About Alvernia University
Alvernia University was founded in 1958 by the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Through its main campus in Reading and locations in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the university serves 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from around the country.
Alvernia offers a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts core education for the development of the mind, strong technical training in many high-demand majors, experiential learning through study abroad and internship experiences, and engagement with the community through our Franciscan-based community service model. We call our model of transformational education the Alvernia Advantage, and we believe this style of education transforms students into ethical leaders with moral courage.
Alvernia University ranks in the top 100 among 2021 Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report, and we are recognized as a College of Distinction for our commitment to engaged experiential education.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Executive Director, Professional Programs of the TExpL Institute, the Graduate Teaching Admin of the TExpL Institute is responsible for instructing, leading, managing and developing Total Experience Learning® curriculum, special projects, collaborative educational initiatives, professional development and program alignment for Pre-Kindergarten to Graduate College Level students at Alvernia University. In this position, the Graduate Teaching Admin duties may include teaching collegiate courses, with a maximum of 7 courses per year, and not exceeding 3 courses per semester. Summer and Winterim courses may be assigned within the maximum 7 courses per year as well. The role also focuses on supporting and enhancing the growth of Total Experience Learning® curricular elements that integrate smoothly with PreK to 12th grade school systems, collegiate educational systems, and corporate training systems. The Graduate Teaching Admin will work in close concert with the Executive Director, Professional Programs of the TExpL Institute to evolve TExpL programs to a global scale.
Essential Functions:
Promote Franciscan ideals and adherence to the Mission of the University as demonstrated by the University Ideal Characteristics. As we are an equal opportunity employer committed to Franciscan values, all employees share responsibility for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the performance of their roles while demonstrating: service orientation, respect for all, intellectual curiosity, solution focus and innovation, and mutual accountability.
Curricular and Administrative Responsibilities
- Develop instructional materials, including course shells in our Learning Management System, that meet the needs of diverse learners.
- Facilitate and create curriculum that meets standards for Total Experience Learning®.
- Collaborate with non-core instructors and industry representatives to ensure relevance in programming.
- Align planning with formal curriculum.
- Collaborate closely with existing partners, and, encourage new partnerships and programming as it aligns to the mission and goals of Alvernia University.
Instructor Responsibilities:
Facilitate and teach courses in Total Experience Learning® including:
- Identify performance-based competencies.
- Establish prioritized learning goals and objectives.
- Assess and report student’s competencies with performance-based measurements.
- Develop learning plans that include all course competencies.
- Align instruction with learning goals and assessments.
- Develop comprehensive course syllabi, including policies and class schedule.
- Make a broad course roadmap of learning plans available to students.
- Inform students of learning expectations.
- Provide a safe and respectful learning environment.
- Engage students in the learning process.
- Encourage student participation.
- Challenge students to use higher order thinking skills.
- Utilize learner-centered instructional strategies.
- Provide opportunities for student dialogue and interaction.
- Assess student learning and provide ongoing formative feedback for growth.
- Utilize summative assessments that are authentic, and competency based.
- Appropriately align assessments to learning outcomes.
- Document and report student performance over time.
- Communicate continuous progress to students.
- Collect documented student feedback each semester.
- Maintain the standards of achievement that are necessary in meeting the demands of occupations for which students are prepared.
Additional Responsibilities:
TExpL Program Development
- Coordinate a layered approach to communication and representation of TExpL and Alvernia University’s breadth of educational programming to various stakeholders.
- Actively collaborate on the packaging of TExpL and Alvernia University programs, stories, and experiences through communication pieces, social media approaches, outreach options and engagement opportunities at various entry points.
- Articulate institutional priorities, as well as PreK-adult professional development program priorities, and represent such diverse constituencies. Serve as a voice for Alvernia University, representing its aspirations and achievements to all internal and external constituencies.
- Collaborate and communicate the operations, opportunities, and integrations of TExpL at Alvernia University with institutional departments. These departments include, but are not limited to advancement, communications, enrollment management, athletics, facilities, food service, and instructional technology.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Commitment to the mission statement, core values and goals of Alvernia University.
- A demonstrated commitment to excellence in PreK to adult education; ability to develop, articulate, and champion a clear academic vision for Alvernia University.
- Strong, clear, and persuasive communication skills, both written and oral, with excellent public speaking skills and the ability to engage, influence and inspire faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
- Intellectual depth necessary to understand and translate academic, technical, and other information for a variety of audiences, crisply and concisely.
- Confidence and knowledge required to advance and defend ideas and programs in an environment that respects conviction but demands analytical rigor; a love of intellectual exchange and lively dialogue.
- Demonstrated understanding of equity and inclusion and evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Creative and innovative strategic thinker, with strong data-driven decision making and analytical skills, and ability to consider likely outcomes of such strategies.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capacity for extensive networking.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead and manage complex projects.
- Honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, and perspective; a strong work ethic, supported by meaningful response, commitment and follow-through.
Education:
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Science Research Institute and/or Total Experience Learning educational environments, or related experience.
- Minimum master’s degree in Education, Science, Business or Related Field Experience.
Physical Requirements:
- Attendance is required in order to perform the duties of this job.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.