Learning Assistant and Instructional Lab Coordinator
Job Description
Learning Assistant and Instructional Lab Coordinator
University of California Santa
Barbara
Position overview
Position title: Learning Assistant and Instructional Lab
Coordinator Salary range: See Table
36 for the full salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $62,213 – $78,564. Percent
time: 100 Anticipated start: July 1, 2023 Application Window
Open date:
June 13, 2023
Most recent review date: Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications
received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date:
Saturday, Sep 30, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received
after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Academic Coordinator (AC) for the 2023-24 academic year, with the possibility of renewal, depending on performance and budget constraints.
Applications will be kept active for consideration until the position is filled. Upon starting the position, the successful candidate will
be required to be physically present in the Santa Barbara area in order to commute regularly to campus.
The department is looking to
hire a passionate Academic Coordinator (AC) who will manage our Learning Assistant (LA) program, TA assignments, and Physics Study Room, and
assist the Instructional Lab Group (ILG) to run, maintain, and improve instructional labs for UCSB undergraduate students. Working closely
with the staff, faculty, grads, undergrads, and the Academic Coordinators of ILG, the new hire will maintain a scholarly and inclusive
culture while performing a variety of educational and administrative duties. This position will be split as 60% LA Coordinator (LAC) and 40%
Lab Coordinator (LC).
Learning Assistant Coordinator
The objective of the Learning Assistant Program is to bring the interactive
and collaborative environment typical of a small-enrollment class to the large-enrollment upper-level and introductory physics major
courses. Undergraduate students who have already performed well in a course are trained to actively help the next class of students to
succeed, while receiving course credit for their training. Creating active-learning-based small group discussions within a large course has
been demonstrated to substantially improve the quality of physics education, increase student understanding of and satisfaction with the
coursework, and increase the level of understanding and teaching skills of the Learning Assistants.
The duties and responsibilities
of the LAC involve managing undergraduate LAs, undergraduate Readers, graduate TAs, and the PSR. Tasks specifically include but are not
limited to:
- Recruiting LAs and Readers through advertising, information sessions, and personal engagement efforts on a quarterly and
yearly basis. - Developing informational resources for LAs, students, and faculty regarding logistics and pedagogy surrounding LAs,
TAs, and the PSR. - Actively participating in training Physics LAs and developing strategies for improving LA effectiveness.
- Managing the Physics Study Room (PSR), including scheduling office hours, supervising LAs, TAs, and tutors, and implementing
improvements to the PSR. - Coordinating with students, faculty, and staff on LA training within specific courses and the LA program
as a whole. - Working towards improving department climate and diversity gaps in the context of LAs, TAs, and the PSR.
ILG
Lab Coordinator
The Academic Coordinator will also provide general support to the Instructional Lab Group. The ILG is in charge of
development, maintenance and administration of all undergraduate instructional laboratories and the associated coursework. AC
responsibilities within the ILG include, but are not limited to, working both independently and also with other faculty & staff to:
- Participate in the development, assembly, repair, and implementation of lecture demonstrations and lab equipment.
- Actively
participate in the training of faculty, grads, and undergrads regarding safety issues and operation of demonstrations and lab
equipment. - Creating, testing, maintaining and updating laboratory manuals for various instructional lab courses.
- Creating
engaging content, including videos and online materials. - Joint oversight of TAs, including weekly training, and monitoring of
performance. - Managing the TA roster and Gauchospace (Moodle) Webpage for each course.
- Facilitating communication among
TAs, staff, and faculty. - Direct involvement with course execution, such as dropping in and assisting with curriculum completion and
questions beyond the scope of TA expertise.
In addition, the AC serves as a mediator between students and faculty in lower
division courses, providing helpful and timely feedback regarding administrative details, material and room availability, and additional
technical support.
The distribution of work will vary by week based on the quarterly schedule. Though there is a wide range of duties
associated with the Lab Coordinator position, the AC will not be responsible for all of these duties at the same time.
The
department is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.
Department: http://physics.ucsb.edu
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program in physics or closely related field at the time of application.
Additional
qualifications (required at time of start)
field at the time of appointment.
Preferred qualifications
- 1-2 years experience
with at least one of the following: Python, Javascript, or Google App Script. - 1-2 years of experience in STEM Teaching at the
undergraduate level or higher (including TAships). - 1-2 years of experience in a position that required administrative and
organizational activities. - Demonstrated ability to write reports and communications to high-level grant-dispensing
institutions. - strong interest in higher education and be comfortable with generating high quality learning content and strategies
on a regular basis. - Proficient with most mathematics or physics concepts that may appear in courses up to the Bachelor’s level.
Applicants should also have familiarity with experimental physics and its core principles. - interest in learning new technical
skills and growing as an educator and administrator. - Previous experience managing students and academic programs focused on
pedagogy.
Application Requirements
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae – Your most
recently updated C.V. - Cover Letter
- 2-4 required (contact information
only)
for top candidates.
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02534
Campus Information
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by law.
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Updated Interim
Amendments. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if
applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy
or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of
receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New
University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2, Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide
proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline.
Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza
Vaccination Program Attachment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health
directives may impose additional requirements.
Job location
Santa Barbara, CA
To apply, please visit: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02534
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