Classifieds

2/7/2019

Communication Program Director and Teaching Professor (Open Rank) - University College

Tracking Code

004615

Job Description

The University of Denver has the distinction of being the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region, with a tradition of 150 years of academic excellence. The University of Denver's college of professional and continuing studies, University College, is a leader in adult education, providing fully accredited and affordable educational experiences specifically designed for busy adults.

Position Summary

The Academic Director provides overall strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Communication Management degree program. This role requires a broad understanding of the communication industry. The primary responsibilities include overall program management, with emphasis on curriculum development; faculty selection and development; course scheduling and delivery; assessment; and program budget management, including enrollment goals. The Academic Director ensures that the content of the degree program and its concentrations is current, high quality, and meets the needs of employers and students. The Academic Director also works to ensure that the curriculum in each of the concentrations integrates with the program foundations courses, aligns with program outcomes, and is complementary where appropriate with courses in other concentrations within the program. Finally, the Director develops a deep understanding of the current market trends and strengths of the program and, in cooperation with industry advisors and faculty, creates, plans and implements a vision for where the program should be in the future with respect to industry demands and the changing dynamics of the communication field.

 

The Academic Director will engage in positive, productive, professional, and interpersonal relationships with academic advisors, instructional support specialists, instructional designers, enrollment and marketing staff, student services staff, senior management, and constituent departments campus-wide as well as with corporate partners and the community to assure quality course delivery, support student advising, address student issues, hire and provide support to faculty, and attract new students to the program. The successful candidate must be willing to be part of and promote an inclusive team and work culture. The Academic Director is also assigned a teaching load per academic year. The role has inherent responsibility to provide advising to students concerning the program and their careers as appropriate. In addition, the Academic Director represents the College at University and community events. The position is a full-time, benefited position and is a non-tenured, appointed faculty position in the teaching series.

Essential Functions

• The Academic Director and Teaching Professor is responsible for all content areas of the program, including the foundations courses, core concentration courses, and elective courses. 
• Support and implement the strategic plan, mission, vision, and values of University College.
• Curriculum development, including clear learning objectives, and quality assessment. 
• Identify and lead the development of new programmatic opportunities. 
• Teach select courses in the Communication Management program. 
• Faculty recruitment. 
• Train and provide support for faculty to ensure engagement in best teaching practices and adherence to University College Baseline Faculty Expectations.
• Plan and implement the annual schedule, to include faculty assignments. 
• Ensure high-quality course delivery and immediately address instructional issues that may arise. 
• Review and approve student applicants. 
• Ensure a high-quality student experience by promptly and effectively responding to student issues. 
• Identify the knowledge and skills requirements for incoming students. 
• Identify and enact measures to positively impact student success and retention. 
• Investigate and help develop solutions to address gaps in preparedness of incoming students. 
• Develop industry relationships to ensure the curriculum is responsive to employer needs and current with respect to industry-related best practices. 
• In partnership with faculty, evaluate the program and lead program initiatives and new curriculum development. 
• Engage in assessment reporting to assess the extent to which the program is meeting student learning outcomes.
• Assist with student recruiting. 
• Maintain professional knowledge of key developments and trends in the communication field. 
• Contribute to strategic initiatives such as the use of technology to enhance online instruction. 
• Participate in College and University committees. 
• Provide input regarding marketing strategies, collateral, and website content. 
• Engage in positive, productive, professional, and interpersonal relationships throughout the University by establishing close working relationships with program advisors, support staff, marketing staff, student services staff, senior management, and constituent departments campus wide. 
• The role requires diplomacy to establish and maintain cohesive, productive relationships at the greater university, with corporate partners and with the community.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, supervision of others, management of budgets, and proficiency in computer applications.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret industry literature, professional journals, technical procedures, and/or government regulations. 
• Ability to create and utilize analytics to inform decision-making. 
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, course descriptions and outcomes, degree or program proposals, and procedurals manuals. 
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, faculty, co-workers, and and the general public. 
• Ability to execute a hands-on and collaborative approach to leadership and teamwork. 
• Ability to solve practical problems with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. 
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team-oriented environment as well as independently to meet deadlines, achieve goals, and provide program structure. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work effectively with diverse communities. 
• Strong management, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Business, or related discipline.
• 5 years of demonstrated professional experience within the field of communications, marketing, public relations, or related discipline.
• Teaching or training experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate degree in the field of academic concentration.
• 8+ years of experience in the higher education environment (administration or teaching).
• 8+ years of experience in management and/or leadership.
• Experience in the area of professional and continuing education.
• Curriculum development and assessment experience.
• Knowledge of best practices across face-to-face and online course delivery.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to hiring faculty and recruiting students from diverse and varied backgrounds. 
  
  

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

Apply here.

 

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through www.du.edu/jobs to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. Once within the job description online, please scroll to the bottom of the page to apply. 

 

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. CV
2. Cover Letter
3. List of 3 References

 

The University of Denver is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military/ veteran status or any other status protected by law.

 

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

Department

UCOL Administration (222050)

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

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