Job description

Security Sensitive Position?: Yes

Hours of Work: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM M-F

Posting Number: TSU203707

Official TSU Title: Director of Academic Innovation and Program Quality

Grant Title: N/A

Job Description Summary / TWC Summary

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Academic Innovation and Program Quality for the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (COSET) is a visionary, data-driven, and collaborative leader. The Director will serve as COSET’s primary architect of academic quality assurance, leading efforts to evaluate degree programs, analyze course-level performance data, and design evidence-based interventions that reduce D/F/Withdrawal (DFW) rates in gateway STEM courses. The Director will also pursue external funding through grant writing to support sustained, cross-departmental initiatives that advance STEM student retention, progression, and degree completion-with particular attention to students from historically underrepresented communities. The appointment combines academic leadership with a tenure-track faculty position, reflecting COSET’s commitment to embedding scholarly rigor directly into its continuous improvement infrastructure.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a high-impact leadership position that is best suited for a STEM scholar-practitioner who has designed and is actively leading systematic, data-informed academic improvement programs.Essential Duties Summary

1. Academic Innovation

Curriculum and Pedagogical Innovation

• Investigate and pilot innovative course formats (e.g., flipped classrooms, hybrid modalities, active learning studios), synthesizing findings into actionable, evidence-based recommendations that position COSET as a leader in STEM pedagogical innovation and establish scalable models for college-wide adoption.
• Identify and vet industry-recognized certifications and micro-credentials (e.g., LinkedIn Learning, CompTIA, Autodesk, SAS, Google Data Analytics, FAA) aligned to the workforce demands of each COSET discipline, in collaboration with department chairs and faculty.
• Partner with department chairs and faculty to embed approved certifications and micro-credentials into existing degree plans, ensuring students have structured, accessible pathways to earn market-validated credentials alongside their academic degrees.

Grant Development and External Funding

• Participate in COSET’s grant writing efforts in STEM education, academic innovation, and student success.
• Support awarded grant initiatives by serving as a collaborative partner to project PIs, coordinating cross-departmental activities, tracking progress toward deliverables, and contributing to reporting efforts that sustain COSET’s funded programs.

Faculty Professional Development and Collaboration

• Design and deliver professional development opportunities for COSET faculty focused on evidence-based pedagogy, high-impact teaching practices, data literacy, and student engagement strategies that improve outcomes in gateway and upper-division STEM courses.
• Collaborate with TSU’s Teaching and Learning Excellence Center (TLEC) to connect university-wide PD initiatives to the disciplinary context of STEM education, helping COSET faculty draw meaningful connections between broad instructional frameworks and the specific teaching challenges they encounter in their courses.

2. Program Quality

Academic Program Evaluation and Quality Assurance

• Partner with COSET department chairs and faculty to design, implement, and continuously refine systematic processes for evaluating academic programs and individual courses against institutional, accreditation, and state standards.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring of program health indicators including enrollment trends, course completion rates, DFW rates, grade distributions, time-to-degree, and retention data across all COSET departments.
• Lead periodic program reviews in alignment with university and external accreditation requirements; prepare written reports for documenting findings, commendations, and recommendations for improvement.

Gateway Course Intervention and Student Success

• Systematically identify gateway COSET courses with elevated DFW rates and lead collaborative, evidence-based efforts with department chairs, faculty, and student services staff to diagnose root causes and develop targeted interventions.
• Design and oversee structured academic support initiatives-including co-requisite support models, tutoring programs, and early-alert systems-to improve student progression through critical STEM course sequences.
• Monitor TSI compliance for students enrolled in COSET courses, working with the Registrar’s Office and academic advisors to identify and resolve enrollment, placement, and progression gaps.

Faculty Professional Development and Collaboration

• Design and deliver professional development opportunities for COSET faculty focused on evidence-based pedagogy, high-impact teaching practices, data literacy, and student engagement strategies that improve outcomes in gateway and upper-division STEM courses.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice among COSET faculty by sharing program evaluation findings, intervention outcomes, and relevant research from the STEM education literature.
• Collaborate with COSET chairs and faculty on curriculum development and revision, ensuring that programmatic changes are grounded in outcome data and aligned with institutional, accreditation, and workforce standards.

3. Faculty Role

• Teach one (1) course per semester in the appointee’s home COSET department, maintaining active engagement with disciplinary teaching and scholarship.
• Maintain an active scholarly profile, including peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and contributions to professional organizations.
• Contribute to departmental service, faculty governance, and mentorship activities consistent with tenure-track expectations.

4. Other

• Take on other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

% FTE: 1.0

Hiring Range: $74,879.81 – $95,471.75

Education

Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in mathematics, natural science, engineering, technology, or a closely related COSET discipline from an accredited institution.Required Licensing/Certification

N/AKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• University policies, procedures, and administrative practices.
• Banner and other enterprise systems.
• Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent software.

Skills in:

• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Providing high-quality customer service.
• Problem-solving and sound decision-making.
• Managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Effective verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Lead and inspire teams while promoting a shared vision.
• Think strategically and develop actionable long-term plans.
• Communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders.
• Manage complex projects from inception to completion.
• Analyze data and trends to inform decisions.
• Adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Utilize job-related software and systems effectively.

Work Experience

Required Qualifications:

• Experience designing and implementing intervention-based programs.
• Experience with federally funded research projects, including demonstrated ability to manage grant requirements, budgets, and deliverables.
• Experience collaborating across academic departments and administrative offices in a university setting to support student success initiatives.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of critical infrastructure, which may include communications systems, computer networks and systems, cybersecurity systems, electrical grid, hazardous waste treatment or water treatment system.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Texas Success Initiative (TSI) compliance requirements and their intersection with developmental and co-requisite mathematics education in Texas for public higher education.
• Experience with learning management systems, enrollment data systems (e.g., Banner), and data visualization tools used to monitor program and course-level outcomes.

Working/Environmental Conditions

• Standard office setting.
• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing.
• Occasional light lifting or carrying.
• Frequent use of computer and video display terminals.

Desired start date: 06/01/2026

How to apply

Apply now

UA EEO Statement

It is the policy of Texas Southern University to provide a work environment that is free from discrimination for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, individuals with disability, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its programs, activities, admissions or employment policies. This policy of equal opportunity is strictly observed in all University employment-related activities such as advertising, recruiting, interviewing, testing, employment training, compensation, promotion, termination, and employment benefits. This policy expressly prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, genetic history, national origin, individuals with disability, age, citizenship status, or protected veteran status. This policy shall be adhered to in accordance with the provisions of all applicable federal, state and local laws, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Manual of Administrative Policies and ProceduresClose Date: 04/29/2026

Open Until Filled (overrides close field): No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Open to all applicants.

It is the policy of Texas Southern University not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its programs, activities, admissions or employment policies.