CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Director of the Towson Seminar Program (TSEM)

Director of the Towson Seminar Program

The Towson Seminar (TSEM) program at TU introduces students to the academic expectations for college-level work and to the intellectual, communication and collaborative skills needed for academic success. The seminar format of TSEM classes emphasizes active learning and fosters students’ interdisciplinary thinking across multiple perspectives.

Position Description

The Director of the Towson Seminar Program will coordinate and enhance the TSEM program. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the Director will oversee the operations of the program and serve as a resource for faculty and students. The Director will work closely with units within the Divisions of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

Responsibilities shall include:

  • Orienting and providing guidance to faculty on the program, including on development of new courses, improvement of existing ones and creation of TSEM thematic focus areas;
  • Coordinating writing support for students including collaboration with the Writing Center, Engl 102 and Advanced Writing Seminar courses;
  • Supervising the creation of a database of TSEM courses including the archiving of courses and syllabi of current and past TSEM courses;
  • Forecasting demand and coordinating TSEM courses offerings with the Offices of Registrar and Academic Advising, Completion and Retention, including over the summer sessions;
  • Working with the relevant academic senate curriculum committees to support approval of new TSEM courses and revision of existing ones;
  • Working closely with the Office of Assessment to perform regular assessment of TSEM courses to assess the program, and identify best practices and areas for improvement;
  • Chairing a TSEM advisory committee that is charged with supporting the Director in improving the program and adapting it as needed to the changing landscape in higher education;
  • Collaborating with Student Affairs to coordinate with co-curricular offerings such as Living-Learning communities

The TSEM Director shall be a tenured TU faculty member or permanent-status librarian and shall have responsibilities during both the academic year and the summer.  In addition to compensation as director, the position carries a half-time teaching load during the fall and spring semesters for tenured faculty members, and a 30 percent workload for permanent-status librarians.  Approval by the relevant college/library dean and department chair are required. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the incoming TSEM Director shall assume duties in January 2024.

To apply, please send a one-page letter of interest and curriculum vitae to Ms. Jerri Sumwalt at jsumwalt@towson.edu.

Completed applications are due by the close of business on October 30, 2023.  The search committee will begin reviewing application materials immediately thereafter.

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This post was written by Sumwalt, Jerri