About Alvernia University
Alvernia University was founded in 1958 by the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Through its main campus in Reading and locations in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the university serves 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from around the country.
Alvernia offers a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts core education for developing the mind, strong technical training in many high-demand majors, experiential learning through study abroad and internship experiences, and engagement with the community through our Franciscan-based community service model. We call our model of transformational education the Alvernia Advantage, and we believe this style of education transforms students into ethical leaders with moral courage.
Alvernia University ranks in the top 100 among 2021 Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report, and we are recognized as a College of Distinction for our commitment to engaged experiential education.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Executive Director of Professional Programs, the Total Experience Learning® (TExpL®) Instructor is responsible for instructing, leading, and managing Total Experience Learning® educational environments, curriculum, special projects, collaborative educational initiatives, professional development, and program alignment for students of all ages in the TExpL® Institute at Alvernia University. The role also focuses on supporting and enhancing the growth of Total Experience Learning® curricular elements that integrate smoothly with school, collegiate, and professional educational systems. TExpL® Instructors are hourly, as-needed employees that will operate in various programs and initiatives, including but not limited to after-school programs, summer programs, professional development, curriculum development, community initiatives, and more.
Essential Functions:
Facilitate and instruct students and professionals of all ages in Total Experience Learning® including when applicable:
- Identify performance-based competencies.
- Establish prioritized learning goals and objectives.
- Develop instructional materials that meet the needs of diverse learners.
- Assess student's competencies with performance-based measurements.
- Facilitate and create a curriculum that meets standards for Total Experience Learning®.
- Collaborate with non-core instructors and industry representatives to ensure relevance in programming.
- Align planning with formal curriculum.
- Develop learning plans that include all course competencies.
- Align instruction with learning goals and assessments.
- Develop comprehensive course syllabi, including policies and class schedules.
- Make a broad course roadmap of learning plans available to students.
- Inform students of learning expectations.
- Provide a safe and respectful learning environment.
- Engage students in the learning process.
- Encourage student participation.
- Challenge students to use higher-order thinking skills (Bloom's Taxonomy -
- synthesis, application, and evaluation).
- Utilize learner-centered instructional strategies.
- Provide opportunities for student dialogue and interaction.
- Assess student learning and provide ongoing formative feedback for growth.
- Utilize summative assessments that are authentic and competency-based.
- Appropriately align assessments to learning outcomes.
- Document and report student performance over time.
- Communicate continuous progress to students.
- Collect documented student feedback each semester.
- Maintain the standards of achievement that are necessary in meeting the demands of occupations for which students are being prepared.
- Collaborate closely with existing partners and encourage new partnerships and programming as it aligns with the mission and goals of TExpL® and Alvernia University.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with other divisions and departments in the TExpL® Institute and Alvernia University to ensure cohesive and integrated program offerings.
- Represent TExpL® Professional Programs at conferences, seminars, and other professional events to enhance the visibility and reputation of the organization when applicable.
- Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging best practices to inform program development and strategy.
- Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Professional Programs.
Qualifications/Education:
- Minimum bachelor's degree or significant expertise.
- Commitment to the mission statement, core values, and goals of Alvernia University.
- Teaching at any level.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a diverse range of students.
