2586 Director, Distance Programs and Policy

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Director, Distance Programs and Policy

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2586

GRADE 46

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Associate Provost for Access and Outreach

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Director, Distance Programs and Policy provides leadership for online programs, courses, and online video initiatives. The director reviews proposals for new online courses and assists deans and department heads with the development and marketing of fully distance programs. The Director, Distance Programs and Policy researches new developments and trends in distance delivery, assures compliance with legal requirements and accreditation standards for distance courses, and recommends and implements distance education policy changes for compliance and best practices. The Director, Distance Programs and Policy conducts data analysis for University and state authorization reciprocity agreement (SARA) reporting and ensures distance education web resources are up-to-date and fully accessible to users.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Master’s degree is required.

Experience: Five years of experience in distance delivery of instruction is required.

Skills: Effective verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and decision-making skills are required. Attention to detail is required. The ability to solve problems and to think critically and independently in order to organize and complete the workload is required. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and advanced Excel skills are required. Familiarity with learning management systems, database reporting systems, video editing software, cloud video hosting software and web-conferencing software is required. An understanding of teaching and learning theory, assessment, and data analysis is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

Other: Occasional out of town travel may be required to engage in professional development. The scope of the job may require some evening and weekend work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Works with faculty and administrators on planning, developing, marketing, and assessing distance courses and programs and engages in process improvements.

2. Provides program administration services by overseeing the administration of the budget, overseeing program development, supporting colleges and administrators in building and marketing distance education courses and degree programs, assisting department heads and deans in distance course evaluation and review, researching and making best practices and compliance recommendations with regard to pedagogy, technology, and website updates and reviews, and serving on committees as required.

3. Tracks online program deployment and informs university offices as needed and establishes a process for online course proposals, reviews faculty submissions, and communicates outcomes.

4. Researches new developments, best practices, and accreditation compliance issues related to distance courses, makes recommendations regarding policy changes, and communicates and implements policy changes.

5. Works cooperatively with colleagues and staff from various campus organizational units such as college deans, academic and administrative department heads, faculty, support staff, technical specialists, and others to provide direction in distance education.

6. Uses creative problem solving to identify and remove barriers for distance students to allow full participation in the university community with assurances that distance delivery is consistent.

7. Collects, analyzes and interprets data relative to distance delivery.

8. Ensures timely completion of SARA renewal and data requirements, national surveys, and other required reporting.

9. Provides direction in the development of online-video courses with stakeholders, promotes the delivery across the university, oversees financial reporting for course and revenue sharing, and determines ways to increase participation.

10. Creates and updates support resources for distance faculty and students and responds to questions and concerns.

11. Designs, updates, and reviews distance education websites and marketing materials related to user experience, accessibility, and content.

12. Monitors evaluation needs for distance courses and collaborates with colleges and departments to meet those needs.

13. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

14. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, and attending professional development courses and attending training and/or courses as required by the supervisor.

15. Contributes to the overall success of Outreach by performing all other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Director, Distance Programs and Policy is supervised by the Associate Provost for Access and Outreach and supervises full time staff, graduate assistants, and student workers.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JUNE 2021

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 5.0 - 3300 Points: Knowledge of the principles and methods of an administrative, managerial, or professional field such as accounting or auditing, financial management, information technology, business administration, human resources, engineering, law, social sciences, communications, education, or medicine. Knowledge permits employee to supervise projects and/or departments using standard methods to improve administrative and/or line operations. Knowledge also permits employee to plan steps and carry out multi-phase projects requiring problem definition and modified techniques, to coordinate work with others, and to modify methods and procedures to solve a wide variety of problems. Knowledge at this level requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree with substantial related work experience, including up to two years of administrative or supervisory experience. Alternatively, this level may require a professional or clinical degree beyond the Bachelor's degree with moderate related work experience; knowledge requirements include significant levels of related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 270 Points: Supervision of a limited number of (a) operative, administrative support, or paraprofessional employees who do not exercise a full range of supervisory responsibilities over other full-time employees, (b) a very small number of professional employees, or an equivalent combination of (a) and (b). The incumbent performs a full range of supervisory responsibilities including performance reviews of subordinates. The incumbent is generally responsible for training, planning, and directing the work of permanent employees, and provides major input into hiring decisions. Supervisory responsibilities consume moderate amounts of work time and may include general work planning tasks.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 3.0 - 250 Points: The purpose of interactions is to advise or counsel others to solve recurring and structured problems, and/or to plan or coordinate work efforts with other employees who are working toward common goals in situations where relationships are generally cooperative. Interactions are moderately structured and routine and may involve employees in different functions, students, and/or the general public. These types of interactions require normal interpersonal skills.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 4.0 - 1500 Points: Work involves the primary accountability for a smaller department, program, or process. Work activities involve managerial decisions that directly affect the efficiency, costs, reputation, and service quality of the department, program, or process. Work affects a limited range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University. Work activities have a direct and substantial impact on the department. While work activities do have some effect on the efficiency and reputation of the cost center, departments, programs, or processes at this level represent a relatively minor function within the cost center. Employees in jobs at this level may have responsibility for developing budgets, distributing budgeted funds, and exercising the primary control over a relatively small budget.