Careers at Drexel

About Lindy Center for Civic Engagement

Drexel University is committed to becoming “the most civically engaged university in the United States,” encouraging students, staff, and faculty to be responsible members of their local and global communities and to use their skills to address societal issues with the goal of improving quality of life for everyone. The Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, located within the department of University and Community Partnerships, is a driver of this mission on campus by providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn and think critically about social issues, engage with communities through service, academic experiences, and relationship-building, and reflect on their capacity to make change.

The Lindy Center for Civic Engagement’s mission is to foster a culture of civic responsibility by providing programs and resources that empower Drexel students and the broader university community to expand their civic identities through engagement in mutually-beneficial partnerships that lead to a more just society.

Job Summary

CIVC 101: Introduction to Civic Engagement is meant to be students’ first educational experience in their civic engagement journey. The curriculum, maintained by the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement and taught by adjunct instructors, gives students a basic understanding of the broad definition of civic engagement and invites students to critically examine key concepts related to civic and community engagement, including identity and social location, community, and systems of change. As a Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) course, students not only learn and discuss concepts in class but also put them into practice by engaging with each other and their communities and reflecting on the deeper meanings of their classroom and community experiences. The course approaches civic engagement from sociological, community-engaged, and systemic lenses—recognizing that social issues are systemic and related to identity, social groups, background and economic status.

Consistent with the mission and vision of the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement and the University’s goals, below are the learning outcomes for this course. Students will be able to:

• Define civic engagement and community engagement and key concepts such as identity, community, and systems of change.
• Practice skills related to civic engagement (self-awareness, relationship building, dialogue, reflection, etc.) in real-world situations through direct community engagement. 
• Identify social issues in real-world situations through a case-study project, and be able to identify and critically examine additional social issues in class.
• Envision their own identity as an active, engaged, responsible citizen. 
• Recognize how effective individual actions can affect social change.
• Identify examples of inequitable entitlement and be able to explain their impact in everyday life.

CIVC 101 is a 1-credit course that takes place for 50 minutes once per week. There are several sections offered each term at different times during weekdays and weekday evenings. Adjunct instructors generally teach one section per term and they can choose the time of the section based on their availability. The course is taught face-to-face on campus and generally enrolls a maximum of 50 students.

Essential Functions

• Attending one training before teaching the course, and ongoing workshops, community-building events, and/or one-on-ones with the Lindy Center staff (generally 2-3 events per term in addition to the training)
• Completing all necessary hiring paperwork
• Ensuring the course learning outcomes are met by following the given syllabus and lesson plans provided by the Lindy Center and communicating any potential changes with the AD
• Attending and teaching the course once a week throughout the term
• Managing a relationship with a Teaching Assistant who can assist with course facilitation, classroom logistics, and student assessment.
• Grading all student assignments and participation – includes submitting final student grades within 48 hours of the final exam, maintaining accurate documentation of course records, and potentially assisting the Lindy Center with student grade disputes should they arise
• Making yourself available to students outside of class and responding to student emails in a timely fashion; also responding to Lindy Center communications in a timely fashion

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree
• Minimum of 1 year of experience with group facilitation, teaching, and/or community engagement.
• Intermediate understanding and comfort with leading student in discussions of course concepts, including identity, entitlement, systemic inequality, equity, oppression, discrimination, etc. Previous experience facilitating discussion about these concepts is helpful but not required.
• Commitment to creating inclusive and equitable classroom environments.
• Commitment to student support and growth, which includes assessing students as individuals and showing compassion while holding students accountable.
• Experience facilitating workshops, classes, or other interactive sessions.
• Ability to provide mentorship to and collaborate with an undergraduate Teaching Assistants.
• Desire to participate in and contribute to the community of adjuncts, teaching assistants, and staff members who comprise the CIVC 101 team.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's Degree

Location

University City/Philadelphia, PA