What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director for Data Literacy position at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
Posting Information
Department
Undergraduate Curricula-302501
Career Area
Academic Administration
Posting Open Date
03/21/2025
Application Deadline
04/07/2025
Open Until Filled
No
Position Type
Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
Working Title
Director for Data Literacy
Appointment Type
EHRA Non-Faculty
Position Number
20069660
Vacancy ID
NF0009026
Full Time/Part Time
Full-Time Permanent
FTE
1
Hours per week
40
Position Location
North Carolina, US
Hiring Range
Dependent on Experience and/or Qualifications
Proposed Start Date
06/01/2025
Position Information
Be a Tar Heel!
A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.
One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.
University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
For more than two decades the Office of Undergraduate Education has served as the focal point for innovative undergraduate academic programs and student support in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Office of Undergraduate Education builds partnerships and programs to fulfill Carolina’s commitment to every student’s success.
Undergraduate Education has the responsibility for course delivery, advising, student success, assessment, and curriculum development. Undergraduate Education is also leading the implementation of the new IDEAS in Action general education core curriculum. The office incudes several units, each with a full complement of personnel, roughly 130 FTE (Academic Advising, Center for Student Success, Undergraduate Curricula, Honors Carolina, Instructional Innovation, UNC-Duke Robertson Scholars Leadership Program and Undergraduate Research). The senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education works with the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and their professional staff across campus who serve undergraduates.
The Office of Undergraduate Curricula (OUC) plays an important role as one of several units in the College of Arts & Sciences dedicated to shaping and enriching the educational experience of UNC-Chapel Hill’s undergraduate students. We support the University’s core mission of teaching by managing the undergraduate curriculum so that Carolina students may benefit from an outstanding, research-based, academically enriching undergraduate curriculum. The office supports faculty, administrators, and staff with the submission and approval process for all undergraduate curriculum proposals, including degree programs, majors, minors, concentrations, and undergraduate courses. It also oversees the faculty approval process for curriculum-related academic policies through its support of the College’s Administrative Boards and sub-committees.
Undergraduate Education has the responsibility for course delivery, advising, student success, assessment, and curriculum development. Undergraduate Education is also leading the implementation of the new IDEAS in Action general education core curriculum. The office incudes several units, each with a full complement of personnel, roughly 130 FTE (Academic Advising, Center for Student Success, Undergraduate Curricula, Honors Carolina, Instructional Innovation, UNC-Duke Robertson Scholars Leadership Program and Undergraduate Research). The senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education works with the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and their professional staff across campus who serve undergraduates.
The Office of Undergraduate Curricula (OUC) plays an important role as one of several units in the College of Arts & Sciences dedicated to shaping and enriching the educational experience of UNC-Chapel Hill’s undergraduate students. We support the University’s core mission of teaching by managing the undergraduate curriculum so that Carolina students may benefit from an outstanding, research-based, academically enriching undergraduate curriculum. The office supports faculty, administrators, and staff with the submission and approval process for all undergraduate curriculum proposals, including degree programs, majors, minors, concentrations, and undergraduate courses. It also oversees the faculty approval process for curriculum-related academic policies through its support of the College’s Administrative Boards and sub-committees.
Position Summary
Undergraduate Education is seeking a Director for Data Literacy to revise, deliver, and oversee the 1-credit Data Literacy course required for all incoming first-year students. Responsibilities include teaching sections of the course, developing and updating course content, and collaborating with co-instructors and graduate students. This is a full-time administrative position, with an adjunct faculty appointment in an appropriate disciplinary department. The Data Literacy course is part of the general education curriculum, IDEAs in Action.
The course is taught in a hybrid model, with students engaging in asynchronous lectures and in-person discussion/lab sessions. The course objectives are designed to support students who need more foundational knowledge while also challenging those with a solid background in working with data. Using current events and popular culture, the course will help students become informed consumers of data, equipping them to detect false claims, evaluate valid arguments, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the ethical and practical issues surrounding data in our daily lives.
The Director will oversee all aspects of the Data Literacy course in consultation with the Associate Dean of the Office of Undergraduate Curricula.
Key Responsibilities:
The course is taught in a hybrid model, with students engaging in asynchronous lectures and in-person discussion/lab sessions. The course objectives are designed to support students who need more foundational knowledge while also challenging those with a solid background in working with data. Using current events and popular culture, the course will help students become informed consumers of data, equipping them to detect false claims, evaluate valid arguments, and engage in thoughtful discussions about the ethical and practical issues surrounding data in our daily lives.
The Director will oversee all aspects of the Data Literacy course in consultation with the Associate Dean of the Office of Undergraduate Curricula.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with college departments to identify and coordinate the selection and appointments of Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs), who will each teach 3 sections of the course per semester.
- Coordinate the selection of Undergraduate Learning Assistants (ULAs), with a total of 50 semester appointments per academic year.
- Partner with campus organizations (e.g., the Center for Faculty Excellence) to provide training and oversight for TAs, ULAs, and faculty instructors.
- Supervise the TAs.
- Coordinate the selection of 2 additional faculty members to assist in teaching 3 sections each semester.
- Revise the course to ensure it aligns with updated learning objectives and incorporates current events.
- Collaborating with the Data Literacy faculty committee to further develop the course as needed.
- Work with the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, as well as others in the Undergraduate Education division, to evaluate whether the Data Literacy course is meeting its outcomes.
- Collaborate with staff on budget, scheduling, teaching assistant appointments, programming, and other logistical matters.
- Update the Canvas site and video modules with course materials, including regular readings and available campus and external resources.
- Provide regular updates on progress to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Curricula.
The course learning outcomes include:
- Demonstrating an understanding of the essentials of computer architecture and data security.
- Recognizing how data is collected, manipulated, and accessed.
- Interpreting analyzed data to make meaningful conclusions.
- Identifying the ethical challenges of working with data and their impact on society.
This position will be responsible for serving as the instructor of record for 6 sections of 45 students per Academic Year (6 credit hours) and possibly teach an additional 3 credit hour course associated with their academic department, which will be carried out through a secondary faculty appointment.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent educational or instructional activities related to the development or administration of academic standards or curricula, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Ph.D. required in relevant field such as Data Science, Information and Library Science, Statistics, or Data Analytics
- Experience with course/curriculum design at the collegiate level
- Experience in college teaching
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Administrative experience chairing committees and implementing programming
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Experience teaching a data literacy course
- Experience in online course development
- Ability to incorporate technology in the classroom
- Experience mentoring and teaching pedagogical skills to graduate students
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple sections of courses
- Experience creating and reporting outcome measures
- We are interested in faculty with experience in data science, information and library science, statistics, data analytics, and/or related field.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority in accordance with the Clery Act. This position will be required to report Clery crimes to the Clery Compliance Manager and complete annual training about reporting responsibilities.
