Core Position Descriptions

Every three years, a faculty director is appointed to provide operational leadership for the First Year Seminar.  This is a part-time academic administrative appointment reporting to the Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum, with primary responsibilities during the academic year (~10 hours a week, August 15-May 15) with some duties in the summer. Compensation will be one course release each semester, plus a stipend. There is an expectation that the director will take the course releases, due to the time demands the position requires. The official start date is June 1, but the successful candidate must attend Assessfest in May, as a participant or an observer.

The position is open both to new candidates and to faculty with previous experience as director who have not served more than six consecutive years in the position immediately prior to the current search. The successful candidate will have taught First Year Seminar regularly and recently. Demonstrated administrative potential or experience (organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, plus attention to logistical detail) is highly desirable, as is prior experience of participation in Assessfest and/or other university program assessment.  Enthusiasm for facilitating faculty contributions to First Year Seminar as a dynamic and innovative part of the core curriculum is essential.

Responsibilities of the Faculty Director of First Year Seminar

Curricular review, development, and assessment

• Oversee the long range planning and development of the program, including regular program evaluation and assessment
• With the assistance of the FYS advisory committee, lead faculty in considering and implementing any needed changes in the format and content of the FYS program, including preparation of proposals for review by the Core Curriculum Committee
• Communicate effectively with FYS faculty and staff, including prompt reporting of assessment results to FYS faculty
• Initiate and support grant proposals and administer funded proposals in keeping with the needs and interests of the FYS faculty.
• Communicate with the Writing Across the Curriculum coordinator and tutors in the writer’s studio.

Faculty Recruitment and Development

• Coordinate and assume primary responsibility for recruitment and retention of faculty and fostering a sense of community for FYS faculty
• Assess needs, review and hire adjunct faculty as appropriate
• Plan for and supervise the preparation of FYS faculty, including the communication of best practices for teaching writing.
• Respond to faculty requests for assistance and evaluation, including letters of recommendation, classroom visits, or other means of support requested by the faculty.
• Review course evaluations of certain core faculty
• Foster the intellectual growth of FYS faculty by organizing, convening and directing workshops and retreats as needed for new and continuing faculty.
• Develop and maintain a handbook for faculty teaching in the First Year Seminar

Routine Administration

• Oversee program staffing each semester in consultation with deans, department/program chairs, and the Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum.
• Represent FYS on appropriate university committees, including the Core Curriculum Directors/Coordinators
• Convene the FYS Advisory
• Serve as chief spokesperson for FYS, advocate for integrity of the program’s mission and promote the program to the broader Butler community
• Maintain an outlet for the promotion of student work in FYS.
• Support the promotion of faculty work in FYS, including venues such as the Fall Academic Workshop and the Celebration of Innovation in Teaching
• Administer the FYS program budget.

Period of service

• Three-year term, beginning June 1, with a possibility of renewal.

Search and Appointment Process

• The FYS faculty will be notified of the search for a new director or directors, and provided with information on how to apply.
• Along with applications, input will be sought from all FYS faculty regarding their recommendations for who should lead the program
• In consultation with the associate provost, the faculty director of the core curriculum will make the appointment.

Every three years, a faculty director is appointed to provide operational leadership for Global and Historical Studies.  This is a part-time academic administrative appointment reporting to the Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum, with primary responsibilities during the academic year (~10 hours a week, August 15-May 15) with some duties in the summer. Compensation will be one course release each semester, plus a stipend. There is an expectation that the director will take the course releases, due to the time demands the position requires. The official start date is June 1, but the successful candidate should also attend Assessfest in May, as a participant or an observer, if they have not done so previously.

The position is open both to new candidates and to faculty with previous experience as director who have not served more than six consecutive years in the position immediately prior to applying.  The successful candidate will have taught Global and Historical Studies regularly and recently. Demonstrated administrative potential or experience (organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, plus attention to logistical detail) is highly desirable, as is prior experience of participation in Assessfest and/or other university program assessment.  Enthusiasm for facilitating faculty contributions to Global and Historical Studies as a dynamic and innovative part of the core curriculum is essential.

Responsibilities of the Faculty Director of Global and Historical Studies:

Curricular review, development and assessment

• Oversee the long range planning and development of the program, including regular program evaluation and assessment.
• With the assistance of the GHS advisory committee, lead faculty in considering and implementing any needed changes in the format and content of the GHS curriculum, including preparation of proposals for review by the Core Curriculum Committee
• Communicate effectively with GHS faculty and staff, including prompt reporting of assessment results to GHS faculty
• Initiate and support grant proposals and administer funded proposals in keeping with the needs and interests of the GHS faculty.
• Administer the GHS speaker series.

Faculty Recruitment and Development

• Coordinate and assume primary responsibility for recruitment and retention of faculty and fostering a sense of community for GHS faculty
• Assess needs, review and hire adjunct faculty as appropriate
• Respond to faculty requests for assistance and evaluation, including letters of recommendation, classroom visitation, or other means of support requested by the faculty.
• Review course evaluations of certain core faculty
• Arrange bi-annual study trips for GHS faculty
• Foster the intellectual growth of GHS faculty by organizing, convening and directing workshops and retreats as needed for new and continuing faculty.

Routine Administration

• Oversee program staffing each semester in consultation with deans, department/program chairs, and the Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum.
• Represent GHS on appropriate university committees, including the Core Curriculum Directors/Coordinators
• Convene the GHS Advisory
• Serve as chief spokesperson for GHS, advocate for integrity of the program’s mission and promote the program to the broader Butler community
• Develop and maintain an outlet for the promotion of student work in GHS.
• Support the promotion of faculty work in GHS, including venues such as the Fall Academic Workshop and the Celebration of Innovation in Teaching
• Administer the GHS program budget.

Period of service

• Three-year term, beginning June 1, with a possibility of one renewal.

GHS Director Selection Process

• The faculty director of the core will inform faculty who currently and/or regularly teach in GHS of the search for a new director.
• A search committee will be designated that includes one representative of each GHS course. In most instances, this will correspond to the existing GHS advisory committee.
• The search committee reviews applications and interviews applicants and submits its recommendation regarding the candidates, with written evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses, to the Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum and the Associate Provost. The search committee should recommend more than one name if at all possible.
• The Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum, in consultation with the Associate Provost, will interview at least two candidates recommended by the Search Committee before making the appointment.

Butler University was founded on the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusivity, and the Social Justice and Diversity (SJD) academic requirement reaffirms these founding principles by placing them formally within the Core Curriculum. The Faculty Director of Social Justice and Diversity leads the application of this academic requirement in its inaugural year while continuing to foster the growth and development of SJD courses.

The Faculty Senate approved the addition of a Social Justice and Diversity (SJD) requirement to the Core Curriculum in April 2017; with the development approval of more than 50 SJD courses, the pilot phase has ended and the requirement is being implemented for students matriculating in August 2020 and thereafter.

Responsibilities:

• The SJD Faculty Director leads the program into full implementation;
• Convene the SJD Faculty Advisory Committee;
• Lead Advisory Committee review of SJD course-designation proposals and make recommendations to Faculty Senate’s Curriculum Committee;
• Solicit SJD course proposals from instructional faculty and/or programs;
• Organize SJD community-building events;
• Review R&R capacity and enrollment data for SJD-designated courses with the Core Director to monitor progress towards graduation requirement implementation;
• Lead the SJD assessment process; coordinating the collection of samples of student work through OIRA and the Core Curriculum office; planning for and participating in Assessfest); identifying other faculty to participate in SJD assessment at Assessfest; and
• Communicate, coordinate, and collaborate where appropriate with administrators and organization leaders.