inter-Semester Alignment: Actively minimize instruction and grading differences between the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms to guarantee a consistent educational foundation for all students.
- Exam Logistics & Room Booking: Reserve separate lecture halls per midterm exam, identify and assign readers to proctor each room, and coordinate make-up exams.
- Course Tech, Gradebooks, & Exam Preparation: Manage the master bCourses portal; audit master grade books; create Gradescope templates and grading keys, proof exams, coordinate exam copying and pickup, utilize exam scanning software to prevent grading delays, distribute regrading requests.
- Grade Resolutions: Liaise with professors from previous semesters to resolve incomplete grades, and handle formal student grade disputes and academic dishonesty cases.
3. Personnel & Operational Administration
- Staff Management & Training: Support the Primary Instructors in recruiting, training, and supervising an annual instructional staff of 48 Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs)/Lecturers, ~40 Lab Interns, and 4 readers. Schedule instructor meetings with GSIs.
- Bio 1AL Staff Coordination: Collaborate with Bio 1AL staff (Lab Instruction Supervisor and Lab Assistant) to ensure careful coordination of course administration and logistics.
- Logistics & Contingency Support: Responsible room scheduling, and grade file databases. Provide emergency support, such as supplying backup datasets during lab collection anomalies or substituting as a discussion/lab instructor when staff absences arise.
- Budget Monitoring: Collaborate with the laboratory support manager to oversee material costs, keeping operations aligned with the annual program budget.
4. Student Support
- DSP & Accommodations Management: Coordinate directly with the Disabled Students Program (DSP); secure specialized proctors, manage alternative exam times, reserve additional rooms as needed, dynamically extend deadlines, orchestrate make-up labs for students impacted by extenuating circumstances, and coordinate exam delivery and pickup.
- Manage student communications: Respond to student logistical inquiries regarding attendance, iClicker functionality, exams, and athletic accommodations.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
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