Position Overview
Position Overview:
A key driver of student success and retention-oriented programs and initiatives, the Associate Director of Learning and Writing Support provides vision, leadership, and management over a growing portfolio of programs and services for the Wingspan: the Center for Learning and Writing Support. The current portfolio of programs includes Peer Academic Coaching, Peer-Assisted Learning Support, Supplemental Instruction, Tutoring Services, and Writing Center Services. The Associate Director supervises, directs the activities of, and evaluates the performance of a highly collaborative team of 6-8 professional staff who supervise 150-200 student employees. The Associate Director leads the assessment and evaluation of Wingspan programs and services to ensure student learning outcomes are met and is responsible for creating its annual report. The Associate Director proactively collaborates with campus and community stakeholders to deliver student academic success and retention initiatives. The Associate Director's responsibilities include participating in campus initiatives related to student success and retention; overseeing and directing activities related to the Wingspan space, staff, and programming, including hiring, training, and professional development; overseeing budgets; and collaborating on communications. The Associate Director reports to the Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Success.
Unit Overview:
University Academic Support Centers (UASC) is a comprehensive student support program consisting of five unique centers designed to strengthen the academic skills and written communication of students at the University of Kansas. UASC supports the University's commitment to the academic success and holistic development of students. UASC programs encourage student participation both in and out of the classroom, support academic and personal development, and link students to other campus and community resources for academic and personal support and development. University Academic Support Centers is a department within Academic Success.
Job Description
55% Leadership and Management
- Provides strategic leadership and management for the Wingspan: Center for Learning and Writing Support programs services. Utilizes best practices, research, and theory to conceptualize and implement innovative academic support programming serving KU students both in-person and online.
- Leads assessment and evaluation efforts for Wingspan programs and creates a culture of assessment to ensure programming aligns with student learning outcomes, Academic Success priorities, accreditation priorities, and institutional priorities. Utilizes assessment and evaluation data to inform program modifications and adaptations. Maintains program and service data and prepares annual reports and other reports as required.
- Fosters highly collaborative and communicative partnerships across UASC, campus, and community partners, including Academic Success units, the Center for Teaching Excellence, Graduate Studies, and the academic schools and College to create innovative student success and retention-oriented initiatives and to bring greater awareness of academic support programs.
- Manages and leverages technology solutions and partners with KU Information Technology, Student Information Systems, and Academic Success Initiatives to support efficient data collection, management, and service to students.
- Actively participates in professional development to remain current on student learning, writing center theory and practice, and all populations in higher education.
20% Supervision and Resource Management
- Manages an overall professional staff of 6-8 professional staff and up to 200 student employees.
- Directs the activities and evaluates the performance of four professional staff.
- Provides oversight and direction to the professional development of peer tutoring professional and student staff.
- Directs the recruitment, hiring, and training of new professional and student employees.
- Manages department peer tutoring budget, aligning resources to best support and advance peer tutoring programs and institutional budget goals.
20% Committee Work/University Service
- Serves on the UASC and Academic Success Leadership teams.
- Represents the Wingspan on various university committees and contributes to university-wide initiatives relating to academic support, retention, student learning, and writing pedagogy.
5% Other Duties
- Assumes other responsibilities as designated by supervisor.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree and three (3) years of related experience in the field or a Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of related experience in the field.
- Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated in application materials.
- Demonstrated experience in program assessment, evaluation, and the use of data to inform program modifications as evidenced in application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Terminal Degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Education, English, Rhetoric, Humanities, Social Science, STEM, or related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience designing engaging online and in-person academic support programming as shown in application materials.
- Demonstrated history of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to improve the student experience using academic support programming as evidenced in application materials.
- Experienced with professional and graduate student staff supervision, including goal setting for performance, employee training, coaching, and development as shown in application materials.
- Previous experience managing university budgets as evidenced in application materials.
- Knowledge of and experience implementing best practices in working with multilingual populations in student support as demonstrated by previous work experience and application materials.
Additional Candidate Instructions
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- Resume.
- List of three (3) professional references.
Only complete applications will be considered.
Application review begins Monday, April 28, 2025 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Brianna Wasser
b.lichtenauer.wasser@ku.edu
785 864 1594
Advertised Salary Range
70,000-74,000 commensurate with experience
Work Schedule
M-F 8a-5p
This position will be hybrid working two days per week from home after the probationary period.
Application Review Begins
Monday April 28, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Sunday July 6, 2025
|