What are the responsibilities and job description for the MADS Section Instructor position at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
Posting Information
Department
School of Data Sci and Society - 397100
Application Deadline
11/30/2025
Position Type
Visiting / Part-time Faculty
Working Title
MADS Section Instructor
Appointment Type
Adjunct Faculty
Position Number
20068942, 20068942, 20068944, 20068943, 20068945, 20068946, 20064764, 20064765, 20064767, 20064768, 20064769
Vacancy ID
F003278
Full-time/Part-time
Part-Time Temporary
Hours per week
FTE
Position Location
North Carolina, US
Hiring Range
Commensurate with experience; section instructors are paid per class that they teach.
Proposed Start Date
Estimated duration of appointment
One or more semesters; up to two years.
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 that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
In 2022, UNC Chapel Hill launched the School of Data Science and Society (SDSS), a new school devoted to data science teaching, research, scholarship, service, and creativity. The SDSS vision is to be a leader in shaping the field of data science through an interdisciplinary and rigorous grounding in theory and methods with a human centric approach to the entire data life cycle.
The mission of SDSS is to empower a diverse community of faculty conducting research in the fundamentals and/or the applications of data science. The school is training undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to be the next generation of data science leaders with the knowledge and skills to thrive in this data-driven world. The SDSS will serve the state, the nation, and the world through premier data science educational programs and innovative research directed to advancing the public good with human-centric and ethical applications.
The core elements of the SDSS include porous borders – leveraging our low-walled collaborative Carolina culture to solve major societal problems. Interdisciplinary research clusters that cross disciplines and school boundaries are a vital element of the school. The SDSS is focused on students and education – the emphasis is not just on data science majors but on all students becoming data literate. The school’s culture has an open and transparent structure, governance, and business model.
The mission of SDSS is to empower a diverse community of faculty conducting research in the fundamentals and/or the applications of data science. The school is training undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to be the next generation of data science leaders with the knowledge and skills to thrive in this data-driven world. The SDSS will serve the state, the nation, and the world through premier data science educational programs and innovative research directed to advancing the public good with human-centric and ethical applications.
The core elements of the SDSS include porous borders – leveraging our low-walled collaborative Carolina culture to solve major societal problems. Interdisciplinary research clusters that cross disciplines and school boundaries are a vital element of the school. The SDSS is focused on students and education – the emphasis is not just on data science majors but on all students becoming data literate. The school’s culture has an open and transparent structure, governance, and business model.
Position Summary
Part-time Section Instructors will teach an online class (or a combination of classes) for the School of Data Science and Society’s Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) degree. Section Instructors are hired for a period of two years but may teach different courses over that period of time (and do not have to teach every semester).
Section Instructors for the online Masters of Applied Data Science use their unique background and expertise to engage students as they work through 13 weeks of content that follows a standardized course syllabus, class plan, and pre-developed instructional materials created by Lead Faculty.
Section Instructors are expected to
Bring their unique background and expertise to the course.
Key responsibilities:
Section Instructors for the online Masters of Applied Data Science use their unique background and expertise to engage students as they work through 13 weeks of content that follows a standardized course syllabus, class plan, and pre-developed instructional materials created by Lead Faculty.
Section Instructors are expected to
Bring their unique background and expertise to the course.
- Help students apply course material and their newly acquired knowledge to relevant, real-world problems.
- Effectively engage class members in discussions.
- Support student learning by establishing and communicating regular office hours and responding to student issues and questions.
- Maintain reliable access to the learning management system (e.g. meeting technical specifications and reliable high-speed internet access).
Key responsibilities:
- Facilitate 13 weekly live online class sessions that apply learning from self-paced modules developed by lead faculty. Synchronous class sessions will be scheduled for weekday evenings (Eastern Standard Time (EST)), and they must occur at the same day and time each week.
- Grade assessments and discussion and provide verbal and written feedback to students as appropriate.
- Respond to student questions and issues related to the course.
- Maintain regular communication with Lead Faculty and the MADS program leadership about students’ experiences, potential barriers, ideas for enhancement, and any other topics relevant to the course or students.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Earned doctorate or terminal degree (or foreign equivalent) in the same or closely related discipline as the course taught. In lieu of an earned terminal degree in an appropriate field, instructors may be qualified by professional experience or by a combination of education and experience.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- An earned master’s degree from an accredited institution (or foreign equivalent) is preferred.
- An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution (or foreign equivalent) in the same or closely related discipline as the course to be taught is preferred.
- Experience and/or expertise in an industry/government/NGO/community organization setting that relates to the subject matter of the course to be taught is preferred.
- Experience teaching in higher education, graduate-level data science courses, and/or online settings is preferred.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
N/A
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
Not Applicable.
