Full-Time Teaching Adjunct-Psychology – Bay Path University

Overview

Location: Springfield, MA Category: Administrative / Staff Posted On: Fri Jan 12 2018 Job Description:

• Position Code:  TAPSY
• Job Type: Full-time, 12-month contract, non-faculty
• Standard Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (Friday schedule TBD as mutually agreed with Academic Program Director); some Saturdays and evenings required
• Job Location: Remote; first three months requires regular presence in Springfield office and at the completion of the 3-mos period for required meetings, etc.  
• Exempt: Yes

The Full-Time Teaching Adjunct-Psychology Programs position within The American Women’s College (TAWC) is a full-time, 12-month contract, position that reports to the Academic Program Director of Psychology.  The position is primarily responsible for teaching, comprising 80% of the job function.  This requires teaching 12 courses per academic year to adult undergraduate women online and on-ground in TAWC’s psychology programs.  The teaching load equates to teaching two courses at a time in each of TAWC’s accelerated 6-week sessions, for each of the six sessions offered per academic year, which ranges from mid-September through the end of July.  Courses may be located at TAWC’s Sturbridge (CMC), Longmeadow (LMC) and Online campuses.  Two course releases may be offered as recommended by the Academic Program Director and with the approval of the Deputy Chief Learning Officer, in consideration of other academic work to be performed.

The remaining 20% of the job function is dedicated to administrative and/or faculty oversight responsibilities to ensure the smooth development and delivery of psychology curricula in our unique academic model. During the summer academic hiatus (beginning of August ? mid September), the role is dedicated 100% to academic administration work, as determined by the Academic Program Director.  Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including Saturdays and weekday evenings, along with travel to other campus locations, is required. As this is an administrative position, faculty rank is not assigned but engagement with academic affairs across the University is highly encouraged.

Full-time presence in the office is required during the first 90 days and then a regular presence, as mutually determined with the Academic Program Director, in the office will be required.  Otherwise, the position will be remote, and the full-time teaching adjunct will manage his/her teaching and administrative activities under the guidance of the Academic Program Director.  Because the TAWC academic calendar runs almost year-round, vacation time for this position will need to be planned carefully with the Academic Program Director.

The American Women’s College’s unique model, SOUL (Social Online Universal Learning), which has garnered several national accolades since its inception, has six components:  1) intentional on-boarding to help students prepare, 2) accelerated 6-week courses that allow for flexibility, 3) customized learning environment which uses adaptive technology to meet students where they are and tailor instruction, 4) wrap-around support that uses data-driven intervention strategies, 5) virtual communities to increase engagement, and 6) faculty professional development to help instructors be more intentional with feedback and facilitation. This ecosystem is supported by data from the student registration database, advisers’ interactions with students, the learning management system, and adaptive learning courses delivered online, which are pulled into a data warehouse. The resulting actionable reports allow instructors, advisers, and program directors to engage in proactive outreach to support student learning. Adaptive courseware also provides real-time data for instructors so they can intervene early and often to enhance student success. The Full-Time Teaching Adjunct ? Psychology should possess the desire to work in such an innovative academic, technology-enhanced, and data-driven environment, be eager to teach in an adaptive learning curriculum, and be able to collaborate across divisions and in partnership with academic technologists, instructional designers, advisors and student service teams, as well as a dedicated marketing and admissions teams. This academic role must be committed to exploring new methods under the guidance of the Academic Director that advance learning and willing to assess and re-assess for constant improvement in alignment with the SOUL model delivered at The American Women’s College.

Administrative and oversight responsibilities will be determined by the Academic Program Director, and will be based on program needs.  Duties may include ensuring that adjunct faculty are fully trained, supported, oriented, engaged and evaluated, in collaboration with the Faculty Development Director.  Additional responsibilities may include collaborating with psychology adjunct faculty to develop a community of practice, reviewing curriculum according to workflows and processes established in partnership with Academic Technology, collaborating with the Adjunct Faculty Hiring Manager on staffing of adjuncts, setting up third-party technology running in psychology courses in advance of beginning of each session, maintaining curriculum in templates and/or in our Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), assessing student learning, overseeing internships in collaboration with the Director of Career Services and PLA, and reviewing student work and providing feedback in the cases of directed studies or internships.

