Director and Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences

Director and Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences

Job Title
Director and Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences

Agency
Texas A&M International University

Department
College of First-Year Experiences

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Laredo, Texas

Job Type
Faculty

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), a member of the Texas A&M University System, welcomes applicants for a Director and Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences to begin Fall 2026.

TAMIU is a Hispanic Serving Institution with over 8,000 students located in Laredo, Texas, a vibrant and bicultural city with a population of about 250,000. The university advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service, and with an intentional focus on student success and research excellence. For more information, please visit https://www.tamiu.edu/

The Director/Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences provides comprehensive, integrated leadership across the First Year Experiences (FYE) program. TAMIU's FYE program helps students successfully transition by offering first-year seminar and signature courses that build academic skills, engagement, and a sense of belonging. The director/chair will oversee FYE 1201 and other signature courses, ensuring curricular coherence and integrity, supporting ongoing program development, and advancing student success initiatives central to the first-year experience.

The role also includes leadership and coordination of developmental education in both Mathematics and English, Language Arts, and Reading (ELAR). This work should align closely with state guidelines and expectations, including those established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and provisions of HB5, ensuring developmental pathways are effective, compliant, and supportive to student success. The Director /Chair will collaborate with academic advisors and other student support personnel to discuss course placement, scheduling, and advising.

COAS is the largest unit on campus with 8 departments, over 130 full-time faculty, and nearly 4,000 students. COAS offers 34 bachelors, 13 masters, and 1 PhD degrees. The School of First Year Experiences is an academic department within COAS, and the school has approximately 11 faculty.

Preferred and Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Qualifications for this position include a terminal degree (PhD). Candidates with an EdD should have a focus in Curriculum and Instruction or a closely related field to ensure expertise in leading curriculum design and program development. Additionally, it is appropriate for the candidate to hold at least a master's degree in a discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences, particularly when the terminal degree is outside traditional disciplinary fields, so the candidate is prepared to teach and engage with the academic departments in COAS. Overall, this position is envisioned as a central coordinating role that bridges first-year experiences and developmental education to ensure a successful transition from high school into university life and to support students as they become prepared for college ready coursework.

We offer competitive salaries and a benefits package including health insurance, retirement benefits, and life insurance. Additional pay is available for summer teaching. Financial support for professional development opportunities, such as attending academic conferences, is also provided. Moving expenses are covered in whole or in part by the university.

Application Details

Application Process

The first review of applications will be 5/1/2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The completed employment application must include:

• Letter of interest or cover letter that addresses qualifications
• Current curriculum vitae
• Unofficial transcripts specifying conferred
• Names and contact information of three current professional references

Applications must be submitted online at https://www.tamiu.edu/admins/ohr/employment/. For more information, contact the Search Chair, Dr. Kenneth Tobin, at ktobin@tamiu.edu.