Instructional Assistant, Committee on Environment, Geography and Urbanization
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

College Social Sciences Collegiate Division

About the Department

Based in the Division of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, the Committee on Environment, Geography and Urbanization (CEGU) is a degree-granting unit, comprised of over 35 affiliated faculty, 4 instructional faculty, 3 full time staff, instructional assistants, interns, over 100 undergraduate students, and a community of graduate students from other disciplines. CEGU is the home of an undergraduate major and minor program in Environment, Geography and Urbanization, and associated courses, a PhD certificate, major events and programs, and both University and community partnerships.

Job Summary

The Instructional Assistant (IA) assists faculty, other teaching personnel, and program administrators in their work delivering undergraduate education in the major/minor program and related programs. The IA's role comprises a set of responsibilities designed to address the Unit's curricular needs and may differ each quarter. The IA focuses on supporting instruction as a teaching assistant in specific for-credit courses or course sequences. Additional duties include assisting undergraduate students in lab, workshop or field settings, coordinating field trips, excursions, and non-classroom activities and experiences, advising and mentoring undergraduates conducting independent research, grading assignments and exams, supporting instructors' use of academic technologies and supporting program communications to students. The IA has experience completing research and academic work in a relevant area and is equipped to support undergraduate instruction in capacities that range from substantive, pedagogical, methodological, technological, to administrative. The role will be a combination of the responsibilities listed below, and the specific allocation of duties may differ each quarter.

The annual work period is 9.5 months, from September 1 through June 15, and the salary is paid over 12 months, from September through August.

Responsibilities

• Assists the instructor of record in an undergraduate course or courses by running weekly review and discussion sections as an accompaniment to the scheduled course; holding regularly scheduled office hours; assessing, evaluating and grading papers, exams, and other assignments; contributing to teaching resources and student materials; managing reserve readings, course websites and other course materials; coordinating and leading discussion sections, setting up equipment, and other logistics; meeting regularly with the instructor of record; attending regularly-scheduled sessions of assigned courses and reading all assigned materials.
• Provides centralized support for undergraduate academics in CEGU, including organization of course listings, program requirements and offerings, and support of program operations and communications.
• Leads workshops on research methods, writing, and field study sessions for undergraduates.
• Manages academic technologies and coordinates technological support for instructor and students in undergraduate courses.
• Serves as a grader for other courses.
• Meets with students to discuss academics, requirements, internships, and programming related to the major and minor program.
• Meets regularly with instructors of record and program directors and coordinators to discuss program goals and curriculum.
• Attends relevant on-campus training sessions on pedagogy, social science research methods, and academic technology.
• Participates regularly in CEGU events, workshops, colloquia, and lectures.
• Interacts with faculty, researchers, and staff for committee work or information.
• Supports communications to students and other audiences.
• Work with small groups of students to help them improve in the subject area and hold office hours to speak individually with students.
• Helps staff to plan and execute events.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree or higher in a relevant social sciences or humanities field.

Experience:

• Teaching assistant or instructor in relevant undergraduate courses.
• Academic administration through internships, student or professional employment.
• Conducting research in related fields.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills including excellent editing/proofreading ability in English.
• Foster an inclusive environment for all students.
• Handle multiple concurrent projects in a competent and professional manner while also managing details and meeting deadlines.
• Work effectively with supervision and as a part of a team, individually, or in concert with other offices and campus partners.
• Work autonomously, taking initiative and without detailed instructions.
• Maintain confidentiality/discretion at all times.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Decision making skills.
• Reasoning skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Creativity.

Working Conditions

• 9.5 month position paid over 12 months.
• Some availability during evenings and weekends.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, which is to include your interest in this position (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Academic Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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