Senior Director Center for Excellence in Teaching

Note for Current UM Employees

Current employees must apply internally via connectU > connectu.olemiss.edu

Position Description

The University of Mississippi seeks a Senior Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) to promote faculty success in teaching and learning and advance the teaching mission of the institution.  The Senior Director will provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to promote the professional development and academic success of all in the University community who hold a teaching role. Based on extensive experience and no less than ten years of success in directing teaching center(s), the Senior Director will provide leadership and mentoring for assistant and associate directors, deepen and strengthen bonds between the center and the teaching community, collaboratively discover and articulate the needs of that community, and build the Center to respond to the future needs of a research intensive university. The successful candidate will share our commitment to faculty and student success, access and opportunity, pedagogical innovation, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Department Summary

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is a collaborative work environment where strengths and contributions are encouraged from all team members. Our Center has received outsized attention in the trade press for its original research contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning and recognizes that different perspectives help to bring a stronger outcome for our campus. We work together in partnership with faculty to identify the most pressing concerns for the teaching and learning environment, and then support them in the journey of defining problems and engaging solutions. 

Responsibilities

The Senior Director of CETL reports to the Executive Director of the Academic Innovations Group and will be responsible for coordinating faculty development initiatives across campus.  This responsibility requires the successful candidate to be highly collaborative, engaging with faculty, staff, students, and administrative leadership across the University. The new Senior Director will be responsible for mentoring, development, growth, and evaluation of assistant and associate directors and fostering academic innovation by partnering with staff in our Academic Innovation Group.  This will require the successful candidate to be supportive of all faculty and engage in interdepartmental initiatives to promote faculty success. 

Core responsibilities of the Senior Director include, but are not limited to, leading the coordinated and integrated development of CETL programming, identifying and leveraging the teaching strengths of each academic department/unit, and ensuring communications with these units and delivery of programs, services, and resources to university stakeholders to reflect the timely needs and interests of our educator community. The Senior Director sets the tone for performance in the CETL, leads the development and evaluation of all CETL programming, which rely on active and cooperative partnerships with academic departments to align with the diverse instructional needs of disciplines.
 

This is a 12-month position. If the individual has qualifications appropriate for appointment in an academic department, the department will be asked to consider the rank and track of the candidate at the time of hire. If an appointment is granted, the position will carry a teaching load not to exceed 1/1. The Senior Director appointment will be reviewed formally every four years with a quadrennial review.
 

Position Details

Appointment: 12 month

Assignment Type: Executive / Tenure Track

Examples of Work Performed

• Guide and develop UM faculty professional development at campus and, where possible, departmental levels.
• Plan and budget for annual faculty professional development efforts based on data collection, surveys, and faculty input.
• Mentor, supervise, and develop employees in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
• Assess effectiveness of faculty development efforts.
• Arrange event planning in support of faculty development.
• Provide teaching observations and consultations for administration, departments, and faculty.
• Support development and implementation of programming, including Inclusive Teaching Faculty Learning Communities.
• Coordinate with SI Supervisor.
• Support and coordinate with Operations Coordinator.
• Provide campus outreach on issues related to teaching and learning.
• Partner with Office of Provost to implement year-long new faculty orientation learning community.
• Consult with Office of Provost on development of policy as related to teaching and learning.
• Represent teaching and learning issues on general education committee.
• Represent teaching and learning issues in Faculty Senate, and carry out projects (e.g., teaching evaluation revisions, teaching awards), as warranted.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited university (Ph.D. or Ed.D.).
• Eight years total experience leading center(s) for teaching and learning at research universities.
• Experience mentoring and developing assistant and associate directors in CETL.
• Record of teaching excellence in a research university setting.
• A track record for supporting developing teachers in our graduate student population.
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities with contemporary academic assessment methodologies.
• Ability to represent the teaching community with the Office of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning.
• Knowledge of accreditation environment in SACSCOC.
• Ability to represent the teaching and learning community in general education.
• Robust knowledge of contemporary research in scholarship of teaching and learning, including effective pedagogical practices, active learning theories, instructional design, and critical thinking.
• Eligibility for a faculty appointment in a tenure track position in an applicable department.  
• Experience in program development, data analysis, and assessment with broad campus collaboration.
• Excellent presentation, writing, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing/ submission.
• Experience in providing instruction and consulting with faculty on effective student-centered teaching and learning.
• Ability to conduct unit self-assessments and implement strategic planning.

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

Application Procedures

To ensure full consideration, please submit the University’s online application along with a letter of interest, a detailed current curriculum vita, and a list of 3-5 references.

Applications will be accepted until an adequate pool of candidates has been established or until the position is filled.  Upon hire, faculty members of the University must provide an official transcript.  Request an official transcript to be mailed directly to Human Resources: University of Mississippi, Attn: Human Resources, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848.
 

About the University of MS & Oxford, MS

Founded in 1848, the University of Mississippi (UM), affectionately known to alumni, students and friends as Ole Miss, is Mississippi's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R-1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. The University of Mississippi, consistently named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For,” is located in Oxford, MS, which is ranked one of the “Top 10 Best College Towns.” With more than 24,000 students, UM is the state's largest university and is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing institutions. The University of Mississippi, which has aggressively implemented many health and wellness initiatives for its more than 2,900 employees, has consistently been named one of Mississippi’s Healthiest Workplaces.

Touted as the “Cultural Mecca of the South”, creativity abounds in Oxford as musicians, artists and writers alike find inspiration in Oxford’s rich history, small town charm and creative community. Oxford is a one-hour drive south of Memphis, TN and is known as the home of Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner. Over the years Oxford has also been known for offering exceptional culinary experiences and as the home of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss Rebels, there is always something here to immerse yourself in. Oxford has also been featured as a literary and arts destination in such publications as The New York Times, Southern Living, Condé Nast Traveler, and GQ. Among other cultural activities, annual events include the Oxford Film Festival, a thriving local music scene, and the Ford Center Performing Arts Series. Oxford is a vibrant university town, filled with unique shops and galleries, eclectic restaurants and clubs, historic landmarks, and comfortable inns.

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.