Employment

Program Associate for Curricular Improvement

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to academic freedom, academic excellence, and accountability at America’s colleges and universities. Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, policymakers, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives a philosophically rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.

The Program Associate for Curricular Improvement works closely with the Program Manager for Curricular Improvement and Vice President of Academic Affairs to advance ACTA’s mission of higher education reform by managing the production and dissemination of high-quality research. The Program Associate focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on supporting the day-to-day management of What Will They Learn? (WWTL) and WhatWillTheyLearn.com as well as efforts to disseminate the project to WWTL audiences.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist Program Manager with efforts to develop a new college guide (online and in print) spotlighting ACTA Oases of Excellence and Hidden Gem academic programs.
• Assist the Associate Director with the day-to-day management of the What Will They Learn™ project, an assessment of general education requirements at over 1,100 U.S. colleges and universities. 
• Assist with the management of the WWTL internship program.
• Assist in efforts to identify opportunities to support campus efforts to improve general education programs.
• Work with the Communications departments to expand outreach efforts to counselors and educators, and to raise awareness of the What Will They Learn? project and Oases of Excellence initiatives.
• Help the Academic Affairs team to monitor trends in general education requirements, the liberal arts, and academic majors.
• Advance ACTA’s mission of higher education reform through op-eds, blogs, and feature pieces.
• Work closely with the Associate Director aggressively to build on outreach efforts to high school guidance counselors.
• Works with Educator Outreach Officers/Associates to coordinate dissemination of WWTL, including communication efforts to ACTA’s constituencies.
• Contribute to the development of new resources for counselors.
• Contribute to other research projects as appropriate.

The Program Associate receives day-to-day supervision and periodic performance reviews from the Vice President of Academic Affairs. 

The Program Associate must approach these tasks as an entrepreneurial enterprise, requiring an understanding of and proactive approach to ACTA’s program activities. He or she is expected to be personable, dynamic, well organized, highly motivated, and principled. The highest degree of personal responsibility, accountability, and honesty is expected.  A bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts discipline is preferred.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to Jonathan Pidluzny at wwtl@goacta.org with the subject line “Application – Program Associate for Curricular Improvement”.