Director of the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship

Augustana College is seeking a dynamic and innovative leader to serve as the inaugural Director of the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship. The ideal candidate will be a visionary committed to enhancing the educational experience through innovative teaching practices, engaged learning, impactful scholarship, and excellence in writing instruction. They will advance a culture of learner-centered, critically reflective teaching grounded in equity and evidence. The new Director will bring a knowledge of emerging pedagogical trends and help to tell the story of engaged learning at Augustana by catalyzing SOTL scholarship. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of engaged learning and writing at our institution, contributing to the Augustana Bold & Boundless strategic plan.

The Director will report to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and is an important contributor to strategically advancing Augustana’s educational vision.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide strategic leadership for the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS) by:

• Developing and aligning the Center’s vision with the college’s strategic goals and Augustana Bold & Boundless plan.
• Cultivating a culture of excellence in teaching, engaged learning, and scholarship.
• Supporting faculty growth through workshops, seminars, coaching, and leading New Faculty Orientation.
• Offering professional development for incorporating innovative teaching methods and technologies.
• Encouraging faculty scholarship and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Partnering with faculty and the AVP of CORE to facilitate experiential and active learning, including developing community-based learning and partnerships.
• Promoting scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and showcasing Augustana’s teaching excellence.
• Advancing writing initiatives to meet student and faculty needs and to prepare students for post-graduation and supporting faculty in developing writing curricula and instructional materials.
• Formulating and implementing a vision for integrating generative AI in teaching and scholarship.
• Collaborating with ITS to ensure learning-focused implementation of technology.
• Teaching one writing-based course per year to undergraduate students.
• Managing the Center’s budget and partnering with the Provost’s Office to seek and administer external funding.

Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in field, doctoral degree preferred.
• Five or more years of experience in higher education or a related field, including teaching, administration, and program development.
• Proven leadership in faculty development, engaged learning, community-based learning, or writing instruction is highly valued, but a candidate does not need to possess all of these strengths at the outset.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education.
• Knowledge of research in the learning sciences, pedagogy, educational innovation and inclusive practices in faculty development.
• Expertise in writing pedagogy is a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in college-level teaching experience is strongly preferred.

Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A cover letter outlining their vision for the Center and relevant experience.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, please submit your application materials to https://augustana.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=179612 by September 6, 2024.

About Augustana College:
Augustana College is a vibrant liberal arts and sciences academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community engagement, with enrollment of about 2500 students. Our beautiful 115-acre campus is located in Rock Island, Illinois, part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area along the Mississippi River, 165 miles west of Chicago, and with a population of about 450,000. Augustana awards the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in about 100 majors and related academic programs and a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology. Our diverse student body includes 26 percent first generation college students, 23 percent Pell Grant students, 24 percent students of color, and 12 percent international students. Strengthening our diverse and inclusive community is central to the College’s mission and strategic plan.