Assistant Vice President for Digital Learning Initiatives

Position Summary

The Assistant Vice President for Digital Learning Initiatives (AVP) will develop and drive an online and digital education strategy that will ensure the College meets the needs of lifelong learners wherever they are through evolving online learning modalities. The Assistant Vice President for Digital Learning Initiatives will be responsible for the leadership, administrative oversight, and coordination of all aspects of the eSpelman online learning enterprise.

Working in close partnership with the division chairs, department chairs and faculty body the Assistant Vice President for Digital Learning Initiatives will drive the development of online learning initiatives at Spelman College and guide a growing portfolio of online programs, their delivery, the infrastructure and processes to support their success.

The Assistant Vice President for Digital Learning Initiatives will employ a deep knowledge of the unique needs and behaviors of online learners to design a long-range recruitment and enrollment strategy for the College’s online enterprise. Additionally, the Assistant Vice President for Digital Learning Initiatives will need a keen expertise in key functional areas such as digital marketing, call center operations, and associated technologies to support that strategy development and implementation.

The AVP will optimize the impact on the educational experiences and enhance the College’s reputation, visibility, and reach while providing new certificate programs for working adult learners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Vision:

1. Provide College-level leadership and administrative oversight for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation for the eSpelman online learning initiatives, aligning the direction and vision of online learning with the College’s strategic goals.
2. Establish a vision for the future of online education, including ways the institutional mission and values can be woven into and differentiate Spelman’s online enterprise.
3. Employ a deep knowledge of the technical and operational needs of a successful online enterprise including, but not limited to, digital marketing, call center operations, online enrollment strategy, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and supporting technologies, and student support services to strategize, develop, and implement Spelman’s online infrastructure plan.
4. Advise senior leadership on the mission, vision, goals, and objectives for online educational offerings.
5. Develop and implement short and long-range strategic plans to advance the College’s mission in distance learning that supports and expands online learning enrollment regionally and out of state.
6. Define and guide a strategic plan to enhance current online offerings, launch new programs, and increase annual revenue.

Provide expert consultation on best practices for designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating distance education projects, programs, and initiatives.

Data Analysis

1. Design and implement key performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of programs, course development, and individual online course assessments, ensuring data-driven enhancements and strategic decision-making.
2. Leverage data analysis to identify trends, inform program development, and optimize online course assessments, with a focus on measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
3. Develop and monitor key metrics that track the success of programs and online courses, using data insights to guide program enhancements and assess the impact of specific initiatives.
4. Utilize data analytics to assess program performance, drive curriculum development, and refine online course offerings, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and optimal learning outcomes.
5. Create and analyze comprehensive assessment tools to gather data on program effectiveness and course performance.

Quality Assurance and Program Development:

1. Support College processes to strategically develop new online certificate programs to build an appropriate online program portfolio.
2. Identify, assess, and implement changes in instructional design, development and evaluation research and practice.
3. Promote excellence in online learning through implementation of a robust quality assurance program.
4. Inform and oversee course roadmap for new online programs and initiatives.
5. Remain informed on external trends, individual student needs, industry certifications, online learning, occupation areas, and other discipline-specific information to ensure our online programs are current and high quality.
6. Improve the quality of the online student experience at Spelman College through increased student satisfaction, retention, completion, affordability, and diversity of program offerings.
7. Establish specific, measurable goals and other performance expectations, implement a systematic review process to evaluate objectives, progress, and outcomes.
8. Establish process for developing courses and programs for the adult learner that would yield successful approval from the Curriculum Committee.
9. Develop and oversee implementation of eSpelman learner and faculty development & support services, to include updated documentation for training and certifications.

External Partnerships and Market Understanding:

1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the online program management marketplace and the role of external partnerships in the eSpelman strategy.
2. Develop and enhance external partnerships for the College’s online learning initiatives.
3. Work with Communications and External Relations on the development and execution of a comprehensive marketing strategy for our online programs.
4. Assist with cross-functional academic initiatives focused on topics like academic quality and educational technology.
5. Oversee and direct marketing activities and budget to drive prospective student enrollment and new partnerships.
6. Manage partnerships with outside vendors.

