Interim Director of Composition

Western Washington University•Bellingham, WA

1d•$1,028 - $1,324•Onsite

About The Position

The English Department is hiring for an Interim Director of Composition. This is a part-time, one-year interim position for the 2026-2027 academic year, with potential for renewal. WWU’s Interim Director of Composition (DoC) engages in three intersecting activities: 1. curriculum development; 2. ongoing teacher training; 3. the day-to-day oversight as it relates to our Graduate Programs. These three intersecting activities require the Interim DoC to work in tandem with the First Year Writing Program Director (FYWPD) and closely with both Graduate Faculty Coordinators (GFCs) to ground and support our Graduate Student Teachers (GTAs) academically, professionally, and pedagogically. The Interim DoC position requires and draws from specific disciplinary expertise and currency in multiple fields of study, including Rhetorical Theory and Writing Studies, Organizational Management, The Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, as well as Psychology and Sociology as they relate to habits of mind and the ways people learn. Such disciplinary expertise is precisely what gets bundled up into the field of First-Year Writing scholarship. Curriculum Development Each year, working from established research in the field and in collaboration with the FYWPD, the Interim DoC develops a full curriculum for ENG 101 instructors to teach. In this way, the curriculum maintains ENG 101 as a First Year Writing program rather than a collection of individual classes. Building a coherent curriculum participates in the intellectual life of our overall graduate program, structuring the ways our graduate students experience their academic role within our department and the university. Teacher Training Training new and returning ENG 101 teachers is ongoing and dynamic. The ENG 101 curriculum cannot ‘stand on its own.’ The Interim DoC is responsible for training ENG 101 teachers to convert the program’s written curriculum into specific classroom practices that support our First Year Writing students. The Interim DoC trains the GTAs in “Comp Camp” (our week-long orientation), weekly staff meetings, our gradual level practicum (ENG 513) on teaching college level writing classes, ENG 101 classroom observations, and intense one-and-one support. Such training supports our graduate students in their professional development as teacher-scholars in our department. Oversight Working closely with the First Year Writing Program Director, the Interim DoC monitors and supports the ways our graduate students engage in their teaching practice as MAs/MFAs in our program. This includes monitoring enrollments, updating university Advising materials, and engaging with university stakeholders such as the Registrar, Writing Instructional Support, First-Year Programs, and the CHSS Dean’s office. As problems and possibilities surface that affect our graduate students’ teaching and the ENG 101 program, the Interim DoC partners with the First Year Writing Program Director and GFCs to identify and quickly respond.

Requirements

MA in Rhetoric & Composition or closely related field
Experience directing a university first-year writing program
Demonstrated interest in the field of rhetoric/composition and pedagogy
Evidence of strong teaching in first-year college writing
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse students, faculty, and staff

Nice To Haves

PhD in Rhetoric & Composition
Demonstrated scholarly interest in the field of Writing Program Administration (WPA)
Demonstrated interest and experience working with Universal Design principles as they relate to writing instruction and curriculum design.
Familiarity with WWU's First-Year Writing Program

Responsibilities

Curriculum development for ENG 101 instructors.
Ongoing teacher training for new and returning ENG 101 teachers.
Day-to-day oversight of Graduate Programs related to teaching.
Monitoring and supporting graduate students' teaching practice.
Monitoring enrollments.
Updating university Advising materials.
Engaging with university stakeholders such as the Registrar, Writing Instructional Support, First-Year Programs, and the CHSS Dean’s office.
Identifying and responding to problems and possibilities affecting graduate students' teaching and the ENG 101 program.