Associate Director of First-Year Seminar (FYS)

Position Summary

Wentworth Institute of Technology invites applications for the position of Associate Director of the First-Year Seminar (FYS), a university-wide, credit-bearing program launching in Fall 2026. The FYS is a required one-credit experiential seminar designed to provide a shared academic foundation for all incoming students, strengthen student success and belonging, and integrate interdisciplinary, applied, and ethical learning into the first-semester experience.

Reporting to the Vice Provost, the Associate Director will provide academic leadership for the program, including curriculum development and refinement, instructional coordination, and assessment across approximately 45 sections annually. The Associate Director will also teach multiple sections of the seminar each year.

About the First-Year Seminar

The FYS is a required, credit-bearing course embedded in General Education and structured as a laboratory-style, discussion-based experience. The seminar integrates:

• Academic success strategies and effective learning practices
• Ethical and responsible use of AI and data
• Data literacy and critical inquiry
• Research, information literacy, and critical inquiry
• Interdisciplinary problem-solving
• Communication, collaboration, and teamwork
• Academic planning and professional goal development
• Community building, student wellbeing, and navigating university resources and opportunities

The program includes faculty and staff instructors and trained student peer mentors, and it aligns intentionally with co-curricular transition initiatives.

Key Job Responsibilities

Academic Leadership & Teaching

• Teach multiple sections of the First-Year Seminar each year.
• Model and implement high-impact, experiential pedagogies aligned with the goals of the FYS.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the FYS curriculum and course structure.
• Ensure a coherent and consistent learning experience across sections while supporting innovation and instructional quality.

Program Oversight & Curriculum Coordination

• Coordinate and oversee delivery of approximately 45 FYS sections annually.
• Oversee recruitment, training, and support of FYS instructors (faculty and staff) and student peer mentors.
• Develop curriculum resources, instructor guides, assessment tools, and shared instructional materials.
• Lead ongoing curriculum development and updates in collaboration with Academic Affairs leadership.
• Develop specialized adaptations of the seminar for transfer students and other student populations as appropriate.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Lead ongoing assessment of student learning outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to student engagement, retention, and sense of belonging.
• Prepare annual program reports and recommend evidence-based improvements in collaboration with Academic Affairs leadership and institutional assessment partners.

Collaboration & Institutional Integration

• Collaborate with partners across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Advising, the Registrar, Residential Education, the Library, and Co-op & Careers to support effective delivery of the First-Year Seminar.
• Ensure alignment between the FYS and broader student transition initiatives while maintaining the seminar’s academic integrity and oversight.
• Contribute to institutional initiatives related to student success, general education, and first-year experience design.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree and significant experience leading credit-bearing first-year programs is required.
• Demonstrated experience teaching first-year students in higher education.
• Experience with first-year seminars, learning communities, general education, or high-impact practices.
• Experience in curriculum design and learning outcomes assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across academic and student affairs divisions.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or coordinating a first-year program at a college or university.
• Experience supervising instructors or program staff.
• Experience integrating interdisciplinary learning and/or AI literacy into curriculum.
• Experience working in STEM-focused or professionally oriented institutions.

Position Details

The job grade for this position is Grade 9. The expected wage range for this position is between $90,000 and $113,000 which reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this role.

This is a full-time, benefits eligible, 12-month administrative position housed in Academic Affairs.

At this time, the university is unable to sponsor applicants for H-1B visas.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement (1–2 pages) describing experience teaching first-year students and leading first-year or student success initiatives, including approach to high-impact experiential pedagogy.

Review of applications will begin two weeks after posting and continue until the position is filled.

Compensation and Benefits

Wentworth Institute of Technology is committed to fair, transparent, and legally compliant compensation practices. We believe that clarity about pay structures and ranges supports equity, fosters trust, and ensures a positive workplace for all employees.

Please visit here to see the comprehensive benefits package offered to support the best experience for our employees.