The Experimental College at Tufts University seeks Visiting Lecturers from a range of backgrounds and professions for the Fall 2024 semester. We are committed to diversity and inclusion. Applicants are asked to design and - if selected - teach small, discussion-based courses that promote active learning and that engage Tufts undergraduates in an exploration of ideas and experiences shaping the world today. We are looking for out-of-the-ordinary courses that also have broad appeal.
Up to fifteen courses will be chosen from a very competitive pool. ExCollege courses are three-credit, letter-graded electives. Classes meet in the evening, once a week, for a total of 2.5 contact hours per week, over thirteen teaching weeks. Our courses are typically taught in a classroom setting at the Tufts Medford/Somerville campus. Fall 2024 courses will primarily be offered in person, and online courses will only be considered under special circumstances. Selected applicants may be asked to adjust their proposed syllabi as necessary to meet ExCollege and university guidelines. The semester will begin on September 3, 2024. The last day of classes is December 9, 2024.
Stipend: $5,500.00 for the semester, whether taught individually or team-taught.
Our Courses
ExCollege courses can best be characterized as classes aimed at Tufts undergraduates looking to try something new. They are intended to be discussion-based and participatory in nature. Interactive and collaborative teaching methods are strongly encouraged. For more detail, please visit our website at www.excollege.tufts.edu and FAQs on our Visiting Lecturer page.
While wide-ranging, ExCollege courses tend to address issues of current importance and/or interdisciplinary subject areas that complement - rather than duplicate - classes being offered in the traditional departments. NOTE: To avoid overlap, we recommend that you check course listings in Tufts departments related to your topic to make sure your course doesn’t overlap with one already taught at Tufts.
Qualifications
Anyone who has some special expertise to offer Tufts undergraduates and has the ability to share that expertise effectively may apply. People who would like to work with highly motivated undergraduates in a small-group setting that emphasizes active learning will find the ExCollege a unique opportunity.
All offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a background check and meeting the University’s current COVID-19 policies.
Application Instructions
You will be asked to upload four documents to Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/136162: a teaching statement, a course proposal (course description with bio), a syllabus, and a resume or CV. Please upload the four documents as outlined below to Interfolio.
If you are proposing a co-taught course, each applicant should complete the steps on Interfolio individually. The same set of documents that includes both applicants’ bios and CVs should be uploaded.
Document 1 - Teaching Statement
Teaching Statement (one page or less): Please state your current position, any relevant teaching and/or professional experience, and your educational background. Include also your teaching philosophy and the role you plan to play in the classroom.
Document 2 - Proposal
Course Description and Bio: In a paragraph, highlight the key elements that will be covered in your course. A question or two at the beginning of your description can help add to its appeal. Please see our Past Courses page of our website for examples. At the end of your course description, you should include a bio that explains who you are and any relevant information (job title, previous positions, etc).
You will also be asked for a shortened version (200 words) of this description and bio in the Visiting Lecturer Application Form section of Interfolio. This version is used to market the course to students.
Please note that titles, course descriptions, and bios may be edited at the discretion of the ExCollege.
Document 3 - Syllabus
Syllabus and Bibliography: Please upload a syllabus that is structured to cover your proposed subject in a 13-week semester. You should include:
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A statement of expected learning outcomes for the course
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For example, what you hope students will learn, create, analyze, etc. by the end of the semester.
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A week-by-week outline of topics or questions you plan to cover
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Anticipated class readings, viewings, assignments, and activities for each week
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Bibliography of key sources
Please Note: Given the multidisciplinary nature of our courses, we strongly urge you to find course materials from a variety of sources rather than a single textbook.
Document 4 - Resume
Up-to-date resume or curriculum vita.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, January 11, 2024.
