Director and Teaching Associate Professor, Center for World Languages and Cultures

The Center for World Languages and Cultures (CWLC) provides support  for language learners and promotes linguistic and (inter)cultural competency as an integral component of a comprehensive education and a critical competency for successful global citizenship. The CWLC is the home to the undergraduate First-year Language Programs (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish) and offers access to the study of Less Commonly Taught Languages through flexible and innovative instruction. The goal of the CWLC is to create a culture of language learning and inclusive excellence to help in furthering DU's goals of internationalizing the campus. Included in this goal are the following:

  • To enrich the first-year academic experience through excellence in language and intercultural education.
  • To increase the number of opportunities for students to engage in language and intercultural learning throughout their educational experience at DU through language programs offered in the CWLC and in conjunction with DU's international strategic and priority partners and through integration of language and intercultural perspectives across the undergraduate common curriculum.
  • To increase the number of students studying abroad in languages other than English.
  • To establish and maintain proficiency standards and coordinate language assessment across the University's programs and divisions.
  • To provide support for DU's current and future language programs.

Position Summary

The Director holds an administrative and faculty position and provides strategic leadership and advocates for all facets of language teaching and learning at DU. As this program has just moved to the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and taken on the development and delivery of the University's first-year language program, the new Director will have important program-building opportunities. The Director is responsible for overseeing all CWLC operations and plays a key role in collaborating among disciplines to promote the study of languages and cultures, particularly in emphasizing the inextricable relationship between language and intercultural competence. The Director works closely with the departments of Languages, Literatures & Cultures and of Spanish Language, Literary, and Cultural Studies in organizing language instruction, with the University Office of Internationalization, and with other academic and support units across the University. The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. In conjunction with the Director appointment, the successful applicant will be appointed at the rank of teaching associate professor and be eligible for promotion to teaching full professor. The teaching professor series at DU was created in 2015 as a parallel, teaching-focused faculty series. As noted in Inside Higher Education, this series provides a career path, rank and promotion, and multi-year contracts. This is a 12-month appointment.

The College is particularly interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the advancement of our diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence work through their administrative leadership and teaching expertise. CAHSS is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. Candidates must demonstrate ability to integrate content and issues relating to, and to work effectively with, ethnically/racially diverse populations. Please see the ODEI website and our 2020-2021 DEI Action Items for more detailed information on DUs work in these areas.

Essential Functions

  • Directs and oversees all CWLC operations, ensuring that all programs and services are effective, cohesive, and consistent with the needs and objectives of the University.
  • Oversees academic First-year Language Programs, including curriculum, assessment, and articulation with 2nd year language programs.
  • Directs and manages all faculty responsible for First-year Language Programs, including annual reviews, reappointment and promotion, and continuing professional development.
  • Identifies areas for collaboration with international strategic partner institutions to offer new languages through online and hybrid modalities.
  • Oversees assessment of the DU Foreign Language common curriculum requirement and participates in University discussions regarding language learning in the curriculum.
  • Represents and promotes CWLC and DU at national and international conferences and meetings related to language teaching and learning.
  • Ensures that Directed Independent Language Study offerings provide students with flexible and rigorous opportunities to study Less Commonly Taught Languages.
  • Interfaces with units in the Office of Internationalization to ensure cohesion and collaboration between International Education and International Student and Scholar Services.
  • Directs and oversees Language Center services, including Tutoring, Proficiency Assessments and Placement Assessments. Develops and revises services to meet the needs of DU academic programs.
  • Evaluates community need to develop and provide non-credit enrichment and professional development language courses.
  • Provides consultation, resources, and assistance to support linguistic and cultural initiatives and events on campus, including Language Across the Curriculum, Internationalization at Home, Collaborative Online International Learning, and faculty and staff professional development.
  • Classroom instruction is not an expectation of this position. However, the Director could choose to engage in teaching as an additional activity, as appropriate.
  • Supervisory duties
    • 2 full-time staff (Associate Director and Program Coordinator)
    • 1 part-time Administrative Assistant
    • 5 full-time teaching series faculty
    • Approximately 2-7 full-time visiting teaching series faculty each year
    • The department also includes part-time tutors, graders, and examiners and a part-time temporary Directed Independent Language Study supervisor reporting to the Associate Director and adjunct faculty reporting to faculty language coordinators.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Strong understanding of the issues, trends, best practices, and opportunities in the field of language teaching and learning.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse, transnational context, as well as the ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
  • Ability to speak a second language fluently.
  • Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
  • Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart information to a range of constituencies.
  • Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
  • Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
  • Ability to evaluate, design, and implement curriculum, testing, and/or teaching methodologies.
  • Knowledge of instructional technology and on-line/hybrid educational methodologies.
  • Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.
  • Ability to supervise, train, and develop employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
  • Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.

Required Qualifications

  • PhD in Second Language Teaching and Learning or related field.
  • Pertinent experience in a multi-language or similar center offering a range of languages and language learning models, including budget oversight.
  • Supervision and development of instructors and curriculum.
  • Evidence of excellent teaching.
  • Experience or commitment to Inclusive Excellence teaching methods and/or pedagogies to engage diverse student populations.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience developing and managing programs for non-traditional instruction of LCTLs (e.g. DILS, summer language institutes).
  • Background in language assessment theory and practice.
  • Experience as a Language Program Coordinator or Director.
  • Experience and accomplishments in active support of diversity and inclusiveness and/or working with diverse communities.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Range
Salary will be determined by the qualifications of the selected candidate balanced with departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

Please include the following documents with your application:

  1. CV
  2. Cover Letter that describes your administrative and teaching experience (including any evidence of supervision and mentorship of faculty), articulates your vision for language and cultural learning across the University, and demonstrates how your interests and expertise fit the job description.
  3. Teaching portfolio with relevant evidence of teaching excellence (teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, any evidence of instructional training or development). Combine all documents into one PDF.
  4. Statement demonstrating how you will contribute to the program’s and University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  5. Names and contact information of three individuals that can provide letters of recommendation.

The University of Denver is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military/ veteran status or any other status protected by law.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.


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