"Assistant Director of MS Online Programs, Teaching Assistant/Associate Professor"

Assistant Director of MS Online Programs, Teaching Assistant/Associate Professor

Company: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Job Location: Urbana, 61820

Category: Recreation and Leisure Studies

Type: Full-Time

Assistant Director of MS Online Programs, Teaching Assistant/Associate Professor

Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

College of Applied Health Sciences

The Department of Recreation, Sport & Tourism (RST) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month Assistant Director of MS Online Programs - Teaching Assistant/Associate Professor. The successful candidate will teach in the RST program and work closely with the Director of Online Programs in the management, planning, and operation of the online MS and professional certificate programs. The Assistant Director will engage in student recruitment for the online MS and professional certificate programs, provide admissions and advising support for the online programs, assist with program coordination, contribute to curricular initiatives and program and student learning outcome assessments. The start date for this position will be July 2026 (negotiable).

Responsibilities: Work with the Director of Online Programs to provide leadership for student recruitment efforts including coordinating events and informational meetings; monitoring and evaluating recruitment strategies; traveling to off-site locations to support recruitment and program promotion efforts; coordinating communication with prospects and applicant tracking, and; working closely with campus units in the promotion of the online program via social media and other platforms. Support admissions and advising experiences through engagement with students and alumni to enhance connections among stakeholder groups; coordinating new student orientations and onboarding experiences; providing mentorship and student advising; assisting with admission processes, and; contributing to curricular initiatives and student learning assessments for the online programs. Teach four courses per year across online and on-campus modalities.

Qualifications:

Applicants must demonstrate the following minimum qualifications:

• Earned doctoral degree in recreation, sport, tourism, or related field. Applicants with ABD status will be considered, with appointment contingent upon degree completion prior to the position's start date.
• Demonstrated teaching experience at the college or university-level, and a commitment to continual improvement in teaching activities.
• A strong commitment and demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with multiple stakeholders of diverse backgrounds to achieve strategic goals.
• Aptitude to engage in ongoing scholarly activity.
• Evidence of commitment to accessibility, cultures of belonging, and community building.

The following qualifications will enhance an application:

• Experience working with graduate students, including student recruitment and advisement, as well as developing and managing online programs.
• Applicable professional experience.

The Department: Faculty and staff of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism (RST) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign work to advance knowledge to foster healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship and sustainability, effective management and marketing of organizations, and social and economic development of communities (see www.rst.illinois.edu for additional information). The department offers residential B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs, an online M.S. program and two professional certificates, and houses the Office of Park and Recreation Resources.

The College: The RST Department is part of the College of Applied Health Sciences (see http://ahs.illinois.edu) and affiliated with the Center for Health, Aging, and Disability (see https://ahs.illinois.edu/research-and-community/center-on-health-aging-and-disability/). The College houses the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (http://www.disability.illinois.edu) (DRES), which includes the U.S. Paralympic Training Site for Wheelchair Track Racing. The College also houses the Chez Veterans Center (https://ahs.illinois.edu/chez-veterans-center), which opened in 2015 to provide support services to empower student veterans, military-connected members, and their families.

The Community: Urbana-Champaign (located 135 miles south of Chicago) combines natural Midwestern beauty with the cultural resources typically found in larger metropolitan areas. Three downtown areas (Urbana, Champaign, and Campus town) provide vibrant public spaces with unique dining and entertainment options and the local community offers a thriving arts and culture atmosphere as well as varsity and community sports. Urbana-Champaign was rated #1 by Midwest Living magazine for the greatest food for a city with less than 750,000 population. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy 80 parks within the two communities with easy access to several large forest preserves and the Kickapoo Rail Trails in Champaign County (see www.visitchampaigncounty.org for additional information).

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 7/16/2026. The salary range is set at $90,000 - $105,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

For full consideration, applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Monday, November 10. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload the following:

• Resume / CV
• Cover Letter
• Contact information for 3 references

Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact ahs-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.