Dominican University is hiring: Director of Critical Reading, Writing, and Speak

INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY

Position Title: Director of Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking (CRWS)

Department: Academic Affairs

Reports To: Director of the Core Curriculum

Location: On Campus (River Forest, IL)

Position Summary:

Any full-time faculty member may apply for the position of Director of Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking (CRWS), a position which comes with three primary responsibilities:

• Directing Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking
• Teaching Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking (generally at least one section per semester)
• Teaching other courses in the core and/or departments as needed

Candidates should be experienced in teaching and assessing written and oral communication skills, invested in the assessment of student learning, comfortable collaborating with various campus partners, open to research in writing across the curriculum, and willing to work on continuous improvement in program and curriculum design. The position reports to the director of core and comes with a release of eight workload hours; the contract period is typically three-to-five years and may include summer work, which is compensated with a stipend.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the Director of the Core to maintain and assess both levels of the CRWS program: CRWS 105, designed for first-year students, and courses across the curriculum that have been designated with the Advanced CRWS tag. Specific tasks include reviewing and providing feedback on course syllabi, providing ongoing faculty development and support for instructors in the program, and assessing student learning in CRWS and Advanced CRWS on a regular basis, using the evidence from such assessments to refine the program.
• Work with the Director of the Core to schedule and staff CRWS courses with faculty from across the university, which may require hiring and supervising adjunct faculty when needed. Those duties might include posting job ads, interviewing and recommending applicants for hire, helping new adjuncts get oriented to Dominican, helping adjuncts plan their courses, observing adjuncts' teaching and writing reports of the observations, and being available to answer questions and help solve problems.
• Organize Community of Practice (CoP) meetings for CRWS instructors at least twice a semester to discuss pedagogy and best practices.
• Consult on issues related to CRWS with colleagues across various areas of the university, including the Core Curriculum Director / Core Curriculum Committee, Rebecca Crown Library, Student Success and Engagement, the Registrar's Office, the Office of Civic Learning, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE), and the Transitions and Honors Programs.
• Remain current with and contribute to the fields of composition, rhetoric, and first-year writing and speaking by keeping track of ongoing discussions of theoretical and practical issues, attending and giving papers at conferences, maintaining contacts in the field, and pursuing practical and scholarly projects such as textbooks and journal articles.

How to apply?

Interested faculty should submit a CV and brief cover letter in which they explain their interest in the position and describe their qualifications in relation to the duties listed above.

Review of applications begins February 28, 2025.

Finalists will meet with the Provost, the Dean of RCAS, the director of core, and the faculty senate president in early March, and an appointment will be made by late March.

The position begins in May 2025.

Expectations for all Dominican Employees

To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, give compassionate service, and participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, engage in university service work that promotes collaboration and community building. This includes participating in organizational initiatives, supporting campus events, contributing to community outreach, and fostering a supportive environment through involvement in various staff-driven activities and groups.

Institutional Statement

Dominican University is committed to fostering a supportive academic community that provides access and opportunity for all our students.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Dominican University is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal and state employment regulations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need accommodations due to a disability, you may contact us at opc@dom.edu for assistance.