Avondale College
Generic Position Description for Academic Staff
Responsibilities specific to individual personnel and their roles may be added to this generic
position description.
Reports to: Dean of Faculty
Responsibilities relating to mission and ethos
Advance by influence and example the mission, ethos, values, objectives and educational
philosophy of Avondale College, integrating these into the teaching and other functions of the
staff member.
Academic responsibilities
1. Provide innovative, motivating and challenging teaching informed by current scholarship
and research.
2. Contribute to curriculum development.
3. Engage in research resulting in publications and other scholarly and/or creative output.
4. Supervise honours and postgraduate research as requested by the Dean of Faculty in
consultation with the Vice President (Administration and Research).
5. Develop and maintain professional competence by productive scholarly and professional
activity.
6. Prepare in a timely manner unit outlines, teaching/learning materials, assessment tasks
and other course and unit documentation.
7. Assess student achievement in accordance with the College’s assessment policies.
8. Provide academic support to students, ensuring adequate student access by maintaining
and advertising appropriate office hours determined in consultation with the faculty dean.
9. Maintain class attendance records and counsel with students whose attendance is
unsatisfactory.
10. Engage with the scholarly/professional/general community in areas of the staff member’s
academic/professional expertise.
Pastoral functions
1. Engage actively in the pastoral nurture of students.
2. Promote spiritual growth and ethical behaviour in both professional and co-curricular
involvement with students and colleagues. Participate actively in the co-curricular
spiritual program of the college.
3. Provide academic and career advice to students within the staff member’s expertise.
Administrative functions
1. Attend staff meetings and faculty committees. Serve on other administrative committees
and perform other administrative functions as requested.
2. Assist in promoting the College and its courses and in recruiting students.
3. Comply with the policies of the institution, including policies and statutory obligations
relating to occupational health and safety and the avoidance of discrimination, bullying
and harassment.
Collegial functions
1. Maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff.
2. Participate in graduation ceremonies and other formal College functions; and in joint
professional activities such as colloquia and retreats.
3. Contribute within the staff member’s competence to the cultural, spiritual, recreational,
student support, community service or other activities of the College as requested.
4. Perform other duties within the staff member’s competence as required by the faculty
dean or College administration.
Higher-level responsibilities
Staff at senior levels may be expected to carry additional responsibilities such as:
1. Leadership in curriculum development and review.
2. Contribution to decision-making processes and policy development in the College.
3. Course coordination.
4. Development of partnerships and other links with universities, denominational entities,
industry and professional bodies.
ACADEMIC LEVEL DESCRIPTORS
Achievement criteria typically expected for appointment to each level are set out in the
Academic Staff Promotion Policy available on Avondale’s website.
Level A – Associate Lecturer
A Level A academic is expected to engage in teaching, scholarship, research and other forms
of service to the College; and engage with the scholarly/professional/general community in
areas of the staff member’s academic/professional expertise. The contribution to teaching of a
Level A academic will be primarily at undergraduate level.
Level B – Lecturer
A Level B academic is expected to engage in teaching, scholarship, research and other forms
of service to the College; and engage with the scholarly/professional/general community in
areas of the staff member’s academic/professional expertise. Teaching may include both
undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Level C – Senior Lecturer
A Level C academic is expected to make a significant contribution to teaching, scholarship
and research; engage in other forms of service to the College; and engage with the scholarly/
professional/general community in areas of the staff member’s academic/professional
expertise. Academic staff at Level C may be expected to make a greater contribution to the
administrative activities of the institution than staff at levels A and B.
Level D – Associate Professor
A Level D academic is expected to make a major contribution to his/her discipline/profession,
with national and/or international recognition. In addition to teaching, scholarship and
research, he/she may be expected to undertake significant leadership and administrative
roles in the institution and other forms of service to the College; and will be expected to
engage to a significant degree with the scholarly/professional/general community in areas of
her/his academic/professional expertise.
Level E – Professor
A Level E academic will be recognised as a leading authority in his/her discipline/profession.
He/she is expected to exercise special responsibility in providing leadership and fostering
excellence in teaching, research, professional activities and policy development. He/she may
be expected to undertake major leadership and administrative roles in the institution, as well
as other forms of service to the College; and will be expected to engage to a significant
degree with the scholarly/professional/general community in areas of her/his
academic/professional expertise.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Criteria for specific academic roles may be added to these generic criteria.
Essential criteria
1. An understanding of and commitment to the mission, objectives, educational philosophy
and Seventh-day Adventist ethos of Avondale College.
2. Ability to provide innovative, motivating and challenging teaching informed by current
scholarship and research in the relevant discipline.
3. Commitment to ongoing scholarship and professional development.
4. Ability to contribute positively to the spiritual development of students.
5. Excellent interpersonal relational skills.
Desirable criteria
1. A doctoral degree in the relevant discipline.
2. Successful teaching experience.
3. A track record of research and publication.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Active and visible support and advancement of the mission, ethos, objectives, values and
educational philosophy of Avondale College through its curricular and co-curricular
program.
2. Delivery of high quality, inspirational teaching.
3. Timely provision of unit outlines, teaching/learning materials, assessment tasks and other
course and unit documentation.
4. Contribution to curriculum development.
5. Continuing professional development and scholarly/professional activity.
6. Research resulting in publications and other scholarly and/or creative output.
7. Engagement with the scholarly/professional/general community in areas of the staff
member’s academic/professional expertise.
8. Provision of academic support and pastoral care for students.
9. Positive contribution to the spiritual development of students.
10. Maintenance of cordial and positive interpersonal relationships with staff and other
professionals.
11. Participation in promoting Avondale and its courses and recruiting students.
12. Regular attendance at staff meetings and faculty committees, and attendance at formal
College functions at which staff attendance is expected.
13. Positive contribution to administrative committees and administrative roles as requested.
14. Contribution within the staff member’s competence to the cultural, spiritual, recreational,
student support, community service or other activities of the College as requested.
15. Compliance with the policies of the institution.
Academic staff will be expected to participate in a Performance Review, Planning and
Professional Development process each year.
Approved by
Administrative
Committee
Approval Date
27 Aug 2008
Upload Authorised by
VP(A&R)
Replaces
14 June 2005
Scheduled Review Date
31 December 2011