Employment Opportunities at ACU

Abilene Christian University is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. All qualified applicants for these positions must be professing Christians and be active, faithful members of a congregation of the Churches of Christ and willing to support the Christian mission and purpose of the university.

Faculty Full-time

Major Responsibilities:

1. Serve as the primary faculty contact for EdD students in the early phases of the dissertation process.

2. Teach dissertation-focused and research-related courses in the EdD Organizational Leadership program.

3. Mentor students in developing and refining dissertation topics, research designs, and scholarly writing.

4. Oversee the process of assigning dissertation chairs and committee members in collaboration with the Program Director.

5. Track and manage dissertation-related data, including committee assignments, milestone completions, and IRB approvals.

6. Ensure accurate storage of student dissertation progress records.

7. Collaborate with faculty and leadership to develop and improve dissertation curriculum and support.

8. Participate in the academic, administrative, and service life of the program and college.

Essential duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

1. Serve as the key liaison for students beginning the dissertation process, offering guidance and academic support.

2. Provide instruction in dissertation-related courses, including research design and academic writing.

3. Collaborate with the Program Director and other faculty to ensure dissertation processes align with program goals and university standards.

4. Facilitate the assignment of dissertation committees and ensure appropriate faculty engagement.

5. Maintain a centralized system for tracking student progress and dissertation completion.

6. Work closely with institutional research and compliance units to support IRB requirements and data integrity.

7. Support continuous improvement of the dissertation experience and student outcomes.

8. Participate in program meetings, faculty development opportunities, and university committees as appropriate.

Professional Development Requirements:

In order to perform the duties of the Doctoral Research Coordinator (Administrative Faculty), it is necessary to demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Attention to detail and follow-through.

2. Time management and organizational skills.

3. Maintain confidentiality.

4. Computer proficiency, including use of online learning and data systems.

5. Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal abilities.

6. Provide high-quality instruction and student mentoring while maintaining academic and university standards.

7. Collaborate effectively with students, faculty, and staff in a distributed online environment.

Physical Demands:

1. Majority of work is performed in front of a computer and on the telephone; must have the ability to use the computer and remain stationary for long periods of time.

2. Manage conversations in person, online and by telephone.

3. Limited travel – locations vary and some overnight travel may be necessary.

4. Work well under pressure and manage stress well.

5. Communicate clearly: speak, read, write, and hear clearly to perform essential functions.

Professional

1. Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership or a closely related leadership discipline.

2. Demonstrated research experience, including recent scholarly activity (e.g., publications, presentations, program evaluation).

3. Experience chairing or serving on dissertation committees in a doctoral program.

4. Teaching experience in higher education, preferably at the doctoral level.

5. Experience with online course delivery and learning management systems.

6. Competency in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
   
   

Personal

1. Strong communication skills, both written and oral.

2. Ability to manage responsibilities in alignment with the mission and vision of the university.

3. Collegial and collaborative spirit with strong interpersonal abilities.

4. Excellent organizational and project management skills.

5. Self-motivated, proactive, and solutions-oriented.

6. Sound decision-making and judgment.

7. Capacity to quickly learn and apply new software tools and systems.

8. Willingness to engage in continuous professional development and faculty mentoring.

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets.  Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions.