Job Posting

UCLA Quarterly Contract Instructor

UCLA Extension is the open-access, self-supporting continuing education division of UCLA. The Department of Humanities and Sciences offers a wide variety of certificate programs and courses including transfer-credit, post-baccalaureate credit-bearing, continuing education (CEU) credit, and non-credit bearing general interest courses. Course disciplines span broad subject areas similar to those offered in the College of Letters and Science and the School of Public Affairs. UCLA Extension courses and certificate programs offer students the opportunity to learn from highly qualified instructors who hold advanced degrees and are passionate, skilled teachers.

 

Current Job Posting

UCLA Extension’s Public Policy Program is seeking instructors to:

1. Develop curricula for new foundational public policy courses and/or elective courses in healthcare/public health and/or education policy
2. Teach course(s) within the areas mentioned above. Candidates must be willing to teach a course at least two quarters per year and must hold a (degree/experience) in a related field. Preference will be given to those candidates who are willing to teach in both the on-ground and online formats.

More information regarding specific responsibilities, courses, and public policy areas of interested listed below.

UNEX is also recruiting for board members of part of the new Public Policy Certificate Advisory Board (non-paid). Please apply if interested in this position (send resume and brief cover letter, indicating what you could bring to the board). 

 

Public Policy Certificate Description

Government and the role of public policy have been central to every economic and social advancement, conflict, and outcome in human history. From the early Roman Empire through FDR’s New Deal and the Great Recession of 2007, government and policymakers have influenced the rise and fall of global populations, for better or for worse.

UCLA Extension is proposing the creation of a new public policy certificate to supplement its current slate of courses. The proposed program is a 4 course certificate made up of two foundational courses and a variety of elective courses with a focus in Healthcare/Public Health, Education, and Environment/Climate. UNEX already has the instructors in the environment/climate field related to policy, and are no longer looking for instructors in this field.

FOUNDATION COURSES: The following two classes are intended to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the role of government and the practical implications of public policy. Potential qualified instructors can teach the courses as described, or modify them in collaboration with the Program Director.

1. Role of Government Course Description: Government is at the heart of every major event and outcome in human history. From social welfare programs and infrastructure to advanced R&D and international security, public policy shapes our social and economic principles, touching our everyday lives. This course will examine the fundamental role of government, from Plato’s Republic and Ancient Rome to today’s seemingly toxic political climate. The course will review and analyze the tools and resources of local, national, and international governing authorities and the results of their intervening policies. The course will incorporate discussions and debate on the conflicting philosophies on the appropriate reach of the public sector. Students will learn the basics of public policy cost-benefit analysis and other assessment tools and be able to evaluate the role and impact of government on various sectors, including health sciences, business, and education.

2. Public Policy in the Real World Course Description: Public policy comprises the principles on which our social laws and governing framework are based. In an ideal world, proposed policies affecting our everyday social and economic circumstances are developed with evidence and sobriety under the scrutiny of the public eye. However, this is seldom reality. This course will examine the fundamentals of policymaking, why certain laws and regulations succeed while others do not, and the inherent relationship between public policy and politics. The course will include a review of policy interventions and political responses from local and international case studies, ranging from the Spanish flu to the invasion of Iraq. Students will learn policymaking 101 and be able to better identify the metrics of political success.

 

Healthcare/Public Health:

2 new courses to be created by instructor in collaboration with Program Director

Education:

2 new courses to be created by instructor in collaboration with Program Director

 

Instructor Duties

• First-time Extension instructors: participate in paid Canvas (learning management system) and online pedagogy training course. In-person courses require an online component.
• Develop or update course syllabus to meet campus approval requirements, in consultation with the UCLA Extension Program Director.
• Prepare course materials and design online activities and learning assessments appropriate to the subject matter. By University of California policy, ownership of the rights to Course Materials, including copyright, resides with their originator/author.
• Communicate with Program Director, Program Representatives, and Online Course Managers in a timely manner.
• Respond to student questions and learning needs in a timely manner.
• Complete required administrative tasks in a timely manner.
• Employ culturally competent teaching methodologies responsive to Extension’s diverse student population.
• Complete mandatory trainings administered by Campus Human Resources and required by the University of California.
• Post final student grades in a timely manner no later than two weeks after course end date.
• Respond to student inquiries about final grades and consult with Program Director as needed.
• Allow students to review their final exams or papers for up to thirteen weeks following the last class session if final exams or papers are not returned with comments.
• Deliver course via the Canvas Learning Management System when applicable.
• Actively engage with students online during the course when applicable.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate education required
• College-level teaching experience preferred
• Experience designing curriculum and measuring student performance preferred
• Commitment to the highest level of academic standards and integrity
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to convey conceptual and complex ideas and information
• Highly effective interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in (or willingness to learn) the use of instructional technology and online teaching tools including the Canvas Learning Management System
• Active affiliation and participation in relevant professional associations

 

Special Conditions of Employment

Instructors are hired on a quarterly contract basis.

 

Compensation dependent on qualifications and experience.

 

Because Extension is a division of UCLA, all Extension degree-credit instructors and courses must be formally approved according to the regulations of the Academic Senate of the University of California. Eligibility to teach a course is contingent upon this formal academic approval. Once approved, teaching assignments are “by agreement.” The Instructor’s Contract outlines the deliverables for the course, the course schedule, and the compensation terms, subject to Extension policies and procedures. UCLA Extension makes no commitment to hire an instructor until it has sent and received a signed Instructor Contract. Should the course section an instructor plans to teach be cancelled for any reason, the Instructor Contract, including rights to compensation for future section meetings, is voided.

 

UCLA Extension is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values a diverse workforce.

 

To Apply:

Please follow the “apply now” link below to submit the following:

• Completed application form
• Current Resume/CV
• Cover letter