Averett University’s newly-established Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness has three key areas of focus: Experiential Learning, Career Competitiveness, and Community Engagement. The Center will build on the momentum already created in the community through partnerships with the public and private sectors, PK-12 educational institutions, and Danville (DCC) and Piedmont (PCC) Community Colleges.
Reporting to the Executive Director for the Center for Community Engagement & Career Competitiveness, the Director manages all aspects of Experiential Learning (service-learning, internships, faculty-led research), including: project development, faculty/community partner development and relations, syllabi review, student orientation sessions, assessment, etc. The Director works collaboratively with academic departments, Student Life, and on-campus clubs and organizations. The Director will advance strategic initiatives related to experiential learning and help to build and maintain university-community partnerships.
Qualifications include:
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
• 3+ years experience leading service-learning and community engagement initiatives in higher education, including advising/leading students and developing partnerships
• Ability to articulate an understanding of the higher education landscape and the trends related to service-learning in higher education
• Experience with curriculum development and teaching in a higher education setting
• Knowledge of current issues and best practices in service-learning
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to communicate the Center’s capacity for engagement in the region
• Understanding of the university’s mission, goals and strategic priorities
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, including tact and diplomacy, as well as organizational and planning skills, with attention to detail and follow through
• Proficiency using standard office software applications
Duties include:
• Work with faculty to assist in implementing and assessing service-learning opportunities in graduate and undergraduate courses.
• Serve as the point of contact for the university’s internship program; work with students, faculty and community partners to develop internship opportunities that are aligned with degree studies; work with faculty to supervise internship placements.
• Conduct professional development workshops on service-learning for faculty and assist in designing, implementing, and evaluating service-learning course objectives and content.
• Establish relationships with community partners, including site visits, memoranda of understanding, agency orientations, safety assurance, etc.
• Serve as ongoing liaison between faculty and community partners.
• Market the university’s experiential learning programs internally and externally.
• Create and maintain the necessary paperwork related to the formal adoption service-learning courses and internships, including partner agreements, timesheets, etc.
• In collaboration with course faculty, develop appropriate evaluation tools to assess in the achievement of course objectives related to service-learning.
• Conduct ongoing and regular assessment of all experiential learning initiatives.
• Organize annual symposia and awards program for key stakeholders, including students, faculty and community partners.
Work Schedule:
This Director of Experiential Learning is a professional position. Hours may vary beyond the standard 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Physical Demands:
Please send your cover letter, resume, and a list of references ( 3 ) to:
Selection Committee – DEL
Averett University
420 West Main St.,
Danville, VA
at: del@averett.edu
No phone calls please.
Review of applications will begin on 09/16/2014 and will continue until candidates are called for interviews.