Associate Vice President/CMU Online
Central Michigan University
Position Information
Posting Number S-3942
Position Number 78840
Type of Recruitment External
Position Title ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT/CMU ONLINE
Position Summary
The Associate Vice President (AVP) has oversight of the academic unit within the CMU Online Learning enterprise. In partnership with academic colleges, departments, and university stakeholders, the AVP supports the development, delivery, and growth of online, hybrid, and off-campus academic and professional learning opportunities. The AVP collaborates with faculty and academic leadership to advance credit and noncredit programming, including undergraduate, graduate, certificate, micro-credential, and professional development offerings. The position also oversees prior learning initiatives, competency-based education efforts, and select interdisciplinary programs administered through CMU Online. The AVP is responsible for growing the number of academic and noncredit programs delivered online and at distance, working with outreach teams to grow customized learning solutions, dual enrollment, and community college partnerships, and expanding and developing alternative routes to credit through prior learning, competency based, and other progressive approaches. Reporting to the vice president of CMU Online, the AVP advances innovative, accessible, and student-centered learning opportunities aligned with the university's strategic priorities.
Required Qualifications
Terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Five years of progressively advanced leadership experience in higher education or a related field.
Demonstrated experience building and sustaining partnerships with academic leaders, faculty, administrators, and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives, organizational change, and cross-functional collaboration within complex organizations.
Demonstrated commitment to ensuring that all members of the university community can thrive.
Demonstrated understanding of best practices in pedagogical and instruction in online and post-traditional higher education.
Knowledge of emerging trends, technologies, and practices related to online learning, and workforce-aligned programming in higher education.
Demonstrated ability to analyze data, assess operational effectiveness, and support strategic decision-making.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and executive presentation skills, with the ability to effectively represent the university at state, regional, and national levels.
Preferred Qualifications
Terminal degree in postsecondary education, educational leadership, learning design, curriculum and instruction, training and development, or a related field from an accredited institution.
Demonstrated experience supporting academic program development, online and alternative learning initiatives, curriculum innovation, and student-centered educational programming for post-traditional learners.
Postsecondary teaching and faculty experience.
Familiarity with a collective bargaining environment.
Demonstrated experience developing noncredit programs, prior learning, micro-credentials, stackable credentials, certificates, and lifelong learning initiatives.
Expertise in compliance, budgeting, enrollment management, curriculum, online learning environments, and LMS technologies.
Demonstrated experience leading and managing externally sponsored projects.
Duties & Responsibilities
Provides executive leadership for the strategic growth, development, and oversight of credit, noncredit, and alternative academic programming across face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities within CMU Online.
Oversees the administration and expansion of undergraduate, graduate, certificate, professional development, micro-credential, digital badge, and alternative pathway programs, including stackable and certification-to-credit initiatives.
Supports the vice president of CMU Online in representing the university at state, national, and international levels on matters related to online learning, innovation, and distance education.
Provides leadership in the interpretation, implementation, and continuous improvement of academic programming policies, procedures, and operational practices related to online and continuing education.
Serves as a collaborative leader within the university's curricular and shared governance processes through active participation on institutional committees and councils.
Develops and support strategies to increase enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes.
Collaborates with academic and administrative units to improve the student experience.
Analyzes enrollment trends, market demands, and student success data to inform decision-making.
Advances initiatives focused on adult learners, online education, transfer students, and workforce-aligned programming.
Provides strategic oversight of the Prior Learning Assessment, Fire Up Forward dual enrollment activities, and Central Bound dual-admission/co-enrollment transfer program.
Leads the development and coordination of curricular materials and program proposals for internal review and external stakeholder engagement.
Fosters strong partnerships with academic colleges, departments, and program directors to advance innovative delivery models and alternative credentialing opportunities.
Utilizes data analytics and assessment practices to evaluate effectiveness and guide strategic decisions.
Prepares reports, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership, governing boards, and external stakeholders.
Monitors key performance indicators related to enrollment, operations, finances, and student outcomes. Supports the vice president in representing CMU Online in university related events, ceremonial engagements, and activities.
Collaborates across the university to strengthen academic programming, student success initiatives, faculty support, and operational effectiveness within online and distance education.
Cultivates and expands partnerships with external stakeholders to support workforce alignment and program growth.
Develops and/or strengthens external partnerships with alumni, businesses, government, and service organizations, along with other internal and external constituents.
Collaborates in the development of new and innovative support services for off-campus students in online learning.
Responsible for setting the academic calendar for professional development for faculty, staff, and students related to innovation, student engagement, and online learning in collaboration with CMU Online's management team.
Establishes and assesses operational goals, performance measures, and service standards.
Promotes process improvement, operational efficiency, and data-informed decision-making.
Ensures compliance with university policies, accreditation standards, and state/federal regulations.
Provides administrative leadership and operational oversight for the academic unit within CMU Online, including program effectiveness, assessment, and performance outcomes.
Supports CMU Online's strategic marketing, outreach, operational planning, and continuous process improvement initiatives.
Fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and student-centered excellence across the university community.
Performs additional duties and strategic initiatives as assigned by the vice president.
Supervision Exercised
Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others on our team. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve our leadership abilities and our demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU's culture of excellence.
Message to Applicants
Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU's mission, vision, and leadership standards.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.
Employee Group Senior Officer
Staff Pay Level
Pay Range
Division Academic Affairs
Department CMU ONLINE
Position Status Regular
Position End Date
Employment Status Full-Time
FTE 1.0
Position Type 12 month
Weekly Work Schedule Typically Mon-Fri 8-5; evenings and weekends as needed
Location Mount Pleasant, MI
About the Department
About CMU
Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master's, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men's and women's Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It's part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state's largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.
Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city's central location in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.
CMU Leadership Standards
Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.
We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.
Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.
EEO Statement
CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.
If you wish to see “Know Your Rights ” posters, please click here.
CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.
Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU's Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education's Assistant Secretary, or both.
CMU's Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:
Phone: 989-774-3253
Office: 103 E. Preston St.
Bovee University Center, suite 306
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Email: [email protected]
Posting Ends
Open Until Filled Yes
To apply, visit https://www.jobs.cmich.edu/postings/45231
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