Director of the Coulter Faculty Commons - #002064

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is the Cullowhee, NC campus.

The director will provide leadership within the CFC and across the institution to support WCU's instructional mission. The position requires a dedicated leader who can facilitate the design and implementation of innovative pedagogies and course design while providing continuous support, assessment, and improvement of CFC services, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of students and faculty. To be successful, the director must build and maintain strong partnerships with units in Academic Affairs and the Educational Technology team in the Division of Information Technology that foster a supportive environment and enhance the instructional mission of the university.

Description of Work
The director reports to the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and supervises three instructional developers and an administrative support associate. The director is stationed at the Cullowhee campus with occasional travel to the Biltmore Park instructional site in Asheville, NC as needed. Job responsibilities include the following:
* Budget oversight
* Operations management
* Personnel supervision
* Implementation of course-, program-, department-, college-, and institution-level teaching initiatives
* Management and oversight of various program offerings including faculty mentoring programs, new faculty orientation, a summer teaching institute, single-day, topic-specific teaching and learning events which may include experts from outside the institution, courses for faculty developing online teaching skills, individual and program/department consultations and teaching analysis (by request), and other teaching-related programing or services requested by campus entities
* Management of teaching award and innovative scholarship recipient selection processes
* Strategic planning and assessment of CFC programming
* Support for the use of educational technology for both face-to-face and online teaching modalities to enhance instruction
* Support for the development of tools and metrics for peer assessment of teaching
* Communication of honest and constructive feedback to instructors structured to encourage further development and growth
* Other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
* Knowledge of recent research and current best practices in the development of effective learning environments including instructional design, assessment of instruction, and educational technology
* Ability to implement new methods or processes; strong understanding of and experience with change management.
* Ability to develop and support a strategic and forward-looking, multi-year vision with annual benchmarks
* Ability to foster a supportive and nurturing working/learning environment
* Strong interpersonal skills that include a collaborative working style and excellent communication skills
* Strong organizational skills
* Creative problem-solving skills

* Earned terminal degree in an academic discipline
* At least three years' experience as a college/university faculty member
* At least three years' experience in higher education management at the level of assistant director (or equivalent) or above including budget management and supervisory responsibilities
* Demonstrated record of teaching excellence. Example evidence could include a teaching award, positive student evaluations, leadership roles related to teaching, or other indications of exceptional teaching.
* Demonstrated record of scholarly activity. Example evidence could include authorship of peer-reviewed publications, presentations at academic conferences, or other indications of research or creative activity.
* Demonstrated record of service in higher education or to the profession. Example evidence could include committee memberships, leadership roles in professional organizations, or other indications of professional service.
* Experience (formal or informal) consulting with college/university faculty about incorporating innovative, modern, and scholarly college-level teaching and learning methods or about course development/design in face-to-face, blended, and/or online modalities with evidence of positive outcomes such as increased student engagement or improved student success
* Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

* Extensive experience as a faculty member that includes exemplary teaching, peer-reviewed research and/or creative activity, and service to the institution at a variety of levels
* More than three years of experience in a leadership role
* Experience working in an integrated faculty center focused on supporting improvement and excellence in teaching
* Experience collaborating with an Educational Technology team within a Division of Information Technology

To be considered, please apply online. Review of applications will begin on or about March 1, 2025 and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

A cover letter, curriculum vitae, a list of three professional references (include contact information), and statement of personal faculty development philosophy (other document) are required to complete your application.

For questions or additional information, please contact Dr. Carmen Huffman, Associate Provost, 828-227-7495, chuffman@email.wcu.edu

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Additionally, the University promotes the realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program.
Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.