• Featured Story
• Past Stories
• Upcoming Events
• Press Releases
• University News Office
• Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

Position Announcement:
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University Without Walls Director / Lecturer

The University of Massachusetts Amherst invites nominations and applications for the position of University Without Walls (UWW) Director. This is a 12-month non-tenure track lecturer appointment.  Reporting to the Vice Provost for Outreach, the UWW Director leads the UWW program –oversees curriculum development, prior learning, and advising processes; supervises approximately 12 faculty and staff; serves as primary liaison between the UWW program and other academic and administrative units of the university; teaches and advises non-traditional students in the program; provides leadership in program development, long range planning, alumni relations, and outreach activities; administers the program budget.  UWW is a key unit of the Division of Outreach, along with Continuing and Professional Education, UMass Extension, public broadcasting and others. The UWW Director position requires an experienced, strategic, and visionary individual. Applicants are encouraged to visit the websites of both UWW (http://www.umass.edu/uww/) and Outreach (http://www.umass.edu/outreach).

Located in the historic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and established in 1863 under the Morrill Land Grant Act, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a Carnegie Research Extensive, land-grant institution and the flagship campus of the state system. Offering a full range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, the 1,200-acre campus serves 18,000 undergraduate students and 6,000 graduate students in a rich cultural environment and rural setting.

The successful candidate must have an established record of executive leadership and a demonstrated commitment to affirmative action and diversity. The candidate should articulate a dynamic vision for UWW that fosters excellence in teaching and learning, advising, distance education, research, scholarship, and outreach.

The director is expected to:

1. teach all UWW core curriculum classes in traditional and accelerated formats;
2. teach and design courses in live, blended, and online formats;
3. teach UWW Junior Year Writing class and guide students through the prior learning assessment process;
4. advise UWW students in academic degree planning;
5. serve on department committees that provide oversight and direction for all administrative and academic policies and procedures;
6. prepare and administer UWW budget throughout the fiscal year; compile and submit proposals for outside funding and sponsorship for the program;
7. supervise and evaluate the work of the UWW staff and recommend personnel actions;
8. work with academic departments throughout the university to develop new projects; serve as an advocate for non-traditional students with academic and administrative units;
9. develop proposals for collaborative programs with other educational institutions (i.e., public schools, community colleges, etc.), community organizations, and business and industry;
10. provide leadership in UWW alumni events and fund-raising campaigns, represent UWW to internal and external audiences.

Applicants must have:

1. an earned Doctorate degree;
2. a minimum of 5 years administrative experience in higher education;
3. a minimum of 5 years experience teaching and advising non-traditional students at an institution of higher learning;
4. experience designing and implementing new collaborative academic programs and/or alternative projects;
5. excellent skills in the following areas required: supervising staff and the work of others; writing; speaking; interpersonal communications and relations; fiscal management and bureaucratic process;
6. the ability to direct and oversee diverse staff and activities together into a common enterprise with shared goals and objectives.

Applications should include a current resume, a one-page statement of the candidate’s vision of adult learning and outreach within a land grant university, a one page statement of the candidate’s administrative philosophy, and the names, mailing addresses, and email addresses of at least three references, indicating whether they can be contacted without the prior approval of the candidate. A competitive salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Review of applications will begin on 10/15/07, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications and nominations should be submitted via email to dsvayda@outreach.umass.edu (preferably in Word or PDF file) or via paper copies addressed to University Without Walls Director Search committee chair, c/o University Outreach, 239 Whitmore Administration Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003.  

The preferred starting date is: On or before June 2, 2008.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. The committee encourages the nomination and application of women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other under-represented populations.