Job Description

The Academic Support Coordinator is a key contributor to the administrative team that oversees Vanderbilt University’s Writing Studio and Tutoring Services programs and the more than sixty students employed by the unit as writing consultants and STEM tutors. The position equally divides its effort between (1) providing direct academic support, primarily in the form of writing consultations, and (2) carrying out a variety of administrative responsibilities both independently and as part of the team. In addition to regular collaboration with fellow team members, the position works closely with Vanderbilt students, campus partners, and faculty.

In terms of direct academic support, the position serves the Writing Studio as a professional writing consultant (writing tutor) who holds up to twenty (20) hours of one-on-one writing consultations per week for students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) as well as postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff.

Administrative responsibilities account for the other half of this position’s effort. This position has individual responsibility over a set of engagement initiatives for particular campus constituencies and partners. The position coordinates and leads a set of graduate-student-focused programming that includes a weekly writing group program, three annual Dissertation Writers Retreats, and the On Writing panel-based event series, while also acting as Writing Studio liaison to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Academic Support (GPAS). Likewise, the position acts as liaison to and actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with campus partners such as the Residential Colleges, the Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt, and the English Language Center.

Beyond individual areas of responsibility, this position contributes in a central way to the team’s collaborative efforts to (A) recruit, train, and mentor the undergraduate and graduate writing consultant staff (Writing Studio) and STEM tutoring staff (Tutoring Services); (B) conduct outreach and collaborate with campus partners on relevant programming; (C) develop new initiatives, workshops, and resources; and (D) assess and improve existing programming and resources.

The Vanderbilt University Writing Studio and Tutoring Services office oversees two academic support programs, each with its own distinct mission and approach to enhancing the university’s learning environment, but which share a core commitment to centering the growth and development of learners and the trained peer educators (writing consultants and STEM tutors) who play a key role in providing each program’s peer-to-peer services in a collaborative, accessible, inclusive, and research-informed manner that fosters critical thinking, metacognitive development, and academic and personal success.

The unit’s administrative team is comprised of a Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director for the Writing Studio, Assistant Director for Tutoring Services, Administrative Assistant, and two Academic Support Coordinators, each of whom has a set of shared, team-based duties as well as their own individual areas of responsibility. This team oversees all programming and some 60-70 student workers each academic year in three distinct roles: writing consultants, STEM tutors, and office clerks.

The Writing Studio supports writers; instructors of writing; and all the ways writing is an essential medium for discovery, learning, service, and the achievement of individual and institutional goals. Through the Writing Studio, all members of the Vanderbilt community—students as well as postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff—can meet individually with skilled writing consultants (undergraduate, graduate, and professional staff) to talk about any writing project or concern. The Writing Studio also offers a robust set of programming that fosters conversation, collaboration and critical reflection on writing, including support for instructors from across the university who teach with writing.

Tutoring Services provides high-quality peer-to-peer learning support for Vanderbilt students enrolled in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, Neuroscience, and Physics courses. Our trained peer tutors engage in active and collaborative learning approaches in order to address each client’s individualized needs and to help them develop as a learner and achieve their academic and personal goals.

At the hiring manager’s request, it is strongly preferred that all applicants include a cover letter and curriculum vitae as part of their application materials when applying for this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Academic Support

• For up to twenty (20) hours per week, holds 1-to-1 writing consultations with students (undergraduate, graduate, professional) as well as postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff.

• As assigned, may redirect some of the aforementioned effort toward facilitating writing groups, mentoring student consultants and tutors, conducting program outreach, and leading writing workshops at the request of faculty and other campus partners.

Individual Administrative Responsibilities

• Coordinates and leads a set of graduate-student-focused programs which includes a weekly writing group program, three annual Dissertation Writers Retreats, and the On Writing panel-based event series, while also acting as Writing Studio liaison to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Academic Support (GPAS) and the Graduate Development Network

• Acts as liaison to and actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with campus partners such as the Residential Colleges, the Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt, and the English Language Center.

Team-based Collaborative Responsibilities

Recruits, Trains, and Mentors Large Student Staff of Writing Consultants and STEM Tutors

• Contributes to the recruitment and hiring of Writing Studio and Tutoring student staff through outreach and participation in application review and interviews for one or more of the following subdivisions of the student staff: Undergraduate writing consultants, graduate writing consultants, undergraduate STEM tutors, and graduate STEM tutors.

• Helps plan and execute intensive August orientation and training for Writing Studio and Tutoring Services student writing consultants and STEM tutors as well as ongoing professional development efforts during staff meetings throughout the academic year by developing and carrying out high-quality training modules and staff meeting activities.

• Participates in team effort to mentor and monitor the writing consultant and STEM tutoring staff and to provide regular recognition and coaching for individual writing consultant and STEM tutor performance.

Promotes Programs through Outreach and Fosters Campus Partnerships

• Conducts program outreach during orientation events and throughout the year as needed.

• Participates in team-based approach to develop instructional and outreach materials.

• Develops and leads engaging writing workshops with campus partners and at the request of course instructors.

• Seeks opportunities to develop and foster campus partnerships for both programs.

Contributes to Reporting and Assessment

• Contributes overall to assessment of services, programs, and other initiatives.

• Helps collect relevant data and draft assessment and report documents.

• Helps implement assessment-related improvements for both programs, as needed.

Contributes to Program Administration and Academic Support

• Participates in relevant VU, Tutoring Services, and Writing Studio meetings and functions, including staff and managerial meetings, workshops, and programs.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• An MA or MFA from an accredited institution of higher education is required. A PhD in English, Composition and Rhetoric, or another relevant discipline from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.

• Experience teaching writing in college-level courses is required.

• Experience tutoring writing in a writing center or other similar context is required.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and organizational skills, including the ability to work cooperatively with culturally and linguistically diverse students, staff, and faculty, are required.

• Experience supporting Writing across the Curriculum or Writing in the Disciplines initiatives is preferred.

• Familiarity with writing center theory and practice is preferred.

• Ability to develop engaging, innovative, and research-informed educational resources is preferred.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

#LI-ONSITE

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.