University of Michigan - Flint

DIRECTOR
THOMPSON CENTER FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING
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Position Description

The University of Michigan-Flint seeks a Director for the Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching.  The University of Michigan-Flint is a regional campus of the University of Michigan and benefits from its partnership with its sister campuses in Dearborn and Ann Arbor.  Academic Affairs’ core includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Health Professions and Studies, the School of Education and Human Services, and the School of Management as well as many centers and programs.  The University offers degrees in over 100 undergraduate and over 30 graduate areas of study and serves over 7,700 students.  The University benefits from the efforts of over 460 faculty made up of 107 tenured faculty, 77 tenure-track faculty, 11 clinical faculty, 40 full-time lecturers, and approximately 229 part-time lecturers. 

The Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching (TCLT) has just completed its eleventh year of operation and seeks to develop its mission of the Center for the next decade.  The TCLT promotes, supports, and advances excellence in teaching throughout the University.  The Center assists faculty in their efforts to deepen knowledge of their current teaching practice, explore new methods for promoting active learning, and incorporate new technologies into teaching.  To that end, the Center provides the following: 

• Activities, workshops, programs and services that encourage the enhancement of teaching;
• Consultation for individuals and departments regarding pedagogical issues;
• Campus-wide events and activities for faculty and staff;
• Collaboration with units and departments;
• Financial support in the form of internally funded grants and fellowships in support of teaching;
• A collection of printed and online teaching resources for faculty use. 

The Director for the Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching reports directly to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and oversees the day-to-day operation of the TCLT and its programs/initiatives which include but are not limited to:

• Campus-Wide Professional Development:  The TCLT co-hosts several campus-wide events in the form of summits, full- and half-day conferences, and specialized workshops featuring topics relevant to UM-Flint.  Many of these feature national speakers and campus experts alike. 
• Marian Wright Teaching Circles:  Teaching circles, involving groups of 5-10 faculty, are sponsored each year providing a forum for informal discussion around a common interest in teaching and learning and are supported with a financial grant.
• Brown Bag Discussion Series:  These informal meetings encourage faculty members to gather and discuss specific pedagogical topics throughout the academic year.
• Private Consultation:  Consultations are available to individual faculty members, departments, and programs on a broad range of teaching concerns.  Services include classroom observation, resources relevant to a wide range of topics, and referrals to other campus resources.
• New Faculty Orientation:  This one-day annual event, sponsored in cooperation with the Office of Research and Human Resources, welcomes and orients new colleagues to campus.  Information regarding teaching and research is presented, as well as general information regarding programs and services available campus-wide.
• First Year Faculty Program:  Tenure-track faculty are invited to participate in an ongoing orientation program over the course of their first academic year.  Monthly sessions cover a range of topics including teaching methods, research, service, assessment and more.

• Publication:  The Center publishes The Scholarship of Teaching, a semi-annual publication providing a written venue for UM-Flint faculty, administration, and staff to publish and “listen in” on one another’s perspectives on teaching for the purpose of deepening the conversation about excellence in teaching.
• Pedagogical Research on Teaching and Learning:  The Center fosters opportunities for faculty to engage in internal and external research on teaching and learning in areas of content specialization.  Engaging in pedagogical research advances self-reflective practice while yielding research of national importance suitable for publication in peer-reviewed professional journals.
• The Balancing Act Workshop Series:  The TCLT and the Women’s Education Center co-sponsor a series focused on topics pertinent to balancing teaching, research, and service.  With women in mind, this series will addresses issues and dilemmas in fostering a productive and satisfying academic career. 

The TCLT Director is a full-time position.  Desired qualifications include but are not limited to: 

• Experience in promoting student learning and teaching development using contemporary pedagogical approaches, applying instructional technologies, and measuring student learning outcomes.
• Ability to provide vision and leadership to the Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching.
• Experience with assessment of student learning – in both face-to-face and online environments;
• Ability to work effectively with academic leaders and faculty members on university-wide initiatives related to teaching;
• Strategic planning experience including mission and goal development;
• Ability to develop and administer professional development activities and surveys;
• Leadership abilities demonstrated within a regional academic community;
• Demonstrated skill at collaborating, problem solving, researching, and evaluating teaching and learning strategies with faculty, administrators, and staff;
• Experience in developmental advising;
• Knowledge in how to network with national groups and individuals in the field of evidence-based best practices for teaching and student learning;
• Experience with pedagogical research;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective Center resources including library and web site. 
• Evidence of the ability to conduct peer review for online courses;
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, both written and oral;
• Skill at generating excitement for the interplay between teaching and research;
• Demonstrated cultural competence in diverse teaching and learning strategies; and
• Budget and grant-writing experience.

In addition, candidates are required to possess a minimum of a terminal degree; teaching experience at the college or university level; administrative experience; and evidence of writing and pedagogical research.  

Procedures for Candidacy

Review of applications will begin on November 11 and continue until an appointment is made.  Interested candidates must apply online at www.umjobs.org.  In addition to an online application, candidates must also submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and three reference letters electronically to Sue Fabbro, Office of the Provost, at sefabbro@umflint.edu. 

Web page of Thompson Center for Learning & Teaching

PDF file of this page: Srch_PositionDescrip_tclt_dir.pdf

The University of Michigan-Flint is a non-discriminatory,
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer