Position Description:
This full-time administrative role focuses on fostering immersive learning experiences, specifically designed to enhance the learning of Italian language and culture. As part of the academic team, the position is central to coordinating experiential learning opportunities that seamlessly integrate language acquisition with deep cultural engagement. The role is essential in ensuring a rigorous, engaging, and supportive educational environment, continuously assessing and refining experiential components, and optimizing resource use to enhance learning both within and beyond the classroom
Reports to:
Assistant Director for Students’ Academic Success
Responsibilities:
Teaching
Teach at least one Italian language or Italian culture course per semester.
Administrative Assistance
- Oversee the scheduling and organization of class site visits and external outings, ensuring alignment with course objectives.
- Facilitate the organization of placement and final exams, coordinating exam schedules and proctoring. Collaborate with the Academic Support Coordinator to ensure necessary accommodations for students with additional support needs.
- Assist with room assignment.
- Manage the department’s dedicated budget, ensuring financial responsibility and alignment with academic goals.
- Liaise with HR regarding faculty contracts, replacements, and absences, maintaining smooth academic operations.
- Prepare comprehensive monthly reports for partner schools, reflecting on student progress and program developments.
- Assist with Orientation and related activities.
Didactics, Curriculum and Cultural Immersion
- Coordinate regular faculty meetings and collaborate with the Assistant Director to enhance teaching quality and operational efficiency within the academic unit.
- Keep the Assistant Director informed of any emerging concerns related to students, faculty, or ongoing projects within the academic team.
- Collaborate with local partner schools to facilitate direct placement options, including planning and coordinating calendars, orientation, and student registration processes.
- In partnership with the Assistant Director, develop and enhance experiential learning components for new courses, ensuring that site visits and field trips have well-defined learning outcomes and adhere to budget constraints.
- Oversee the ongoing revision and enrichment of the Italian Language department’s curricular offerings and immersive components, integrating extra-curricular events to deepen cultural understanding.
- Coordinate and oversee extra-curricular language learning initiatives, such as language exchange opportunities, conversation events, and cultural engagement activities.
- Manage the coordination of all curricular and extra-curricular site visits and field trips, ensuring seamless execution and educational relevance.
- Lead the nomination process for student awards, recognizing outstanding academic and cultural achievements.
Requirements:
- MA degree or equivalent or higher.
- Italian citizen or legal work permit for Italy.
- Experience living, working, or studying abroad, preferred.
- Knowledge of study abroad programs, international education, and the U.S. academic system, preferred.
- Experience with course design, learning outcomes and assessment.
- Experience in managing academic operations.
- Excellent oral and written Italian and English language skills.
- Exceptional, demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Familiarity with current pedagogical trends, experiential and intercultural learning and study abroad best practices.