Graduate Center HASTAC and CUNY Futures Initiative Fellows Programs

Graduate Center HASTAC and CUNY Futures Initiative Fellows Programs

In July 2014, two new programs will be coming to the Graduate Center and will be working collaboratively with existing Graduate Center programs, including the GC Digital Fellows Program.  The online open learning community HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory) will be moving its central administrative offices to the Graduate Center.  In tandem with teams of researchers and technologists at hubs at Duke University, the University of California at Irvine, the Simpson Center at the University of Washington, and the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana, HASTAC  (“Changing the Way We Teach and Learn”) will be leading online initiatives at the Graduate Center in partnership with the new Futures Initiative in innovation, technology, and learning also located at the Graduate Center.

 

Through these interlinked programs, three new graduate fellowships will be available starting in September 2014.

 

The parameters of each of these positions are described below.  Please keep in mind the duties of the various positions may vary depending on the complementary talents of the applicants.  Graduate fellows will have shared space in the Futures Initiative offices.  A spirit of collaboration will be the single most important asset in the positions.

 

1. Co-Director, HASTAC Scholars:  This position will entail leading the international network of graduate and undergraduate students in the HASTAC Scholars network, in conjunction with the current HASTAC Scholars Director (a doctoral student at Duke University based in Boston) who has been leading this initiative for the past four years.  Over two hundred HASTAC Scholars (80% graduate students, 20% undergraduates) are nominated by their institutions each year and contribute to online forums, activities, networked events, and so forth.  The position requires some knowledge of Drupal, social network and community management, and collaborative skills to work both with ongoing director and the HASTAC Scholars.  The position also requires collaborating remotely with a Drupal web developer and community manager based in Durham, NC.   The position requires web-based skills, project management skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to wrangle many people virtually from an idea to collective implementation of the idea online.  Design, visualization, and other abilities also highly recommended.   Also important:  deep knowledge of the GC, CUNY, and NYC.

 

2.  Drupal Webmaster and Online Community Strategist.  HASTAC@CUNY and Futures Initiative web designer, curator, social media navigator, and community manager.  Position especially requires Drupal webmaster and web development skills, server management skills, and excellent organizational skills, project management skills, and collaborative online skills working with the other assistants at the GC as well as with graduate assistants at other HASTAC hubs (Duke, UCHRI, and other universities) on developing ongoing and future online programming, networks, activities, portals, and so forth across the Graduate Center and CUNY more generally.  Some Drupal skills ideal.   Also important:  deep knowledge of the GC, CUNY, and NYC.

 

3.  Data and GIS Visualization Project Leader:  For the Futures Initiative, the inaugural project (2014-2015) is “Mapping the Futures of Higher Education.”  This position includes an ability to design a sustainable public, online, open, community sourced mind map, concept maps, excellent data visualization, GIS mapping, probably on the Commons in a Box platform. Knowledge of ArcGIS and its open source mapping cousin QGIS a plus.  Other relevant skills would be ethnographic, journalistic, community organizing, and communication skills. The position will include community-sourcing activities, both remotely and in face-to-face events at CUNY’s twenty-four colleges and neighboring communities. A graduate class will be offered in Winter 2015 on this topic and will be designed to carry forward work on this project, in conjunction with the instructor(s) and the graduate student visualization leader.  Bilingualism (English and Spanish especially) is an asset.  Also important:  deep knowledge of the GC, CUNY, and NYC.

 

In addition to serving in a particular position and working on a particular project, it is expected that these three graduate fellows will continue to develop digital skills and will share those with one another and with others at the GC.  Fellows will be encouraged to participate in group meetings, in online conference calls with other partners, and to assist with the designing and building of a new program.

 

Compensation

The total compensation for the award is $25,000.  This funding will include a graduate assistant appointment that will carry eligibility to purchase the low-cost NYSHIP health insurance as well as in-state tuition remission for fellows who are within their first 10 registered semesters of study.  Fellows will be required to work a total of 450 non-teaching hours during the academic year (two 15 week semesters).

 

Application Instructions

To apply, please send a short statement of interest (no more than 1-2 pages), a CV, a list of digital projects undertaken and/or completed, and a letter of reference from a faculty advisor to cathyndavidson@gmail.com with “HASTAC/Futures Initiative Program Application” in the subject line.  Applications must be received by March 24, 2014 to be considered, but review of applications will begin immediately.

 

Questions

Please contact Cathy N. Davidson, HASTAC CoFounder and Director of the Futures Initiative, at cathyndavidson@gmail.comwith any questions you might have.