Associate Director, University Studies, Transition Programs

About the role

The Associate Director, University Studies, Transition Programs oversees the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Transition to Mason courses (e.g., UNIV 100/108/150/300) to enhance student success. This involves creating and updating curriculum content, managing day-to-day course operations, administering faculty and peer advisor training programs, developing campus partnerships, leading marketing efforts to boost course registration, and assessing curriculum effectiveness and enrollment trends.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the University Studies Leadership Team to assess, strategize, and improve the overall operation of the University Studies program;
• Consults with the leadership team and contributes to program decisions;
• Supports tasks such as interviewing new adjunct faculty and attending functions, scheduling, and reviewing program mission and vision;
• Oversees the course design for Transition to Mason courses:
• Identify, create and update curriculum content informed by data, emerging trends, and best practices to enhance student success;
• Create student learning outcomes at both programmatic and modular levels;
• Create engaging curricular content and tools that incorporate active learning principles to boost student learning;
• Create syllabi, how-to guides and other faculty resources for the successful implementation of the curriculum;
• Manage the day-to-day activities of the Transition to Mason courses:
• Act as main point of contact for any student or course related issues;
• Ensure programmatic compliance with university accreditation requirements;
• Supervise the Graduate Professional Assistants for Faculty and Curriculum and for the Peer Advisor Program;
• Supervise the Training and Recruitment Specialist;
• Lead marketing efforts to boost registration in University Studies classes;
• Administer Faculty Training and Recruitment, and the Peer Advisor Program:
• Conduct faculty observations according to a predetermined annual schedule;
• Provide instructors feedback and mentorship on classroom management and teaching techniques;
• Provide direction and support regarding the recruitment, selection and training of the UNIV 100/108/150 faculty;
• Provide direction and support regarding the recruitment, selection and training of Peer Advisors;
• Lead campus partnerships:
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the university engaged in programming for first-year and new transfer students;
• Serve on committees to represent University Studies;
• Explore new course offerings in collaboration with campus partners to address student needs;
• Engage in campus opportunities to boost the visibility of University Studies as the main hub for George Mason’s college transition courses;
• Oversee assessment of curriculum effectiveness and enrollment trends for UNIV courses:
• Design and administer student surveys to assess the effectiveness of the UNIV courses against pre-determined outcomes;
• Design and administer faculty surveys to assess the effectiveness of the curriculum;
• Make adjustments based on feedback from both students and faculty;
• Conduct data analysis for annual enrollment and trends over time;
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced Degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of related education and experience;
• Some experience with programming in a higher education setting;
• Some experience with programmatic assessment;
• Some experience with the creation of curriculum based on pedagogical principles;
• Some experience in managing a team of professional and student employees;
• Knowledge of assessment practices;
• Knowledge of the essential elements of creating a course curriculum;
• Knowledge of university transition program;
• Skills with a learning management system;
• Ability to manage a team of faculty and students;
• Ability to analyze data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Considerable experience with university transition programs;
• Considerable experience with creating or implementing university curriculum;
• Some experience in creating and analyzing programmatic assessment;
• Some experience in recruiting and mentoring adjunct faculty and students;
• Some experience in leading an educational program;
• Knowledge of the creation of university level course curriculum;
• Knowledge of programmatic assessment of an educational program;
• Knowledge of active learning pedagogy;
• Knowledge of the pedagogy of peer leader training;
• Skills in creating reports from assessments and data;
• Skills in managing a program in higher education.