Faculty PT- Dissertation Mentor - PhD Education/Doctor of Education (Virtual)

Walden University is an accredited institution that has been serving the higher education needs of professionals for more than 45 years. Offered online, Walden's doctoral degree programs are designed to provide a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change.

GENERAL SUMMARY:
The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership seeks dynamic, engaged, and supportive doctoral faculty research mentors that have strong communication and learning-relationship skills for this part-time position in the Ph.D. in Education and Doctor of Education programs. Key responsibilities of this position are to facilitate doctoral student learning during the dissertation and doctoral capstone phase of their program and to engage and support doctoral students as emerging scholar-practitioners.
These contributing, part-time faculty will be invited to serve as chairs and second members of dissertation committees within various Ph.D. in Education and Doctor of Education programs. Priority will be given to those with K-12 and/or special education experience.

What to expect as a Walden contributing faculty member:
Faculty members educate Walden University students by effectively and proficiently using online technology and resources so that knowledge, information, feedback, and critique are imparted to and shared with students in thoughtful, carefully formulated, well written, and timely communications. This is accomplished in an environment that is respectful of student, the Faculty Member, Walden University, and the discipline in which the Faculty Member is involved. Faculty Members are expected to adhere to all Walden University Faculty expectations, which are clearly set forth to the Faculty Member at the start of his/her employment with the University.

General Expectations Include:
•Supportive engagement at all times – build positive rapport, openness, trust, mutual inquiry and listening to students to help them learn, discover and apply research skills.
•Effective online communications to maintain teaching and social presence and to stimulate
critical thinking and “learning to learn” skills.

Responsibilities of this position include:

• Serve as first or second member of dissertation committees.
• Will be asked to complete Walden- and program-based training before first assignment. Follow-up training will also be required by the university from time to time.
• May be asked to participate in program and university-based residencies.


Committee Membership:
This position is primarily to serve on dissertation committees. Committee chairs are assigned to committee-related research forums and are expected to check and respond to students as required by the faculty handbook and program policy.
Doctoral Faculty Members must be appropriately credentialed, possess an earned degree from an accredited institution or recognized by a country's ministry of education in the discipline being taught.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:


• Earned doctorate in education or a closely related field from an accredited university.
• K-12 and/or special education experience preferred
• Experience chairing dissertation committees to the completion of dissertation process.
• Candidates should possess a significant and current record of professional contributions to the field of education. Record of the study of K-12 environments and/or special education is desirable.
• Commitment to advocating for the learning and development needs of students earning their degrees in an eLearning environment.
• Teaching, advising and mentoring; commitment to the promotion of scholarly research; excellent leadership, communication, team, and human relations skills.
• May be invited to perform other duties and responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Ideally, a candidate should be able to demonstrate:
•Success at building effective student learning relationships that support mutual inquiry and doctoral quality student progress and learning outcomes. This includes the ability to provide clear expectations and helping students “know what to do next”.
•Strong servant leadership dispositions. This includes the ability to listen carefully to students, and to be approachable and supportive within Walden’s policies.
•Strong time-management and co-project management skills.

Ideally, a candidate should be strongly committed to:
•Advocating for the learning and development needs of students earning their degrees in a distance learning environment.
•Supporting the development of Walden University students to foster positive social change as scholar-practitioners.
•Best practices in teaching, research, advising and mentoring.
•The ongoing professional development of themselves as faculty.
•The willingness to perform other duties and responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Training:
All new Faculty Members receive specific training from Walden University with respect to best practices in online learning facilitation, doctoral mentoring, and effective supervision and review of dissertations. They also receive socialization into the Walden University culture of quality, integrity, and student-learning centeredness and an orientation in their specific degree program.

Technology Proficiency/Requirements:
Faculty members are expected to maintain a high level of technical proficiency and have a strong commitment to learning new technologies. Faculty are required to have computer and software resources that enable effective delivery of academic services to a disbursed community of learners. The Faculty Member must be able to use Microsoft Office products, and must have reliable Internet access as well as alternate access as needed.

TRAVEL:
Some travel may be requested (maximally once per quarter).