Assistant Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

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Xavier University is an integral part of the 500-year-old Jesuit Catholic tradition of academic excellence in the liberal arts, with a strong commitment to advancing a culture of diversity, equity and belonging. These values are central to our mission. We strive for a climate of respect and inclusiveness that welcomes and supports members from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, is committed unreservedly to open and free inquiry, and deliberately seeks out varied perspectives.

Position Summary 
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) assistant director position will foster inclusive teaching practices through faculty development programming and curriculum redesign support, particularly in STEM disciplines. The full-time position is initially funded primarily through a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence (HHMI IE3) grant, with the potential for permanent status.

Xavier is working collaboratively with 13 higher education institutions in a Learning Community Cluster (LCC) in its HHMI IE3 grant. The LCC focuses on transforming the introductory STEM experience for those who have been historically excluded from the sciences, specifically through three projects: 1) DEI-focused professional development for STEM faculty, 2) STEM introductory course redesign, 3) peer-to-peer STEM student connections.

The CTE assistant director focus on the first two projects as well as support collaboration, assessment and grant reporting with the other LCC institutions. The position will also assist with other inclusive teaching programming, including by establishing programs and processes that improve belonging and success in non-STEM disciplines.

Duties and Responsibilities
1. Offer professional development, primarily for STEM faculty

• Informed by evidence-based approaches, help design and offer programming, in coordination with existing CTE offerings, to engage STEM faculty in learning and applying effective and inclusive teaching practices 

2. Support course redesign, primarily for STEM introductory courses

• Engage faculty in curriculum redesign efforts that make use of effective course design principles and inclusive teaching practices
• Use data to support redesign efforts 

3. Design and implement assessment mechanisms to measure effectiveness of changes

• Help departments/faculty make use of and monitor data to make improvements 

4. Support collaboration across universities in the LCC to share expertise and achieve strong results

• Facilitate partnering on projects, including by providing planning and logistical support for connections between Xavier and LCC institutions
• Contribute to project dissemination and grant reporting 

5. Provide expertise in inclusive teaching practices for the CTE

• Offer support for programs beyond scope of the HHMI grant
• Create a roadmap for expanding programs and processes beyond STEM disciplines

The CTE supports Xavier faculty in creating inclusive, collaborative learning environments that challenge our students intellectually, morally, and spiritually to become engaged scholars and citizens. The Center promotes effective teaching that is reflective, engaging, creative, and informed by both pedagogical and disciplinary knowledge.

In supporting this mission, the CTE:

• reinforces the culture of teaching and learning as central to Xavier's mission;
• cultivates environments and relationships to build networks and communities of learning and scholarship;
• provides programs and resources designed to promote pedagogical methods informed by research on teaching and learning;
• inspires faculty to reflect on their work as well as to share and learn from the experience, diversity, and expertise of their colleagues.

Qualifications
Required:

• Master’s degree
• 3-5 years related experience
• Experience teaching in higher education
• Knowledge of pedagogical theories and practices that support effective teaching, particularly inclusive teaching practices
• Evidence of commitment to student-centered teaching that is inclusive to students historically underrepresented due to race/ethnicity or gender, and first-generation students
• Experience leading faculty groups and/or initiatives
• Track record of fostering collaboration, particularly in a higher education environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in a discipline related to Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI) or STEM
• Experience working in a higher education teaching and learning or DEI-related center
• Experience designing and delivering faculty development programs
• Experience in instructional and/or curriculum redesign
• Demonstrated excellence in inclusive teaching practices in higher education
• Contribution to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
• Participation in national organizations on university teaching 

Work hours are in-person M-F 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, with occasional need for earlier or later hours. Some flexible scheduling may be available, particularly during the summer.

Xavier University is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. 

To ensure consideration, interested and qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and the names and contact information of three professional references on Xavier University's website at no later than June 1, 2023.  

Benefits
Xavier University offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and employment class.

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
• Tax advantaged accounts including health savings account, flexible spending accounts, and dependent care account.
• Financial security via life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Tuition remission for employees and their eligible dependents.