Director and Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences

Texas A&M University System • Laredo, TX

2d

About The Position

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), a member of the Texas A&M University System, welcomes applicants for a Director and Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences to begin Fall 2026. TAMIU is a Hispanic Serving Institution with over 8,000 students located in Laredo, Texas, a vibrant and bicultural city with a population of about 250,000. The university advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service, and with an intentional focus on student success and research excellence. For more information, please visit https://www.tamiu.edu/ The Director/Department Chair of the School of First Year Experiences provides comprehensive, integrated leadership across the First Year Experiences (FYE) program. TAMIU’s FYE program helps students successfully transition by offering first-year seminar and signature courses that build academic skills, engagement, and a sense of belonging. The director/chair will oversee FYE 1201 and other signature courses, ensuring curricular coherence and integrity, supporting ongoing program development, and advancing student success initiatives central to the first-year experience. The role also includes leadership and coordination of developmental education in both Mathematics and English, Language Arts, and Reading (ELAR). This work should align closely with state guidelines and expectations, including those established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and provisions of HB5, ensuring developmental pathways are effective, compliant, and supportive to student success. The Director /Chair will collaborate with academic advisors and other student support personnel to discuss course placement, scheduling, and advising. COAS is the largest unit on campus with 8 departments, over 130 full-time faculty, and nearly 4,000 students. COAS offers 34 bachelors, 13 masters, and 1 PhD degrees. The School of First Year Experiences is an academic department within COAS, and the school has approximately 11 faculty. Overall, this position is envisioned as a central coordinating role that bridges first-year experiences and developmental education to ensure a successful transition from high school into university life and to support students as they become prepared for college ready coursework.

Requirements

• Terminal degree (PhD). Candidates with an EdD should have a focus in Curriculum and Instruction or a closely related field to ensure expertise in leading curriculum design and program development.
• Hold at least a master’s degree in a discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences, particularly when the terminal degree is outside traditional disciplinary fields, so the candidate is prepared to teach and engage with the academic departments in COAS.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, integrated leadership across the First Year Experiences (FYE) program.
• Oversee FYE 1201 and other signature courses, ensuring curricular coherence and integrity, supporting ongoing program development, and advancing student success initiatives central to the first-year experience.
• Leadership and coordination of developmental education in both Mathematics and English, Language Arts, and Reading (ELAR).
• Collaborate with academic advisors and other student support personnel to discuss course placement, scheduling, and advising.

Benefits

• We offer competitive salaries and a benefits package including health insurance, retirement benefits, and life insurance.
• Additional pay is available for summer teaching.
• Financial support for professional development opportunities, such as attending academic conferences, is also provided.
• Moving expenses are covered in whole or in part by the university.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree