NAIS Curriculum Development Fellow

Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position.

Job Description

General Statement of Duties

The Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) Curriculum Development Fellow supports the work of the Co-Conveners, Advisory Circle, and campus leaders in providing development guidance and structural support for the new curricular components of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation NAIS grant, “Gathering at the Crossroads.” This position will work in partnership with the NAIS Community Development Fellow to support the goals of the grant.

This project aims to build a model of collaborative teaching and learning for Native American and Indigenous Studies centered in the Northeast region but with ties to a global indigenous network, by infusing Indigenous knowledge across disciplines. The project’s activities include curriculum development across the member campuses, faculty development, student development, and community engagement. This 3-year, grant-funded term position will support the development of curriculum ranging from course modules to semester-long courses and new academic credentials. Faculty partners will include NAIS scholars as well as those from other fields looking to integrate NAIS material and methodologies into their coursework.

Modeled on other successful joint appointments in the Five College Consortium, this position will serve faculty, staff, and students across the Consortium, which supports the work of some 2000 faculty and 30,000 students across the member institutions. It will be administratively housed at FCI under the Director of Academic Programs and will have close engagement with the Five College Native American and Indigenous Studies Certificate Program. This position is intended to be an in-person, on-site role; we anticipate it beginning as a remote position due to pandemic-related restrictions on campus access.

Importance of Diversity to our Educational Mission

Five Colleges, Incorporated and its five associated institutions (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst) are committed to supporting and sustaining a diversity of people, backgrounds, experiences, ideas and points of view for the essential contribution this diversity makes to educational missions of our organizations. Hence Five Colleges requires all of its employees to work cooperatively and effectively with the diversity of people at the colleges (students, faculty members, other employees) and within the organization itself.

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop, plan, and implement programming to support faculty in offering coursework and co-curricular opportunities in NAIS and to cultivate a community of scholars.
• Research and consult with NAIS scholars at other institutions who have successfully implemented NAIS curriculum and methodologies across disciplines and departments.
• Support the faculty Co-Conveners in managing the mini-grant program for curriculum development.
• Be available for collaboration with scholars and artists in residence as related to the Mellon NAIS grant when appropriate.
• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, engaging them in the curriculum development process.
• Collaborate with registrars and curriculum committees on the campuses to research, develop, and implement strategies (such as course tags) for ensuring the visibility of courses with Native and Indigenous content.
• Identify policy gaps and obstacles, and consult appropriate Consortium and campus experts on academic policies and procedures for solutions.
• Benchmark with peer institutions to understand trends, new ideas, innovations and best practices.
• Work collaboratively with NAIS faculty, staff, and students to contribute to the planning and activities of the NAIS project as well as the faculty and instructional staff on the campuses.
• Work closely with centers for teaching and learning and academic leaders across the campuses to support the development and inclusion of NAIS in curricula, and to foster pedagogical strategies that are grounded in Indigenous epistemologies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree required, doctoral degree preferred
• Experience in curriculum development, including creating course content and navigating academic governance
• Familiarity with Native and Indigenous communities and knowledge of NAIS scholarship and methodologies (preferably with a focus on the Northeast region)
• Demonstrated high level of cultural competency and success working with faculty
• Attentiveness to detail and organization
• Ability to complete multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently as well as cooperatively
• Demonstrated judgment and discretion
• Ability to engage effectively with Five College faculty members, administrators, and community leaders
• Capacity to comprehend written and verbal communication
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, by videoconference, and via email
• Ability to pass a post-offer background check

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework and research experience in NAIS methodologies
• Familiarity with the member campuses of the Five College Consortium
• Knowledge of campus policies and best practices related to curriculum development

Position Type:

Regular

About Five Colleges, Inc.

Five Colleges, Incorporated, sustains and enriches the excellence of its members -- Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst -- through academic and administrative collaboration. The consortium facilitates intellectual communities and broad curricular and cocurricular offerings; affording learning, research, performance and social opportunities that complement the distinctive qualities of each institution.

Five Colleges, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.