Basic Program Instructor

About the Department

The University of Chicago's first president, William Rainey Harper, had a vision: that learning can, and should, be a lifelong pursuit. Graham is the realization of that vision. Established as one of U Chicago's three original divisions, our mission is to bring the University's intellectual resources and distinctive scholarly approach to a broader audience.

Job Summary

Basic Program instructors are staff instructors who teach from a four-year curriculum of Classical and Western core texts, and a group of two-year Alumni sequences modeled on the core program. While a Basic Program instructor should have some area(s) of related expertise, he/she/they should be able, with sufficient preparation, to teach any part of the standard curriculum. Instructors may also propose and lead courses of their own design. All Basic Program courses are text-driven and use the Socratic method of discussion and analysis. The teaching methodology is as much a hallmark of the Basic Program as is its curriculum of great books.

Basic Program courses are offered in an online format as well as on site at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. All Basic Program courses are non-credit courses, so instructors are not responsible for student assessments – there are no tests or papers to grade. Teaching loads can vary a good deal from quarter to quarter in accordance with instructors’ needs, although assignments will depend on student demand, and on instructors’ performance and seniority.

Instructors receive contracts prior to each quarter confirming their course sections and the compensation to be received for each section. Working hours and total compensation are based on the number of sections taught and can differ significantly from quarter to quarter. Continued employment in the program is dependent on an annual review. The annual review will take into account student evaluations, classroom observations, satisfactory participation in collegial meetings and events and other feedback. All instructors serve at the pleasure of the Dean of the School, as advised by the Chair of the Basic Program and the Director of Academics.

Responsibilities

• Leads class discussions in the Socratic Method, following the methodology and style of the Basic Program.  Each class section requires 1.5 - 3 hours per week of active instruction time.  As courses are not graded, no grading is required of instructors.
• Serves as a community-facing member of the Graham School team, engaging with students, answering questions, and corresponding with students via email as needed to address course-related questions.
• Learns Graham School online systems to enable teaching online, even if also teaching onsite. 
• Attends monthly Basic Program staff meetings and other departmental meetings or activities. Please note these meetings and activities are eligible for small stipends in recognition for the additional time commitment outside of active teaching.
• Engages broadly with the Graham School community through activities that may include presenting lectures in program-sponsored lecture series, participating in one-day symposia and weekend study retreats, teaching and lecturing in outreach efforts for the program, or serving as trip scholars for our travel-study programs.
• Participates in reviewing and modifying the program curriculum; selects editions of texts to be assigned; engages in professional development; and helps to design symposia, weekend retreats and other educational programs.
• Works independently and guides work of groups of students throughout the academic year. Interprets issues faced by students, and provides academic and professional advising.
• Performs initial and ongoing assessments of students' academic abilities and rates of achievements. Monitors and documents students' progress, participation, and attendance in class.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Previous collegiate-level teaching experience.
• Previous experience with adult, non-traditional students.
• Background leading live, online classes.

Preferred Competencies

• Professional demeanor and a high degree of reliability.
• Work both independently, and collaboratively.
• Very comfortable in discussion-based, text-centered classrooms.
• Good organization and classroom-management skills.

Working Conditions

• This is a part-time position of approximately 3 hours per week.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)