"Director of Writing Center and First-Year Writing"

Job Details

Department Information

The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) offers students opportunities to become ethical, socially responsible, engaged learners who are prepared to assume leadership in a dynamic global context. CHASS offers 34 bachelor’s degrees, 19 emphasis areas, 27 minors and a Master of Social Work (MSW). CHASS is also home to nearly 70% of the university-wide general education courses, including the majority of courses in written communication, humanities, history and social sciences. CHASS is dedicated to upholding the university’s vision by providing interdisciplinary education and is committed to the academic success of each student.

The Writing Center supports students from all disciplines in developing writing skills that are transferable to multiple contexts. Center staff and tutors contribute to student success and growth by offering all students support and guidance in their development of healthy writing processes and a broad repertoire of writing strategies. The center employs approximately 8 tutors.

First-Year Writing fulfills a core General Education requirement and emphasizes the connections among writing, reading, and critical thinking. It endorses the concept of writing as a recursive and collaborative process of invention, drafting, and revision. The program serves approximately 1,200 students a year with seven full-time faculty.

Description of Job

This full-time Administrative Professional position is housed in the Department of English & World Languages in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS). The primary responsibility of this position is to direct the Writing Center and the First-Year Writing Program. In addition, the Director will teach one 3-credit-hour course each fall and spring semester. There is also the potential of summer teaching for additional compensation.

As Director of the Writing Center, the position provides leadership in writing support services by supervising Writing Center staff; training, and mentoring tutors; managing daily operations and scheduling; designing and implementing tutor professional development; and assessing the Center’s usage, effectiveness, and impact on student learning.

As Director of the First-Year Writing Program, the position oversees curriculum and pedagogy for first-year writing courses, mentors and supports full- and part-time faculty, leads program assessment and data analysis, develops program resources and guidelines, and ensures alignment with best practices in rhetoric and writing instruction.

Primary Duties

Teaches one 3-credit-hour course each fall and spring semester, typically in first-year writing, according to program needs and candidate’s area of expertise. Teaching expectations for titled faculty are outlined in the Faculty Handbook (2.8.5). They include: command of one’s subject; ability to organize subject matter and to present it clearly, logically, and imaginatively; knowledge of current developments in one’s discipline; ability to relate subject matter to other areas of knowledge; ability to provoke and broaden student interest in the subject matter; ability to utilize effective teaching methods, strategies and appropriate technologies.

As Director of the Writing Center

• Provide overall vision, management, and leadership for Writing Center services.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor tutors.
• Schedule tutor hours.
• Promote Writing Center to campus community.
• Develop and implement projects that will grow and sustain the Writing Center.
• Oversee daily operations and strategic planning.
• Oversee assessment of Writing Center activities and use findings to guide improvements.
• Prepare reports on the Writing Center’s impact on student success and share findings with campus stakeholders, including Academic Council.
• Supervise, collaborate with, and delegate appropriate responsibilities to Writing Center staff.

As Director of the First-Year Writing Program

• Provide curricular and pedagogical leadership for First-Year Writing courses.
• Oversee and mentor full- and part-time First-Year Writing instructors.
• Assist and advise the Department Chair on hiring and onboarding of First-Year Writing faculty.
• Advise the Department Chair on scheduling of First-Year Writing courses.
• Direct curricular development and maintain program materials and guidelines.
• Lead program assessment, compiling and analyzing student success data in First-Year Writing.
• Prepare reports on student learning outcomes and the broader impact of the program.
• Ensure alignment of program goals with best practices in First-Year Writing instruction.
• Undertake teaching observations of First-Year Writing faculty, as directed by the Department Chair.

Ancillary Duties

Other duties as assigned

Salary Range

$56,000 to $60,000

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Rhetoric & Writing, Writing Studies, or English with a demonstrated Rhetoric & Writing specialization.
• Ability to teach college-level First-Year Writing courses.
• Demonstrated knowledge of writing pedagogy.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to and commitment to serving various populations and learners.
• 3 years of experience teaching college-level First-Year Writing courses.
• Experience with administrative responsibility in program management and/or education administration in a higher education setting
• Experience of providing mentorship and/or tutoring.
• Experience working with various student and staff populations.
• Experience of cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Rhetoric & Writing, Writing Studies, or English with a demonstrated Rhetoric & Writing specialization.
• A research profile and publication record in the fields of rhetoric, writing, and/or writing center studies.
• Ability to oversee curriculum assessment and development in First-Year Writing.
• Ability to undertake student success data analysis.
• Knowledge of student support practices related to teaching, tutoring, learning needs and approaches.
• Experience as a Writing Center or First-Year Writing Program Director or Assistant Director.
• Experience of designing and delivering professional development events.

Supplemental Information

All interested candidates must apply through the online application system. No other format of application materials will be accepted.

Applicants must attach the following documents, in order to be considered for this position:

• a letter of intent (cover letter) describing the means in which you meet the qualifications for this position
• a current resume or CV
• unofficial or official transcripts showing required degree conferred
• three professional references, either within the application or as an attachment (please note: personal references do not count towards this requirement).

Applications submitted without the required attachments/information above will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the selection process. Once submitted, applicants will not be able to make changes or add information to their application packet, with the exception of their personal contact and demographic information.

Early submission of application materials is encouraged. Applications received by 8:00 AM (MST) on January 12th, 2025, will receive full consideration. Screening of applications will begin only after this deadline is met, and will continue until the position is filled.