Dean of Academic Transfer Pathways & Partnerships

General Summary

About Highline College

Founded in 1961, Highline College is situated in a diverse community just 20 minutes south of Seattle. The college annually serves more than 16,500 students –– a student population of over 70% students of color, representing 35 nations and more than 100 languages. The college embraces equity, inclusion and social justice, with core goals of student attainment, diversity, community engagement and sustainability. The student body at Highline College is made up of Transfer students, Running Start students, Professional-Technical students, International students, Comprehensive Transition Program for students with intellectual disabilities, Adult Basic Education and English Language Learners. In addition, we offer six bachelor of applied science, four-year degrees.

Mission and Vision

As an essential part of our mission and vision , diversity, equity and inclusion are promoted and fostered in all aspects of college life.

About the Position

As a public institution of higher education serving a diverse community in a multicultural world and global economy, Highline College promotes student engagement, learning, and achievement, integrates diversity and globalism throughout the college, sustains relationships within its communities, and practices sustainability in human resources, operations, and teaching and learning.

The Dean for Academic Transfer Pathways and Partnerships works with 15 departments and 12 transfer degrees. Nearly half of all students attending Highline College report that they intend to transfer.

This position directly reports to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Academic Transfer Dean will contribute to Highline's goal of successfully implementing guided pathways as a transformational strategy designed to increase student access, engagement, and achievement and close equity gaps. The Academic Transfer Dean will model a learning-oriented approach to all aspects of academic affairs and proactively support the development of a collaborative and inclusive culture at Highline.

The Academic Transfer Dean is responsible for ensuring that Highline College's general education pathways are designed to support students as they move through the first two years of earning their BA or BS degree. The successful dean will facilitate the development of a highly collaborative culture within and among the areas that support students’ goal of transferring, including the Transfer Center, the Academic Success Center, the Assessment Committee, the Honors Program, the Running Start Program, and the Advising Council. In addition, the Academic Transfer Dean works closely with faculty Department Coordinators to maintain student-centered schedules.

Essential Tasks

Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, this position will:

Identify, create, and sustain partnerships:

• Collaborate with Academic Affairs deans and VPAA to build strong partnerships with local school districts that respond to the needs of students and Highline's surrounding communities.
  
  
• Collaborate with the VPAA, general education faculty, and the Transfer Center to strengthen partnerships with transfer-receiving institutions, including Central Washington University which has a presence on Highline’s campus.
  
  
• Actively support and collaborate with the cross-divisional Advising Council, including the implementation and assessment of Highline’s new four-phase advising model.
  
  
• Maintain and facilitate strong communication and partnership with student services to ensure college wide practices equitably and seamlessly support student success and experience between academic affairs and student services.
  
  
• Facilitate the development of articulation agreements with school districts and transfer institutions; maintain current agreements and facilitate access to current agreements for stakeholders across campus.
  
  

Provide leadership, support & advocacy:

• Provide ongoing support to Department Coordinators, including maintaining up-to-date resources in an accessible Canvas site; in collaboration with the Dean of Workforce Programs, facilitate quarterly meetings for faculty coordinators.
  
  
• Support the development, implementation, and regular updating of program maps that show students how to prepare to transfer, ready to enter their chosen major; collaborate with the college web-team to ensure the presentation of pathways and program maps is accessible and engaging, particularly for students.
  
  
• Provide leadership and support for the implementation and updating of Academic Advisement Reports (Degree Audit), in collaboration with the Advising Council, IT, and student services.
  
  
• Provide leadership and support for the Advising Council, including the use of ongoing assessments to ensure that advising supports meet students’ needs and follow evidence-based practices for inclusive, holistic advising.
  
  
• Provide support and advocacy for Highline’s Math Attainment Initiative.
  
  
• Coordinate with Highline's Assessment Committee in facilitating regular program reviews with an equity lens, including reviewing enrollment trends and course completion rates with the goal of closing equity gaps and increasing completions overall while meeting student learning outcomes.
  
  
• Promote and support the involvement of adjunct faculty in professional development opportunities tied to increasing student completions, including focused work on in-class advising, assessment of student learning outcomes and inclusive pedagogy; actively support the work of the Adjunct Faculty Task Force and the focus on improving working conditions for contingent faculty.
  
  

Manage Academic Transfer programs:

• Work closely with the Director of Budget and Planning to facilitate the development of budgets for departments and programs.
  
  
• Collaborate with Division Chairs and Department Coordinators to create and maintain a schedule for general education that fosters academic excellence and student success.
  
  
• Serve as Highline College's academic transfer liaison to the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) regarding articulation and transfer.
  
  
• Reinforce ongoing efforts to increase ABE/ESL Transitions, supporting collaboration between ABE and general education faculty for transfer advising and I-BEST program development.
  
  
• Support institutional effectiveness efforts, including using accreditation to support institutional improvements.
  
  
• Advise Instruction Cabinet and Instruction administration on transfer-related matters and provide leadership and coordination in responding to changes and needs in that environment.
  
  
• Provide mentoring and coaching for direct reports
  
  

Direct reports include:

• Program Manager, Academic Success Centers
  
  
• Program Manager, Faculty Advising
  
  
• Honors Program Coordinator
  
  
• Director, MAsT Center
  
  
• Director, MESA
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Master's Degree
AND
Three or more years college-level teaching experience in the United States.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience designing and/or supporting student success initiatives aimed at closing or eliminating equity gaps
  
  
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to equity in working with students, communities, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds, identities and intersections
  
  
• Evidence of successful experience providing or supporting academic advising, with a particular focus on preparing students for successful transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
  
  
• Evidence of partnership development with high schools and universities.
  
  
• Experience seeking student and faculty input on educational practices and policies, with the goal of improving those practices and/or policies.
  
  
• Experience working with evidence, including quantitative data, for program improvement and decision-making.
  
  
• Experience working collaboratively with instruction, administration and student services programs.
  
  

Supplemental Information

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE AT:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/highline

Your online application must include the following three attachments to be considered complete:

1. A detailed RESUME .

2. A cover letter (two-page maximum) that addresses the REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, and to the extent applicable, the DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS of the position.

3. A two-three page response to the DIVERSITY STATEMENT found in the Supplemental Questions Tab.

Need Help?

Should you have any difficulties uploading your documents or navigating the application process, please contact NEOGOV Technical Support at 1-855-524-5627, Mon- Fri 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time.

Benefits

Highline College offers an outstanding benefits package with a full range of benefits that include multiple medical, dental, life and disability coverage options for employees and eligible family members; choice of retirement and deferred compensation plans to save for the future; paid holidays, sick time, and vacation, reduced tuition, employee discounts, memberships, Employee Assistance Program and more.

Highline College is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Highline College is an equal opportunity employer. The College is committed to enhancing the diversity of our faculty and staff, as well as our student population. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identity diversity. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legal protected status.

Reasonable Accommodations:

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at (206) 592-3812. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.

Title IX Policy
Highline College complies with Title IX regulations. For details on our policies, see our website https://humanresources.highline.edu/faculty-and-staff/policies/title-ix/

The College appointing authorities reserve the right and may exercise the option to make an employment decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.