Associate Professor and Program Director, University Writing Center Job at Unive

The Opportunity

The Department of Writing and Rhetoric (DWR) seeks an established, active scholar for a 12-month tenured position as an associate professor to serve as an administrative scholar to lead the University Writing Center (UWC). DWR is committed to innovative research and teaching that addresses challenges related to composition, rhetoric, and literacy in academic, workplace, civic, and community settings. Beyond active research production, job responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in writing and rhetoric studies, mentoring students, and engaging in appropriate academic service on department and college committees along with disciplinary service at the national level.

Our UWC is guided by six valued principles (respect, compassion, inclusion, adaptability, collaboration, and learning) with the purpose of providing the members of the university community with individual, peer consultations at any stage of the research and writing process. The UWC offers online and face-to-face appointments and serves as a campus resource for the ongoing, cross-disciplinary learning about writing through events and workshops. We encourage and promote the growth of peer tutors in a rich teaching and learning environment.

We seek a transformational leader who will encourage, motivate, and support colleagues, as we pursue the ongoing success and evolution of the center. The UWC program director will collaboratively advance writing and critical thinking across the university. The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day operations and oversight of the UWC. The position carries a teaching load of 1/1/1, which includes reassigned time for administrative duties. Teaching responsibilities will include first-year composition, upper-division rhetoric and writing courses, and graduate courses in writing center pedagogy.

Administrative duties include:

• Providing vision and direction for University Writing Center;

• Conducting and reporting programmatic assessment;

• Collaborating with colleagues, consultants, and other internal and external stakeholders;

• Supervising, guiding, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate tutors;

• Supporting curricular implementation and innovation;

• Representing the UWC in internal and external partnerships.

The program director is supported by a team that includes a staff member and a faculty member, at a reduced workload, who serves as the assistant program director. The UWC program director works closely with the department chair and programmatic directors within the department to support and enhance student experiences and successes. The anticipated start date is August 8, 2025.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in rhetoric and writing, communication, English, or a related field from an accredited institution.

• Experience teaching college-level writing.

• Experience administering a writing center at the college level with demonstrated strong leadership skills and the ability to solve problems.

• A record of scholarship, teaching, and professional service/leadership commensurate with a tenured appointment, pending a successful tenure vote and approval by the Board of Trustees.

• Commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all writing center students.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, candidates should upload the following PDF documents:

• cover letter addressing qualifications for position,

• curriculum vitae with list of three references with contact information,

• statement of research, and

• administrative philosophy.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Job Close Date:

March 27, 2025

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Shane Wood, Search Chair, at shane.wood@ucf.edu.