"Associate Director, TLC Writing Center"

Req #: 234602

Department: UW TACOMA

Job Location: Tacoma Campus

Posting Date: 05/28/2024 

Closing Info: Open Until Filled 

Salary: $6,120 - $6,500 per month 

Other Compensation: 

Shift: First Shift 

Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. 

The University of Washington Tacoma is an anchor institution that is deeply invested in its local communities and in student success. As one of three campuses of a world-class university, UW Tacoma is dedicated to interdisciplinary and innovative teaching and scholarship and to engaging the community in mutually beneficial partnerships. UW Tacoma’s commitment to access and diversity is central to an environment where students, staff, faculty and South Sound residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth. More information about UW Tacoma and its strategic plan can be found here.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Associate Director for the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) Writing Center serves in a lead administrative role, providing leadership for planning, assessment, and administration of the center, which includes day-to-day operations. This position reports to the Director of the TLC Quantitative Center. They work collaboratively with the whole TLC to develop strong academic support services for undergraduate and graduate students in order to promote student success and retention. The Associate Director contributes to setting the strategy for the Writing Center, supervises student and professional writing staff, assesses the efficacy of the Writing Center’s work, and represents the Writing Center on campus and externally. In addition, the Associate Director works closely with the faculty Director of the University Writing Program to support faculty development and consultation around campus-level writing initiatives, including assessment, and to ensure that the Writing Center is aligned with writing initiatives across campus. The Associate Director also collaborates closely with the Writing Studies faculty on support for writing across the curriculum and introductory writing courses.

The TLC Writing Center averages 1700 consultations per quarter for approximately 370 unique UW Tacoma student users ranging from first year writing students to graduate students. UW Tacoma serves a vibrant and diverse population of students of more than half transfer students, over 60% students of color, and 51% first-generation students. Almost all of our students commute to campus. We enroll approximately 4000 undergraduates and 750 graduate students. Forty percent of clients do not speak English in their homes, and 40% of the writing consultations are used by these English Language Learners. This position supports student success by ensuring access to high-quality, accessible, and inclusive writing support for all UW Tacoma students.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Administrative Leadership

In tandem with TLC leadership, sets the strategic direction of the writing center and aligns with campus, Academic Success Programs, Learning Commons, and center strategic goals.

Leads innovative initiatives to ensure that the writing center services are accessible, inclusive, and well-utilized, and meet the needs of current UW Tacoma students.

Recommends, writes and implements policies for the writing center.

Analyzes and reports on writing center data.

Collaborates with the Quantitative Center Director, Director of the UWT Library, university advisors, and other campus units on committees, retention projects, and other campus priorities. 

Supervision

Hires, supervises, and evaluates at least two professional writing staff members.

Hires, trains, observes, and evaluates up to 18 student writing consultants per year in cooperation with professional staff.

Recruits peer consultants from across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Mentors peer consultants in individual research and professional development projects, as appropriate.

Oversees human resource systems (e.g., Workday) for professional staff and writing consultants.

Research and Outreach

Represents the interest of writing learners in campus and tri-campus discussions.

Promotes the writing center as a resource to the faculty, staff, and students and creates and executes an outreach plan to connect students to center resources.

Serves on campus writing-related committees.

Serves on tri-campus writing-related committees.

Represents UWT writing center at local, regional, and national conferences and writing-related events.

Participates in meetings and promotes the work of the Writing Center to the broader community of university writing centers through ongoing research. 

Instructional Development

Creates a peer consultant training curriculum, with the support of the writing center staff and faculty, based on areas of writing and rhetorical theory, writing center theory, anti-racist and intersectional theory and practice, and socio-linguistics.

Implements peer consultant training through weekly meetings, one-on-one observations, annual self-assessments with peers, and individual training as necessary. 

Directs developing, maintaining, and disseminating of writing center instructional resources, including on the TLC website and for specific context.

Faculty Development and Campus Writing Support

Collaborates closely with the Director of Writing, First-Year Writing faculty, W-course faculty, and others as necessary to support writing instruction faculty training and assessment.

Assesses writing instructional support needs at the campus level and creates programming and individual consultations with faculty around writing assignment design and assessment. 

Develops and delivers in-class writing workshops and presentations in partnership with course instructors or campus groups.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Master's degree

At least 2 years’ of experience working one-on-one and in groups with undergraduate and graduate students, preferably in a writing center within a higher education environment.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated commitment and ability to act on social justice, antiracism, or issues of diversity and equity, preferably in a writing center setting.

Familiarity with contemporary composition theory as it pertains to writing center pedagogies and responding to student writing.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team serving a diverse population in a college or university.

Demonstrated ability to communicate appropriately, effectively and positively.

Strong verbal and written skills, technical expertise as well as presentation abilities are required.

Experience teaching writing and/or reading preferably at a post-secondary level.

Proficiency in MS Office. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master of Arts degree or higher in Rhetoric and Composition or similar with a focus on writing center work and pedagogies.

4 years or more of experience working one-on-one and in groups with undergraduate and graduate students, preferably in a writing center within a higher education environment.

Previous supervisory and leadership experience in a writing center environment.

Previous experience developing student success programs such as supplementary instruction.

Experience working with faculty at a post-secondary level, particularly in a faculty development role. Experience working with similar populations, which could include first-generation, graduate, transfer or multi-lingual writers.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.