The University of Tennessee Libraries

Faculty Vacancy

Position Title: Student Success Librarian for Information Literacy  

Rank: Assistant Professor, Tenure Track

Salary:  minimum $52,000

Department: Learning, Research, & Engagement

Reports To: Associate Dean of Learning, Research, & Engagement

Available:  July 1, 2017

The University of Tennessee Libraries seeks an innovative and highly motivated librarian to join our team as Student Success Librarian for Information Literacy.  We are looking for an individual who, foremost, enjoys teaching and engaging with undergraduate students and is strongly committed to information literacy as an essential component of student success. The Student Success Librarian collaborates with their Learning, Research, and Engagement colleagues to infuse information literacy into the general education and discipline-based curricula. The University of Tennessee is in the process of revamping its general education program and the Student Success Librarian will serve as the Libraries’ representative on the campus general education task force. The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to shape the Libraries’ instructional role within the new general education curriculum.

The Student Success Librarian will work closely with librarians, course instructors, and university partners to lead and support student-centered learning, focusing on building library research skills and engaging students with the tools of scholarship. Serving as the liaison to First-Year Composition in the Department of English, the librarian works closely with the Director of Composition and Composition instructors to create and assess learning outcomes related to finding, evaluating, using, and citing information. The librarian develops research guides, assignments, and tutorials and ensures their integration into the campus learning management system and other instructional platforms.   The Student Success Librarian provides research assistance to UT Libraries users in-person and online and participates in campus and community outreach programs.  The librarian joins all University of Tennessee library faculty and staff in providing the highest quality information and user education programs.

Specific Duties:

• Teach research and information literacy skills to lower division undergraduate students in support of UT’s General Education curriculum.
• Participate in a team-based approach to develop course outlines, student learning outcomes assessments for undergraduate library instructional initiatives.
• Create information literacy assignments, activities, and interactive tutorials for in-person and online delivery.
• Serve as Liaison to English Composition, partnering with instructors to foster positive student connections to the Libraries.
• Forge partnerships with university academic support units and disciplines in support of teaching and learning.
• Collaborate with English Graduate Teaching Assistants to offer a library component in the graduate level pedagogy course (English 505).
• Support UT’s mission and strategic plan through campus-wide instruction and engagement efforts to recruit, retain, and graduate diverse populations.
• Participate in the Libraries’ student engagement programs and outreach activities.
• Serve the library profession through involvement in professional organizations and through cooperative efforts with other information professionals.
• Engage in scholarly activity through publications, presentations, and other creative outlets.

Qualifications:

Required -

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge of pedagogical practices, instructional design, and assessment of student learning outcomes in general education.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a diverse academic community.
• Experience providing library instruction and student engagement activities.
• Commitment to working with diverse populations and incorporating elements of diversity into instruction and engagement initiatives.
• Experience providing research assistance with general reference resources both in print and electronic formats.
• Evidence of the ability to engage in research, publication, and service consonant with University and Libraries’ guidelines for tenure and promotion.

Preferred -

• Experience using active and experiential learning methods in a higher education setting.
• Experience providing instruction using primary sources.
• Familiarity with LibGuides software or other web development tools.
• Experience designing learning objects such as tutorials and videos.
• Familiarity with course management software, such as Canvas or Blackboard.

Environment:

The University of Tennessee Libraries serves the campus, a land-grant Carnegie university and the flagship campus of the state university system. The UT Libraries supports the teaching, research, and service mission of the university and enhances the academic experience of each student at the Knoxville campus — through outstanding print and electronic collections, reference and instructional services, and top-notch facilities and technological resources. The John C. Hodges Main Library, Webster C. Pendergrass Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Library, and George F. DeVine Music Library serve the Knoxville campus. 

The UT Libraries serves as an intellectual, cultural, and social center for the university and community.  We are a national leader in the creation of regionally significant digital collections; in support of open access though our digital repository Trace; and through a rich history of designing innovative spaces and building key partnerships that enhance the teaching/learning enterprise.   The University of Tennessee Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, the Digital Library Federation, Lyrasis, and the Center for Research Libraries. The UT Libraries collaborates actively at the state level with the other UT System Libraries as well as the libraries in the Tennessee Board of Regents system.

The UT Libraries participate in cultural programming on the UT campus, hosting a Writers In The Library series of readings, international and documentary film series, and co-sponsoring programs with campus groups such as the Baker Center for Public Policy and UT’s Ready For The World initiative.

The UT Libraries champions diversity in collections and staffing. The University of Tennessee is committed to creating a welcoming environment.  More information about how we continually strive to put our principles of civility and community into action here in Knoxville is available at http://www.utk.edu/diversity/. 

Additional information about this position and the UT community is available at https://www.lib.utk.edu/employment/student-success-librarian-info-literacy.

Benefits:

Appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor with a minimum salary of $52,000.  Faculty rank and status; twelve-month, tenure-track appointment.  Library faculty must meet University requirements for promotion and tenure.

Excellent benefits include 24 annual leave days; choice of state retirement plan (TCRS) or the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) (VOYA, TIAA, VALIC) with nonrefundable contributions paid for the employee by the University; optional group health and life insurance plans.  Tuition remission is available for all university employees and partial undergraduate tuition remission is available to dependent children and spouses of UT employees. Start-up funding in the amount of $10,000 allocated over a three-year period; annual support for travel & professional development. 

UT’s Prospective Faculty Viewbook has information on academic support, personal support, and living in Knoxville.

Application Procedures:

A background check and official transcripts are required prior to hiring.  In order to be considered for candidacy, you must submit a cover letter addressing the above qualifications, a current resume or CV, and the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three recent references to: Elizabeth Greene, Manager, Library Dean’s Office and Human Resources, 1015 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996-1000.  Application materials may be sent via email attachment to [log in to unmask].   Review of applications will begin April 17, 2017, and will continue until the position is filled.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN  37996-3560, telephone (865) 974-2498.  Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.