Birmingham-Southern College’s Quality Enhancement Plan, rise3, an initiative that deepens the College’s commitment to experiential learning, will be ready for full implementation in fall, 2015. To this point, the initiative has been led by an interim director and has functioned largely as a pilot program. Ready now for full launch in fall 2015, rise3 and BSC need an overall leader as the initiative formally rolls out. It is critical that this person have the credentials and credibility to work with faculty, the energy to corral multiple activities simultaneously, the ability to interact with both staff and students effectively, the persistence to follow through on projects, and the vision to build the rise3 initiative over time.
The rise3 Director will lead and facilitate the work of the rise3 initiative with the goal of enhancing BSC students’ experiential learning in three primary areas: service-learning, internships, and faculty-student research. The Director is also charged with ensuring ongoing faculty and staff development in support of the critical reflection component of rise3. This is a twelve-month appointment (faculty rank is possible if desired and the candidate qualifies); salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The internship portion of rise3 is managed by an internship coordinator and service learning is coordinated within the College’s Bunting Center for Engaged Study and Community Action. The rise3 leader will serve as the champion for the student-faculty research piece of the initiative in addition to his/her work as overall leader of the initiative.
The rise3 Director will report to the Provost and will sit as a member of the Provost’s Cabinet. The Director will develop collaborative relationships with other program and academic areas of the College in order to ensure that rise3 is fully integrated into students’ experiences and the College’s culture.
Essential duties of the position:
• Monitor and promote student participation in rise3 initiatives, including maintenance of accurate records of participation
• Assume primary responsibility for professional development opportunities for faculty and staff involved in rise3,
• Serve as a champion and facilitator for student-faculty research collaborations
• Manage the day to day activities of the rise3 initiative, including supervision of budget and staff
• Sponsor at least one rise3 experience each academic year (possibilities for offering other academic courses also exist)
• Work with other offices on campus to maintain a presence and distinctive identity for rise3 on the College website, admission office, and other campus recruitment venues for both prospective and current students
• Work collaboratively with faculty collectively and individually
• Work with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to analyze the impact of rise3 on student learning and other institutional measures; collaborate on the preparation of progress and evaluation reports required by SACSCOC
Required qualifications:
• Strong leadership and interpersonal communication skills
• Terminal degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution
• Effective project management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritize, and meet deadlines
• Strong writing, analytical, organizational, and research skills
• Knowledge of critical reflection pedagogies
Desired qualifications:
• Experience with experiential learning
• Experience with the assessment of student learning
• Experience implementing faculty and/or staff development initiatives
• Experience with undergraduate research initiatives
Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The College currently enrolls approximately 1,200 undergraduate students, is included in Pope’s 40 Colleges that Change Lives, and is a sheltering institution for Phi Beta Kappa. For more on the college’s faculty, students, educational mission, and national reputation, visit www.bsc.edu.
The College is located just minutes from downtown Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama. Birmingham is leading hub for banking and medical research and is a vibrant center for arts, entertainment, commerce, and recreational activities. There are six higher education institutions within a short commute, a symphony, a ballet, the largest art museum in the Southeast, and annual art, music, and film festivals.
BSC is an equal opportunity employer and is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. BSC complies with the Alabama Child Protection Act and E-Verify.