Resident Directors

Most of Wesleyan’s programs abroad are run onsite by a resident director who is a faculty member of one of the consortial institutions. It is Wesleyan policy that, in the years these directorships fall to Wesleyan, the directorship is rotated between a faculty member in the relevant language department and a faculty member elsewhere at the University. Calls for applications will go out in the academic year two years prior to the year of service.

Although each program is slightly different, general responsibilities include:

• Academic oversight of courses and, in programs for which we hire faculty, professors
• Academic advising and cross-cultural counseling for all students on the program
• Direction of the program’s pre-departure (campus) and onsite orientations
• Coordination of student registration at the host university/ies
• Housing oversight
• Supervision of onsite program staff
• Teaching of a course in one’s own field through the medium of the host-country language during the program and perhaps, with the agreement of the relevant department/program chair, upon return to Wesleyan (not relevant for Regensburg)
• Safety and security
• Organization of educational excursions both in the host city and throughout the host country
• Budgeting and accounting of all program expenses
• Liaison work with Wesleyan’s Office of International Studies and the counterpart offices of consortial partners
• Development of community service and extracurricular opportunities for interested students
• Regular submission of program reports and evaluations
• Participation in the campus and consortial program committees from selection through two years after service (generally one meeting per semester)
• Enforcement of the language pledge

Benefits include:

• Housing in the host city (paid by program)
• Full salary plus 1-2 months’ compensation (depending on length of service) and quarterly cost-of-living adjustment
• Round-trip flight for director and family (including cost of shipping books and clothing, if necessary)
• Tuition for children at English-medium school, if necessary
• Cultural and linguistic immersion
• Opportunity to interact with colleagues from host country
• Intensive multilevel work with students
  

Qualifications include:

• Fluency in the target language
• Research interests in (or, in some cases, strong familiarity with) host-country culture, history, politics, or society
• Familiarity with the host country university system (preferred)
• Ability to teach classes in the target language (not relevant for Regensburg)
• Demonstrated commitment to cross-cultural learning
• Administrative, organizational, and “people” skills
• Ability to work with a range of constituencies (students, parents, faculty, administrators, host families, tourism professionals)
• Budgeting and accounting experience
• Flexibility
• Approval of department chair
• Current tenured or tenure-track position at Wesleyan
  

While it may be possible to conduct some research during one’s term as director, this is a full-time administrative position. As head of the program, the Resident Director is responsible for every facet of it, and must spend the bulk of his/her time working with students and administrators to ensure that academics, housing, financial management, and all other aspects of the program are running smoothly.

If you are interested in this position, you should discuss your plans to apply for it with Carolyn Sorkin, as well as with the chair of your department and the chair of any program with which you are affiliated.

Useful websites for resident directors:

University of Michigan Sabbatical Abroad Guide:
http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/events/travel/index.htm

Transitions Abroad:
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/resources/index.shtml

American Citizens Abroad:
http://www.aca.ch/acabackg.htm