Position Summary
The Dean of Academic Affairs provides strategic leadership that is aligned with the Chief Academic Officer’s vision for the College’s academic programs across all instructional modalities, including online, hybrid, and in-person learning. This position reports to and assists the Chief Academic Officer.
The Dean supports institutional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and provides leadership in academic planning, curriculum development, faculty development, instructional design, and program evaluation.
The Dean supervises department chairs and works collaboratively with faculty, advisors, and academic leadership to ensure academic excellence, promote student success, and advance the College’s mission of integrating Christian faith and learning throughout the curriculum.
Key Responsibilities
Academic Leadership and Department Oversight
Provide leadership and supervision for department chairs and academic program leaders, ensuring effective management of academic departments and programs.
Conduct evaluations of department chairs and support them in areas such as curriculum development, faculty mentoring, course scheduling, and program assessment.
Work with department chairs to align departmental goals with institutional mission, strategic priorities, and accreditation standards.
Facilitate communication between academic departments and the Office of Academic Affairs to promote consistency in academic policies and effective collaboration across programs.
Support department chairs in addressing faculty concerns, resolving academic issues, and maintaining high standards for teaching and learning.
Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness
Assist the Chief Academic Officer with accreditation activities related to the Higher Learning Commission, including compliance monitoring, evidence collection, reporting, and preparation for accreditation reviews.
Support institutional assessment and program review processes that evaluate academic quality and guide continuous improvement.
Collaborate with academic leadership to ensure policies and practices align with accreditation expectations and institutional goals.
Academic Program Development and Oversight
Collaborate with department chairs and advisors to support the development, scheduling, and evaluation of academic programs.
Review program feasibility, recommend curricular improvements, and support the expansion of innovative learning opportunities across all instructional formats.
Encourage the thoughtful integration of emerging instructional technologies that enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes.
Faculty Development and Learning Management System Oversight
Lead faculty development initiatives designed to strengthen teaching and learning across instructional modalities, including workshops, training sessions, and individualized support.
Oversee the institutional use of Canvas LMS as the College’s learning management system, ensuring courses are well organized, pedagogically sound, and aligned with institutional standards.
Provide guidance and support for faculty in course development, LMS use, and technology-enhanced instruction.
Instructional Design and Academic Quality
Support faculty in designing, revising, and evaluating courses to ensure academic rigor, accessibility, and strong student engagement.
Promote best practices in instructional design, digital accessibility, and teaching across both online and face-to-face courses.
Collaborate with faculty and department chairs to maintain consistent standards for course quality and instructional effectiveness.
Student Success and Program Assessment
Collaborate with department chairs and advisors to support student engagement, retention, and academic success across all programs.
Review academic performance data to identify trends and inform improvements in teaching, curriculum, and student support.
Collect, analyze, and report academic program data for accreditation, assessment, and institutional planning.
Minimum Qualifications
- Doctorate in Educational Technology, Curriculum and Instruction, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field (master’s degree with exceptional experience may be considered).
- Extensive experience in online curriculum development, instructional design, and faculty development for higher education.
- Proven leadership experience in higher education administration, including directing or coordinating online programs.
- Record of teaching in an online setting with proficiency in Canvas and related educational technologies.
- Deep knowledge of accessibility standards (ADA/Section 508) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
- Outstanding leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills with a commitment to data-informed decision making.
- Ability to pass a background check.
- All applicants must support the Christian identity of the College and demonstrate a mature faith and Christian lifestyle.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proficiency with Articulate Storyline 360 or similar eLearning authoring software.
- Experience developing multimedia-rich instructional content and large-scale online program launches.
- Familiarity with data analytics tools to evaluate student performance, retention, and course effectiveness.
- Proven ability to build faculty development programs and lead institution-wide online learning initiatives.
- Experience collaborating with IT and academic affairs to implement LMS enhancements or emerging digital learning technologies.
Application Process:
Qualified applicants should complete the online application and submit the following to [email protected]:
