Writing Center Assistant Director - North Park University

The Writing Center Assistant Director is a staff appointment that includes a teaching assignment. This position is a 10-month appointment.The Writing Center Assistant Director may teach developmental writing, first-year seminar, and/or tutor training courses in addition to coordinating the day-to-day logistics and practical running of the Writing Center. This work involves collaborating closely with the Writing Center Director to ensure efficiency and avoid redundancy.

About North Park

Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world. Located for over 125 years on the land of the Miami and Potawatomi tribes in what is today Chicago’s northside, NPU has recently been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution and is committed to serving diverse populations. Elevating North Park University’s core distinctives of Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, NPU values diversity among its Faculty and is committed to building a racially and culturally diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages the nomination and candidacies of persons who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color regardless of gender.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Organizational Relationship

The Writing Center Assistant Director reports to the Writing Center Director, who in turn reports to the University Dean.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Writing Center Assistant Director contributes to a comprehensive undergraduate writing program and lends support to the Writing Center Director by

• Assisting Student Coordinators in overseeing the day-to-day scheduling and running of the Writing Center.
• Managing and contributing to the effective use of resources for the Writing Center.
• Teaching or backing up the WRIT 2100 tutor training class, in conjunction with the Writing Center Director.
• Assisting the Writing Center Director in maintaining a viable program of on-line coaching used for both traditional undergraduates and other professionally active, adult undergraduate and graduate students.
• Overseeing the use of tech resources such as the Writing Center 0365 SharePoint files, Microsoft Teams, and Bookings for scheduling WA appointments.
• Monitoring and promoting all social media.
• Updating and maintaining NPU Website pages, making sure web copy reflects all of the services we offer.
• Teaching up to three sections of WRIT2100 “tutor training,” CORE1000 “Cornerstone First Year Seminar,” or WRIT1000 “Fundamentals of Composition” classes per academic year.
• Managing Chicagoland Writing Centers Association and Midwest Writing Centers Association activities.
• Soliciting receiving, and tracking all nominations for new Writing Advisors.
• Processing all new WA applications and leading the interview process for new hires.
• Serving as an assigned Writing Advisor or Writing Partner if needed.
• Supporting the mission and goals of the University, the General Education Program, and the College of Arts and Science by assuming other responsibilities as assigned by the University President, the University Dean, or the Writing Center Director.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or beyond in English, Composition/Rhetoric, Education, Applied Linguistics, or a related field.
• Three to five years of direct experience in writing instruction and learning assistance at a college, university, or other institution of higher education.
• Experience in a Writing Center or working with Writing Consultants.     
• A clear understanding and personal commitment to North Park University’s mission of the Christian higher education.
• Sensitivity to multicultural and gender issues and support for diverse and underrepresented populations.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to be customer-friendly and hospitable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.

Desired:

• A knowledge of issues related to the writing skills and problems of postsecondary students and an understanding of accepted testing and assessment practices in American higher education.
• Ability to be proactive and to work both independently and collaboratively with others.
• A developmental understanding of post-secondary students and a desire to facilitate and encourage this development in a supportive and service-oriented environment.
• The ability to communicate effectively with students, administrators, faculty and staff members, and outside constituencies.
• The ability to coordinate many overlapping tasks effectively.

Details:

Please include (upload) CV or resume, cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy, three professional references, and a writing prompt and grading rubric appropriate for a first-year college writing class as part of the application. You will also be asked on the application to provide a written statement that describes your understanding, experience, and commitment to North Park's three core distinctives – Christian, city-centered, and intercultural – as well as your Christian faith journey and how it aligns with the mission and values of the University.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Prescription Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Remission
• Helwig Recreation Center