Assistant/Associate Dean in Wildlife Conservation or Ecology

Unity College•New Gloucester, ME

65d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant/Associate Dean acts as an extension of the Dean of Baccalaureate Programs, and is expected to perform duties related to course scheduling, academic program development, course design, adjunct faculty recruitment, support of student recruitment and advising, content development, and capacity building. The Assistant/Associate Dean is a member of the Enterprise Education Baccalaureate Faculty. All EE Faculty teach, oversee program viability and relevance, recruit for programs, advise students, mentor capstone projects, and provide other services as needed. Faculty conduct all teaching through the institution's Learning Management Software (LMS), implement appropriate pedagogical techniques for the online environment, and provide course materials in a professional, appropriate, clear, and rigorous manner. This position works closely with and reports to the Dean of Baccalaureate Programs in Enterprise Education and is based in the Unity Environmental University Enterprise Education offices located in New Gloucester, Maine.

Requirements

A terminal degree in wildlife conservation, ecology, conservation biology, or a related field; or a Master's degree and significant professional experience in wildlife or natural resources management. Leadership experience in higher education, teaching, and assessment. Experience administering online courses in an adult market is preferred.
Experience in online course design and LMS use.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including facility with technical terminology appropriate to the position.
Excellent initiative and organizational skills with the ability to work both autonomously and in a team.
Great time management skills.
Ability and willingness to work with students, staff, and faculty from diverse political/socioeconomic backgrounds and a wide range of physical, socio-emotional, and academic abilities.
Good skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and computerized database systems.
Personal commitment to the environmental focus and mission of the Institution.
Ability to function effectively within a matrix organizational structure, maintaining open lines of communication while being discreet, courteous, and poised.

Responsibilities

Work closely with EE-dedicated Enterprise HR staff to hire qualified adjunct instructors and subject matter experts (SMEs).
Evaluate and identify qualified applicants for adjunct teaching positions and SME opportunities
Monitor the HRIS database to ensure that adjunct instructors' credentials are updated.
Monitor the DE faculty web pages to ensure that information about adjunct instructors is up-to-date.
Work with the Vice President of Student Outcomes (and her/his designees) to develop a schedule that meets students' needs.
Investigate student concerns about instructional experiences as needed. Communicate resolution of student concerns with the Advising team and/or of VP Student Outcomes according to established processes.
Conduct and summarize research related to andragogical practices that support student learning in contexts relevant to EE baccalaureate programming.
Develop research-based tools and learning opportunities to support growth and improvement of EE instructors.
Work with individuals or groups of instructors to improve practice as needed.
Gather and analyze data related to instructional quality. Prepare summary reports and advise the Dean of Baccalaureate Programs regarding actions needed to address shortcomings and/or improve instructional performance.
Gather and analyze data related to student achievement of course- and program-level outcomes. Prepare summary reports of outcome achievement data.
Make recommendations about course assignments based on instructional efficacy data.
Support the Dean of Baccalaureate Programs in maintaining the integrity of the curriculum, including any accreditation requirements.
Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for course design as assigned.
Oversee supervision of SMEs for course design as assigned.
Teach up to 120 student credit hours per calendar year as assigned.
Demonstrate knowledge of learning models, appropriate online pedagogies, and effective use of technological tools to support adult and non-traditional learners.
Proactively communicate challenges, successes, and failures with the Dean of Baccalaureate Programs.
Other duties as assigned.
Participate in Enterprise Education governance (task groups) as assigned.
Demonstrate a high degree of commitment to customer service and quality education.
Work with Distance Education staff and leaders to develop strategies for effective advising and retention efforts.
Collaborate with EE academic and student support faculty and staff to address concerns and develop innovative solutions and products.
Become knowledgeable and articulate about Unity Environmental University Enterprise Education, its programs, market niche, strategies, and procedures.
Demonstrate understanding of and ability to work within the Unity Environmental University Enterprise Model.
Professionally represent Unity Environmental University Enterprise Education through scholarship, outreach, and professional platforms.