BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Academy for Teaching and Learning

Announcement of Search for Director of the Academy for Teaching and Learning

Associate or Full Professor (tenured) or Senior Lecturer; home academic unit to be determined.

Baylor University’s Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL) invites applications and nominations for the position of Director, with service beginning  June 1, 2024.

The Academy for Teaching and Learning has a two-fold mission: to support and inspire a flourishing community of learning and to promote the integration of teaching, scholarship, collegiality, and service in a Christian context.

Since its founding in 2008, the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL) has provided programming and resources designed to inspire outstanding teaching with meaningful opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to engage in conversations regarding the pedagogy of teaching and to expand their vision (with practical applications) regarding the important contributions that transformative teaching provides in classroom and laboratory experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. The ATL has flourished under the outstanding leadership of past Directors and staff while providing diverse programming that includes, as representative examples, the Summer Faculty Institute, Seminars for Excellence in Teaching, and University Teaching Development Grants. By mentoring teachers, facilitating discussion on teaching, and supporting teaching development, the ATL serves Baylor’s instructors with practical guidance and inspiration. Building upon this rich foundational history, the ATL is poised for future development under the leadership of a new Director.

The successful candidate for Director of ATL will be a participant in conversations surrounding teaching and learning issues in higher education, as demonstrated in a record of leadership, research, publication, and/or teaching on the topic. She or he will have a history of demonstrated commitment to faculty development and success in fostering and nurturing collegial relationships. The ability to establish valuable connections and collaborations with faculty across the institution is critical to the success of the Director, as well as an appreciation for the rich culture of Baylor University. The Director is also expected to promote the ATL’s University and nationwide partnerships and contribute to the national discussion on teaching and learning in higher education through an active program of research and publication. The Director will teach Baylor undergraduate or graduate students within an appropriate academic unit. Importantly, the new Director will have a compelling vision for the future development of Baylor University’s ATL, building upon existing strengths, while promoting dialogue in recent and developing academic advances, including, for example, artificial intelligence (AI), faculty development and mentorship, and the ever-evolving technology resources available to enhance teaching and learning. The Director will guide the development of new and exciting opportunities to engage faculty interest in the art and science of teaching.

The Director of ATL reports to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education & Academic Affairs and currently supervises an Assistant Director for teaching and learning, an Assistant Director in STEM education, and a Manager of Operations. The ATL also benefits from a faculty-led Advisory Council. Excellent team leadership and strong interpersonal communication skills are requisite for this role. This is a 12-month faculty appointment. Appropriate faculty rank [tenured Associate or Full Professor, Senior (or equivalent) Lecturer] will be determined based on Baylor University policy and academic unit guidelines. Salary and benefits are competitive.

Preferred qualifications are a Ph.D. (or terminal degree) and a minimum of seven years of teaching, research, and administrative experience and leadership within a university setting, plus a record of engagement with teaching and learning in higher education.

Interested candidates, external or internal to Baylor University, will apply through Interfolio. Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vita, and three professional references. Application letters, not to exceed four pages, should detail the candidate’s qualifications for the role of Director of ATL and interest in joining Baylor University and articulate the candidate’s vision for the campus-wide ATL at Baylor University, including such features as community building through programming, workshops, mentorship, etc. Applicants are encouraged to offer examples about how their vision would inform their leadership of the ATL and its roles for the constituents of the University, including adjunct and continuing faculty at all ranks, undergraduate and graduate students, and the larger University community. Applicants should have a mature Christian faith and should be able to articulate how their faith animates the work of the ATL. For full consideration, please apply by January 28, 2024. The search committee review of applications will begin on January 29, 2024 and will continue until a successful candidate is identified.

Click here to submit an application through Interfolio.

With questions or to submit a nomination for the position, please contact the search committee Co-Chairs:  Dr. Jennifer Good, Co-Chair (Jennifer_Good@baylor.edu), and Dr. Kevin Pinney, Co-Chair (Kevin_Pinney@baylor.edu).

About Baylor University: Located in Waco, Texas, Baylor University is the oldest college in Texas. With a population of 21,000 diverse students, Baylor is one of the top universities in the nation, having been named an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification in January 2022. Baylor is also on the honor roll of the “Great Colleges to Work For” from The Chronicle of Higher Education; Baylor offers competitive salaries and benefits while allowing faculty and staff to live in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. Our strategic plan, Illuminate Forward, guides the University as we continue to live up to Baylor's mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

Baylor University is a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, Baylor is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, military service, genetic information, and disability. Baylor’s commitment to equal opportunity and respect of others does not undermine the validity and effect of the constitutional and statutory protections for its religious liberty, including, without limitation, the religious organization exemption under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the religious exemption to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, among others. Baylor encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.