About the Opportunity
The College of Professional Studies (CPS) at Northeastern University invites applications for a part-time non-tenure track Writing Specialist in CPS Online Writing Laboratory (OWL).
The CPS OWL functions as a 1-credit lab course attached to other CPS courses. Through sophisticated feedback that follows best practices in the teaching of writing and composition, OWL functions to give students individual coaching to improve their writing skills. OWL functions as a practicum where students can submit drafts, receive praise and strategies for improvement to revise and edit their writing, and then submit final drafts for grading to the accompanying course. OWL has the potential to expand into other programs to help students improve their writing skills.
The Writing Specialist may be assigned to a OWL associated with undergraduate 1st year English courses or an intensive writing course associated with the graduate program in Organizational Communications.
Responsibilities:
This part-time staff member will teach OWL lab courses throughout the academic year.
Teaching 1 Credit Laboratory courses connected to 5 ENGLISH courses and 1 ORG COMM course.
Participate in an extensive 6-week online training course for writing specialists prior to assignment to courses. Respond to student writing by writing letters of analysis to each individual student who submits drafts to the OWL. Assign a grade of U or S at the end of each term to participating students. Collaborate and communicate with faculty assigned to the courses that the OWL labs accompany. Maintain technological proficiency in Northeastern University’s online platform; i.e., Canvas and the OWL labs, and use this proficiency to communicate with students and faculty. Keep up to date and in contact with academic director and faculty members regarding appropriateness of course/program content and student issues of concern; e.g., plagiarism.
Additional Information
This is a non-tenure track, renewable position. This position requires a flexible work schedule that includes required evening hours.
Qualifications:
The position requires an MFA in Creative Writing or Composition, or a MA in English, Communications, or a related field.
3-5 years type of experience working with students in composition courses or other writing courses at the collegiate level. Experience in writing centers strongly desired. Professional writing experience is also desired.
Writing Specialists must be versed in the theories of writing as a process; responding to writing through an organized process that encompasses all writing skills, particularly higher order writing skills; and theories which support student autonomy by asking students to respond to and assess their own writing.
Position Type
TemporaryAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
This job is for a current or anticipated job vacancy.
Pay Rate:
$33/hourSkills Required
- MFA in Creative Writing or Composition, or MA in English, Communications, or a related field
- 3-5 years experience working with students in collegiate composition or other writing courses
- Experience in writing centers
- Professional writing experience
- Familiarity with theories of writing as a process and techniques for responding to and promoting student autonomy
- Technological proficiency with Northeastern's online platform, including Canvas and OWL labs
- Participation in an extensive 6-week online training course prior to assignment
- Flexible schedule including required evening hours
Northeastern University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northeastern University and has not been reviewed or approved by Northeastern University.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is described as extensive, including 22–26 vacation days, 12 sick days, 13 holidays, and paid parental leave for birth/adoption. Additional paid leave is also outlined, including up to 26 weeks of paid medical leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible employees.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with an employer contribution described as 10% when an employee contributes 5%, alongside immediate vesting once eligible. This is presented as unusually generous relative to typical employer retirement offerings.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are emphasized through tuition assistance for employees and dependents and access to backup childcare and family-care resources. Tuition remission/discount structures are highlighted as a major value driver, especially for employees with children and for long-tenured staff.
Northeastern University Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively
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