Associate Program Chair - Writing Across the Curriculum in Waterbury, Connecticut at Post University

JOB SUMMARY:

The Associate Program Chair of Writing Across the Curriculum provides academic leadership and coordination for Post University’s Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) initiative within the School of Arts & Sciences. Working under the direction of the Program Chair of Liberal Arts and in collaboration with program chairs, faculty, instructional design, and academic leadership, the Associate Program Chair supports the integration of effective writing instruction and discipline-appropriate writing practices throughout the undergraduate curriculum.

The Associate Program Chair promotes writing as an essential component of disciplinary learning, critical thinking, communication, and professional preparation. The position supports faculty in developing meaningful writing assignments and assessments, promotes consistency and quality in writing instruction across academic programs, and contributes to the ongoing assessment and improvement of students’ written communication skills.

This position serves as a resource and facilitator for faculty across disciplines and supports the development of a culture in which writing is understood not solely as a skill taught in English courses, but as a fundamental means through which students learn, communicate, analyze information, and demonstrate disciplinary knowledge.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversee scheduling, staffing, and delivery of writing courses within the School of Arts and Sciences
• Provide academic leadership and coordination for the Writing Across the Curriculum initiative within the School of Arts & Sciences.
• Collaborate with the Dean, program chairs, faculty, and academic leadership to establish and advance goals, priorities, and practices for writing across the undergraduate curriculum.
• Support faculty in designing writing assignments and learning activities that are appropriate to their disciplines, courses, modalities, and levels of student development.
• Promote evidence-based approaches to writing instruction, writing-to-learn, disciplinary writing, revision, feedback, and assessment.
• Assist faculty in identifying opportunities to strengthen written communication within existing courses and curricula.
• Collaborate with faculty and instructional design teams on the development and continuous improvement of writing-intensive courses and assignments.
• Provide consultation and resources to faculty regarding effective writing pedagogy, assignment design, grading and feedback practices, and methods for assessing student writing.
• Support the alignment of writing-related course outcomes and assessments with institutional learning outcomes and program-level competencies.
• Work collaboratively with program chairs and faculty to identify discipline-specific writing conventions and expectations and promote their intentional integration into coursework.
• Assist in developing professional development opportunities, workshops, resources, and other activities designed to strengthen faculty capacity to teach and assess writing within their disciplines.
• Support faculty in using writing as a tool for critical thinking, inquiry, problem solving, reflection, and disciplinary learning.
• Promote effective use of technology and digital tools to support writing instruction, student feedback, revision, and communication.
• Contribute to institutional conversations regarding emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and their implications for writing instruction, authorship, academic integrity, assessment, and student learning.
• Monitor and evaluate evidence of student achievement related to written communication and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
• Collect, analyze, and report relevant data concerning writing instruction and student writing outcomes for institutional assessment, accreditation, and program improvement.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of Writing Across the Curriculum resources, guidelines, faculty materials, and best-practice documentation.
• Facilitate regular communication with faculty and academic leaders regarding WAC initiatives, priorities, challenges, and opportunities.
• Collaborate with the General Education leadership to promote appropriate coordination between foundational writing instruction and writing expectations in major and upper-level courses.
• Support student success by identifying curricular or instructional barriers to effective written communication and working with faculty and academic leadership to address them.
• Represent the School of Arts & Sciences on committees and institutional initiatives related to writing, communication, academic quality, assessment, and student success.
• Teach courses annually as appropriate to the needs of the School of Arts & Sciences.
• Participate in program review, accreditation activities, curriculum development, and other academic initiatives as assigned.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.
• 
  

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will possess a terminal degree, or be in progress toward a terminal degree, in English, Writing, Rhetoric and Composition, Communication, or a related discipline, with a minimum of five years of experience in higher education and demonstrated expertise in writing instruction, writing pedagogy, curriculum development, or a related field.

Experience teaching writing across multiple disciplines and/or experience implementing or coordinating a Writing Across the Curriculum or Writing in the Disciplines initiative is strongly preferred.

The successful candidate should demonstrate substantial college/university-level teaching experience and a record of effective collaboration with faculty across academic disciplines.

COMPETENCIES INCLUDE

Analytical – Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses evidence to inform academic decisions; identifies patterns and opportunities for improvement.

Culture Influencer – Builds a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and service excellence that reflects Post’s student-centered mission and academic vision.

Curriculum Development and Assessment – Demonstrates expertise in curriculum development, writing pedagogy, learning outcomes, assessment, and continuous improvement.

Facilitator – Coaches and supports faculty to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries and promotes a shared commitment to student learning and academic excellence.

Instructional Expertise – Demonstrates knowledge of contemporary writing pedagogy, disciplinary writing practices, writing-to-learn strategies, assignment design, and effective feedback and assessment.

Change Management – Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively; builds commitment; and supports faculty and students affected by curricular or instructional changes.

Design – Generates creative solutions; uses feedback to modify approaches; applies sound instructional design principles; and demonstrates attention to detail.

Mission Aligned – Embodies and champions Post University’s student-centered mission and supports a unified academic and operational culture across the University.

Ethics – Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires trust; works with integrity; and upholds organizational values and standards of academic integrity.

Judgment – Demonstrates sound academic and professional judgment; supports and explains decisions; appropriately includes stakeholders in decision-making; and makes timely decisions.

Leadership – Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates colleagues; effectively influences academic practice; and builds respect and trust through collaboration rather than authority.

Oral & Written Communication – Possesses exceptional writing, editing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills; communicates clearly and persuasively with faculty, administrators, and students; and adapts communication to varied audiences and disciplines.

Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information; develops alternative solutions; and works effectively in collaborative problem-solving environments.

Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats colleagues and students with respect and consideration; accepts responsibility; and follows through on commitments.

Quality Management – Looks for ways to improve and promote academic quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; and supports systematic continuous improvement.

Technology Utilization in Education – Demonstrates effective use and integration of educational technologies to support writing instruction, student learning, assessment, feedback, and communication.

SCHOOL-SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Associate Program Chair of Writing Across the Curriculum works directly with the Assistant Dean, the Program Chair of Liberal Arts, program chairs, faculty, and students of the School of Arts & Sciences. The Associate Program Chair serves as a primary academic resource for the development and implementation of Writing practices throughout the School.

The position is responsible for scheduling, faculty oversight, course delivery and efficacy, and supporting the integration of writing into courses across disciplines. The Associate Program Chair will work with faculty to ensure that writing assignments are not merely additional course requirements, but meaningful opportunities for students to engage in analysis, synthesis, critical thinking, inquiry, and communication.

The Associate Program Chair will also collaborate with the leadership of General Education to promote developmental progression in students’ writing abilities. This includes supporting a coherent transition from foundational writing instruction in General Education to increasing discipline-specific writing expectations within students’ majors and upper-level coursework.

The position will contribute to assessment of student writing and to the collection and analysis of evidence demonstrating achievement of institutional and program-level written communication outcomes. The Associate Program Chair will use assessment findings to identify opportunities for curricular improvement and faculty development.

This position is divided between academic and administrative responsibilities and requires college/university-level teaching experience, demonstrated expertise in writing instruction, and the ability to work effectively with faculty across multiple disciplines.

The Associate Program Chair reports directly to the Assistant Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.