Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities
Internal Call for Faculty Director
Human Rights & Action House Learning Community
The Learning Community Program is seeking a current UConn faculty member to assume responsibilities as Faculty Co-Director for the Human Rights & Action House Learning Community. This is proposed as a 10-month appointment. The Faculty Co-Director will report to the Executive Director of the Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities. Effective date of appointment is targeted for August 2020 and is typically for a 3-year term.
Learning Communities are a high impact teaching and learning practice shown to be beneficial for college students from varied backgrounds. They encourage integration of learning and an opportunity to engage students with the grand challenges facing humanity in the 21st century relevant to the theme of this community, starting in their first semester. Human Rights & Action (HR&A) House is an interdisciplinary learning community that engages first- and second-year undergraduate students from any major in coursework and interdisciplinary educational, community-building, and community action activities designed to support students’ successful transition to college and to increase knowledge of human rights at the local, national, and global levels. The Faculty Co-Director will join the leadership team of the HR&A to develop this program in partnership with FYP&LC, the Human Rights Institute, and Community Outreach. With the Staff Co-Director (Rachel Jackson, Human Rights Institute) and a graduate assistant, the Faculty Co-Director teaches and oversees a series of 1-credit academic courses that help students explore key human rights themes and bridges the university classroom and broader community. In partnership with Community Outreach, students engage in for-credit service experiences aimed to provide practical forums to foster greater understanding of human rights principles, community issues, and the skills necessary for active citizenship. HR&A, located in Eddy Hall, has a high-tech Community Room and LC Team Landing Zone in the Alumni Quadrangle Ryan Building.
The Faculty Director’s primary responsibility is to provide vision and leadership for the operation of the Learning Community. Responsibilities include:
- Develop an educational program that will help students transition to college successfully, learn to navigate university resources, provide opportunities to encourage meaningful engagement and support-seeking starting in students’ first semester, and increase awareness and knowledge of topics associated with the theme of this community among all members
- Build and lead an effective LC Leadership Team (partners, graduate assistant(s), student leaders, and residence hall director), hold bi-weekly Leadership Team meetings; and hold a monthly Community Meeting with all members of the community
- Develop dialogue-based curriculum and teach at least 2 one-credit courses each semester, recognizing our priority that faculty engage with first-year students
- Engage with students both in- and out-of-class; oversee planning and implementation of enrichment activities, projects, and events to engage students throughout the academic year; commit to attending community events
- Ensure student awareness of and engagement in UConn initiatives and activities related to the theme of this community
- Engage students in projects in the Learning Community Innovation Zone (LCIZ) makerspace, a space with tools students learn to use; engage students in making through team building, creativity, problem solving, and skill development activities and projects
- Attend meetings and events held by the Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities
- Seek funding and engagement to support program initiatives such as via grant proposals or industry partnerships
- Establish the means and carry out assessment of the Learning Community’s effectiveness
This search is internal to UConn. Requirements: status as tenured/tenure-track full-time faculty member (individuals in other types of faculty positions may be considered); commitment to building community and personalizing and enriching undergraduate education, including a willingness/ability to meet with and advise students and regularly engage with them outside of class in social and experiential activities; relevant interdisciplinary research/teaching interests; excellent communication skills and ability to strategically network; and enthusiasm to build and sustain a high-quality program. The Faculty Director will work closely with the Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities (primarily), the Institute for Student Success, Residential Life and other offices, committees, and individuals concerned with undergraduate enrichment and strengthening UConn initiatives related to the theme of this Learning Community.
Compensation: An additional month of salary (paid throughout the year as a 10-month appointment); other matters to be discussed
*NOTE: If finalist is a non-tenured/tenure-track faculty member, compensation may depend on individual’s faculty position contract
Applications received by Sunday, April 12, 2020 will be given full consideration. Email letter of application, current CV, and contact information for 3 references to Melissa.Foreman@uconn.edu, including “Human Rights & Action House Faculty Director Search” in subject line. Questions can be directed to David Ouimette or Melissa Foreman.
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Learning Communities as High Impact Practice: https://www.aacu.org/leap/hips | Learning Communities in UConn’s Academic Vision: http://academicvision.uconn.edu/sustaining-excellence-in-undergraduate-education/living-learning-communities; http://academicvision.uconn.edu/sustaining-excellence-in-undergraduate-education
For more information, contact: David Ouimette at 486-2150