The Full-Time Teaching Adjunct – Psychology must possess experience teaching and developing courses for adults at the college or university, a passion for women’s education, an ability to connect and engage with students regardless of teaching modality, expertise in his/her discipline, a sense of collaboration with other academics, and an ability to master technical tools that are the hallmark of TAWC’s SOUL experience.  Working under the Academic Program Director of Psychology and in tandem with members of TAWC, the Full-Time Teaching Adjunct ? Psychology assists the Academic Director in delivering the optimal academic experience for students.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Teaching (80% of job function).
• In collaboration with the Academic Director of Psychology Programs, determines his/her teaching schedule based on course offerings, enrollment demand, and disciplinary expertise.
• Teaches two courses per session, 6 accelerated sessions per year, for a total of 12 courses per year, following TAWC’s requirements and best pedagogical practices.
• Identifies and documents curricular improvements for Academic Director.
• Depending on course enrollment and TAWC’s schedule of course delivery, may be switched to alternative course section two weeks prior to a course start.
• Administration and/or Oversight (20% of job function).
• Duties may include: 
  • Ensuring that adjunct faculty are fully trained, supported, oriented, engaged and evaluated, in collaboration with the Faculty Development Director.
  • Collaborating with psychology adjunct faculty to develop a community of practice.
  • Reviewing curriculum according to workflows and processes established in partnership with Academic Technology.
  • Collaborating with the Adjunct Faculty Hiring Manager on staffing of adjuncts.
  • Setting up third-party technology running in psychology courses in advance of beginning of each session
  • Maintaining curriculum in templates and/or in our Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Assessing student learning, following annual assessment plan established by the Academic Program Director ? Psychology.
  • Overseeing internships in collaboration with the Director of Career Services and PLA
  • Reviewing student work and providing feedback in the cases of directed studies or internships.
  • Directly engage students in program(s) via office hours, virtual learning communities, webinars, and other venues.
• Attend trainings as required.
• Attend meetings and conferences as requested.
• If you operate a University owned, leased or personal vehicle at any time while performing your duties you must follow all policies and procedures outlined in the Operations Manual. You must have a valid driver’s license and must successfully pass the online safe Driving Course and driving record check at time of hire and annually thereafter.  Additionally, you must report any driving offense, on or off company time, which causes a loss, suspension, or any other change in your license status. You must report this change within one business day of the offense. You can report this change to the Human Resource Department or your direct supervisor. Failure to do so can lead to disciplinary action, up to and including terminations.
• This list of essential job functions and other responsibilities is representative of those duties and responsibilities that are required of this position. However, the list is not to be considered as all-inclusive. A supervisor or director may assign other duties and/or other duties at alternate locations to meet mission requirements of the University and cooperation of all personnel is expected to carry out the mission.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Adjunct Faculty, as determined by Academic Program Director

Job Requirements:

• Master’s degree in a field related to the respective discipline(s) required.  An earned doctorate or currently enrolled in a doctorate program is preferred.
• At least 5 years prior teaching experience with adult students, including teaching online, with a demonstrated track record of engaging students in achieving learning outcomes.
• Strong desire to enable women to succeed.
• An ability to be passionate about Bay Path University history, mission, and hallmark strengths.
• Appreciation for Bay Path’s mission as a women centered institution.
• Prior experience with collaborating with instructors on effective teaching practice, curriculum and assessment practices, and academic policies, and prior experience mentoring instructors and faculty preferred.
• Must possess excellent organizational and technical skills that facilitate teaching and administrative operations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with faculty, students, staff, and administration.
• Energetic, positive, collaborative teaching and administration style.
• Ability and/or willingness to use the University’s resources, notably technology and data, to make decisions and promote effective teaching and learning.
• Ability to follow University policies and procedures.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and within FERPA and HIPPA regulations.
• Should be committed to a culture of diversity, respect and inclusion.
• Experience effectively engaging backgrounds, identities and communities different than one’s own.
• General knowledge of the University’s mission, purpose and goals and the role this position plays in achieving those goals.

Additional Information:Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Bay Path University is a diverse community devoted to proactively nurturing a campus-wide culture that promotes and ensures respect, inclusion and safety for all members regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic background, or physical ability. We are one University that opens our hearts and minds to conversations, to learning and to creating a community that is welcoming of all. Regardless of position, it is expected that each employee will embrace this commitment and demonstrate an attitude of respect toward and acceptance of all members of our community.