Center for Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry (CURCI)
Senior Director Search
This is an internal candidate search.
Position Overview
Georgia State University’s Office of Academic Affairs invites applications for the position of Senior Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry (CURCI). This newly established Center addresses the university’s Strategic Plan goals to:
- Develop infrastructure to provide undergraduate emerging scholars and their faculty mentors with opportunities in research, scholarship, and creative inquiry.
- Support faculty in expanding high-impact practices, including experiential, project-based, and service-learning opportunities that foster leadership, teamwork, civic engagement, and problem-solving.
The full position profile is available at the link below in PDF format. Key responsibilities and application instructions, along with more information about CURCI, are also located below. It is preferred that all nominations and applications be submitted prior to January 24, 2025.
Georgia State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
ABOUT CURCI
About CURCI
Vision Statement
The Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry (CURCI) will be a transformative hub at Georgia State University, empowering students and faculty across all disciplines to engage in meaningful, accessible, and impactful research and creative activities. CURCI will foster a culture of inquiry that promotes participation, excellence, and innovation while preparing students for academic, professional, and personal success.
Strategic Objectives
- Empower Faculty to Deliver High-Impact Practices
CURCI will support faculty in integrating research and creative inquiry into the curriculum through resources, training, and grants. By embedding scholarship into the classroom and beyond, faculty will foster leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking among students. - Ensure Equity and Accessibility
CURCI will strive to democratize research opportunities for all Georgia State students, regardless of discipline, campus, or background. This includes developing pathways from introductory courses to advanced research opportunities. - Enhance Student Outcomes
CURCI will prepare students for future academic and professional endeavors through immersive research experiences, training, and showcasing opportunities that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.
Core Pillars of CURCI
Pillar 1: Faculty & Student Support
- Faculty Development and Grants:
Provide competitive grants and professional development opportunities for faculty to create new undergraduate research experiences. - Inventory of Opportunities:
Develop a comprehensive and interactive catalog of research and creative opportunities, including CUREs, REUs, interdisciplinary projects, and creative showcases, to guide student and faculty engagement. - Student Travel, Assistantships, and Awards:
Offer competitive grants, undergraduate assistantships, and awards for students to share their work at discipline related conferences and events. - Recognition System:
Implement a digital badging system to acknowledge students’ participation in research and creative inquiry, enhancing their resumes and academic portfolios.
Pillar 2: Curriculum Development and Integration
- Scaffolded Research Skills:
Develop curriculum modules from foundational to advanced levels to help students build research competencies progressively. Ensure seamless transitions for Perimeter College students engaging in long-term projects. - Wicked Problems in Core Curriculum:
Engage students early by posing an annual “Wicked Problem” to IMPACTS Core instructors. Organize an interdisciplinary showcase where students share their learning from diverse perspectives. - Interdisciplinary and Project-Based Learning:
Foster interdisciplinary collaborations through EPIC labs, REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates), and creative showcases. - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURES): promote and support faculty-led CUREs.
- Increase and track positive student learning outcomes: Integrate research experiences and opportunities for creative inquiry into the undergraduate curriculum in a manner that enhances student learning while contributing to positive success outcomes including academic progression, retention and degree completion.
Pillar 3: Curriculum Development and Integration
- Annual Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference (GSURC):
Partner with the Honors College to host the GSURC, spotlighting exceptional undergraduate research and creative inquiry. - Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium (SURS): Continue the Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni’s (CASA) summer symposium, an end-of-summer platform for Georgia State students and summer internship participants to present their research.
- Creative and Scholarly Performances:
Collaborate with campus galleries, libraries, and the College of the Arts to exhibit student creative work through performances, displays, and publications. - Discovery Newsletter:
Launch “Discovery,” a periodic publication celebrating student achievements in research and creative inquiry.
Signature Initiatives
- First-Year Research Experiences
Engage first-year students through contests and activities tied to a shared intellectual experience, such as selecting and analyzing a “First Year Book” aligned with the Wicked Problem theme. - CASA Programming
Manage the Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni (CASA) to support undergraduate students pursuing advanced degrees. - EPIC – Experiential, Project-based, Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Manage the EPIC program to broaden opportunities for students to build essential skills, empowering them to become adaptable problem-solvers who overcome academic challenges and develop real-world solutions for their careers and lives.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Description & Application Instructions
Note: This is an internal GSU search and has been posted to this site for the convenience of Georgia State faculty applying for the position.
Overview
Georgia State University’s Office of Academic Affairs invites applications for the position of Senior Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry (CURCI). This newly established Center addresses the university’s Strategic Plan goals to:
- Develop infrastructure to provide undergraduate emerging scholars and their faculty mentors with opportunities in research, scholarship, and creative inquiry.
- Support faculty in expanding high-impact practices, including experiential, project-based, and service-learning opportunities that foster leadership, teamwork, civic engagement, and problem-solving.
Key Responsibilities
The CURCI will serve as a central hub and resource network, championing undergraduate creative inquiry and research initiatives across Georgia State campuses. Key responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with faculty to design and deliver curricular and co-curricular experiences that promote undergraduate engagement in research, scholarship, and creative inquiry.
- Organizing and supporting showcases and symposia for undergraduate research and creative inquiry.
- Leading efforts to secure external funding to enhance and expand CURCI programming, including preparation of and assistance with training grants, teaching labs, and studios.
- Integrating, managing, supporting existing university initiatives, including the (CASA) and the Experiential, Project-based, Interdisciplinary Curriculum (EPIC) program
Collaborating with the Student Success division and other units to integrate research and creative inquiry experiences into the curriculum, in a manner that enhances student learning as well as positive student outcomes.
Position Appointment Details
The Senior Director role is a full-time, 12-month appointment, reporting directly to the Senior Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will hold either a tenure-track or non-tenure-track faculty appointment, will have earned a terminal degree, and will demonstrate the following:
- A strong record of mentoring undergraduate scholarship and creative inquiry.
- Proven success in securing external funding to support undergraduate scholarship and skill development.
- Leadership experience in academic or programmatic settings.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and a strategic vision aligned with the university’s goals.
- Proven success in collaborating with and supporting faculty engaging in research experiences and applying for teaching or research grants, as well as preliminary knowledge of a variety of research and creative inquiry opportunities and experiences.
Application Instructions & Deadline: Submit by Jan. 24
This is a unique opportunity to lead an innovative center that will shape the future of undergraduate education at Georgia State University. Competitive candidates will demonstrate a passion for fostering student success and advancing Georgia State’s mission as a national leader in undergraduate research and creative inquiry.
Interested applicants should submit a CV and letter of interest to Michael Galchinsky at [email protected] by January 24, 2025.