Financial and Budget Management:

1. Oversee and manage the budget and financial reporting to include regular budget status updates and recommendations to the President, Provost, SVP for Enrollment Management and CFO.

Collaboration and Capacity Building:

1. Serve as a strategic advisor to closely integrate the academic departments and administrative units that will contribute to the success of online learning, including Undergraduate Studies, Teaching Resource Research Center, Office of Technology Services, Communications, Enrollment Management, Office of the Registrar, Student Affairs, Business & Finance, and Institutional Effectiveness.
2. Collaborate with Spelman Technology Services (STS) to ensure learning management system (LMS) availability and integrity.
3. Provide leadership and facilitate collaboration with various faculty work groups to promote improvement of online learning.
4. Collaborate with academic departments and programs to develop programs within governance structure and curriculum committee oversight.
5. Effectively collaborate with key stakeholders, including employers, higher education leaders, and higher education institutions, to understand workforce and industry needs.
6. Effectively engage the College community to support online programs and students, including faculty, academic administration, and senior leadership.

Compliance and Technology:

1. Maintain knowledge of emerging technologies, pedagogies, and best practices related to digital learning and online programs.
2. Remain familiar with regional and national regulations, ensuring institutional compliance.
3. Work with Institutional Effectiveness to prepare an annual report on distance education activities and compliance requirements.
4. Maintain working knowledge of changing laws and rules related to reciprocity agreements (SARA and others) and state reporting related to online and distance education.
5. Ensure compliance with regulations (international, federal, and state) that may impact online learning in conjunction with the appropriate business support functions.

Travel

1. Some travel, including weekends and evenings may occasionally be required.

Required Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Instructional Design, or a related discipline.
2. Familiarity with regional and national requirements for distance education at the baccalaureate level.
3. Minimum of ten years of higher education work experience supporting online programs, strategic initiatives in a higher education environment. At least five years of experience in a leadership role related to online education or instructional technology. Familiarity with emerging technologies required.
4. Technical knowledge and understanding of core functionalities of the online enterprise, including digital marketing, call center operations, enrollment funnel, CRM technologies, and student support services, etc.
5. Ability to work well in a diverse community.
6. Exceptional communication (verbal and written) and consultation skills.
7. Strategic Planning: Proven record of accomplishment in developing and implementing strategic plans for online education.
8. Policy and Accreditation: Experience in developing policies and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.
9. Resource Management: Experience in managing budgets, staffing, and technological resources.
10. Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with senior leadership, faculty, and external partners.
11. Quality Assurance: Experience in developing and overseeing quality assurance initiatives for online education.
12. Team Development: Experience in supervision and development of management and operations staff.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the ability to perform skills effectively using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); Microsoft Outlook; and the internet.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. PhD in a related discipline.
2. Experience with online program management (OPM) partnerships.
3. Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.
4. Experience with relational database and/or student information system.
5. Experience designing, developing, and teaching online courses.
6. Demonstrated record of working in a diverse environment.
7. Experience with Banner Financial Module experience a plus.

Certifications, Licenses, Restrictions:

Ability to drive and a valid driver’s license are required.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: sit, walk, use hands to operate computer and move items, read hand-written and computer-generated documents, talk, hear, and lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. The employee is frequently required to: stand. The employee may occasionally be required to stoop, and climb.

Shift:

Days

% Travel Required:

1% - 25%

Full Time/Part Time:

Full-time

Work Location/Schedule:

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.

FLSA:

Exempt

Number of Vacancies:

1

Anticipated Candidate Start Date:

Position End Date:

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number: SC0731P

Posting Open Date: 10/14/2024

Posting Closing Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

EEO Statement: Spelman College is an EEO/Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Title IX Employer and we participate in E-Verify. We are a smoke-free campus.

COVID-19 Vaccination Protocol: Due to the heightened risk of contracting COVID-19 and the spread of variants, Spelman College strongly recommends that faculty, staff, and students receive a COVID-19 vaccine and adhere to all health and safety guidelines.

If you have any questions please contact: Yemi Brown, PharmD Manager of COVID-19 Operations, at