Academic Coordinator

The Position:

This independent contractor, seasonal Academic Coordinator role is integral to supporting academic operations and faculty, creating a positive learning experience for both faculty and scholars. Reporting to the Director of Faculty, the role focuses on four main areas: Faculty and Teaching Assistant Hiring, Assessment Support, Curriculum and Syllabus Development, and Onboarding and Orientation Facilitation, with clear goals and benchmarks to measure success.

In collaboration with the Director of Faculty, the Academic Coordinator identifies, hires, and welcomes new faculty and teaching assistants, ensuring alignment with Thrive’s mission and values. They also support the development and implementation of assessments that foster student growth and align with learning objectives. Additionally, the Academic Coordinator contributes to updating and enhancing curriculum and syllabi, ensuring content remains engaging and relevant. During onboarding and orientation, they independently lead training sessions to equip new team members with best practices, resources, and program expectations.

This role offers the flexibility for the Academic Coordinator to manage their schedule while meeting deliverables with minimal guidance or supervision and provides an autonomous environment while adhering to agreed-upon timelines.

Expectations:

• Completion Deadlines: As a contractor role, the Academic Coordinator will have specific deadlines set by the Director of Faculty for each deliverable, requiring adherence to scheduled timelines.
• Weekly Check-ins: Available for a 1-hour weekly meeting with the Director of Faculty to review progress, discuss updates, and ensure alignment with program objectives.
• Interview Support: Available to participate in interviews for faculty and TA candidates as needed throughout the hiring process.
• Communication: Demonstrate clear, proactive communication, providing timely updates on assigned tasks and collaborating professionally with all Thrive and campus staff.

Benchmarks & Deliverables: 

Faculty and Teaching Assistant Hiring Benchmarks

• Interview Project Creation: Develop an asynchronous assignment or module for faculty candidates advancing to Stage 2. This component should allow for further assessment of candidate skills and alignment with program values. Review and provide feedback on this component to help select the best candidates.
• Application Review and Recommendations: Participate in application reviews to assess candidate qualifications and program alignment. Make recommendations for faculty and TA interviews based on suitability and fit.
• Recommendation and Feedback: Provide thoughtful, evidence-based recommendations for advancing candidates to interview stages. Coordinate with the Director of Faculty to ensure alignment on hiring criteria.

Curriculum and Syllabus Development Benchmarks

• Syllabus Template Creation: Update the syllabus template for faculty to use, ensuring a cohesive program structure across all courses and sites. 
• Common Read Selection: In collaboration with the Director of Faculty, select a "common read" for writing courses, fostering consistency and enhancing the academic experience across locations. (Writing Only)
• Syllabus Review and Preparation: Review faculty syllabi before the program begins to ensure all faculty are prepared, syllabi are consistent across sites, and meet compliance requirements. Confirm faculty readiness by verifying that Canvas is set up and initial week materials are prepared.
• Consistency and Compliance Checks: Conduct pre-program checks to ensure learning objectives align with assessments, course materials are standardized across sites, and collaborate with the Director of Faculty to ensure faculty follow compliance guidelines (including Canvas setup).

Assessment Support Benchmarks

• Assessment Updates: Update assessments in line with program goals and ensure alignment with current learning objectives. Confirm that faculty are informed of any assessment changes prior to the start of classes.
• Training on Assessment Administration: Train faculty on assessment administration, grading, and interpretation. Provide guidance on how to use assessment data to support scholar progress and address learning needs.
• Rubric Updates and Compliance: Review and update rubrics as necessary to align with course objectives and maintain assessment clarity. Ensure all faculty have access to and are trained on using rubric standards.

Additional Expectation (beyond scope of contract):

Onboarding and orientation support in the weeks leading up to and including the program dates is an extension of the contracted work added to the Faculty role. If the Academic Coordinator serves as a Faculty member during one of our summer programs, the following expectations would be added to that role with additional compensation of $2,000. If the Academic Coordinator does not serve as a Faculty member this year, the contract would be extended to include the following expectations for an additional $2,000.

Onboarding and Orientation Benchmarks

• Faculty Training Preparation: Prepare and lead pre-summer training sessions for both new and returning faculty. These sessions should cover curriculum expectations, assessment administration, and program resources.
• In-Person Orientation Leadership: Facilitate in-person orientation sessions on-site, providing faculty with hands-on training and insights into program expectations. Address program-specific strategies, teaching methodologies, and technology tools.
• Open and Ongoing Support: Maintain availability throughout the program for any academic questions related to curriculum, assessments, or other academic processes. Conduct periodic check-ins with faculty to offer additional guidance and address emerging needs.

*The list of typical duties & responsibilities is intended to be representative of the tasks performed by this position. The omission of an essential function does not preclude Thrive Scholars from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Writing Academic Coordinator: Master’s degree in humanities or social sciences, preferably in English, Writing, Literacy, or Communications, from an accredited college or university.
• Math Academic Coordinator: Master’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, or Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• At least four semesters of teaching experience as the Instructor of Record in a college or university in a credit-bearing course.
• At least one year of teaching experience with Thrive Scholars or a similar academic support program for college-bound students. 
• Proficiency using  Canvas, XYZ Homework, Slack, Google Office Suite and LaTeX (Math only)
• Demonstrated ability to design curriculum that aligns with program learning objectives and fosters measurable academic growth.
• Experience in designing formative and summative assessments that effectively gauge and support student progress. 
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ABD, Ed.D., or Ph.D  from an accredited college or university.
• Current college/university faculty (any rank) with a successful record of teaching writing or mathematics-based courses in a selective college setting.
• At least 3 summers with Thrive Scholars. 

Compensation and Benefits:

Academic Coordinators will receive a total payment of $8,000 for the contracted period between February- June. Payment is contingent upon the successful completion of all assigned deliverables and adherence to the terms of the contract. Payments will be issued after completion of each milestone and once an invoice is submitted and approved. This is a temporary, contract-based position, with an expected 10-20 hour workweek between February- June, 2025

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Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Knowing their importance to the success of our work, Thrive Scholars is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org