RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Online Learning Coordinator - 0406687

James Madison University (JMU) invites applications for an Online Learning Coordinator who will advocate for and facilitate the continued growth, improvement and integration of online learning.  Under the supervision of the Vice Provost of University Programs, this new position will require strong collaborative and critical-thinking skills, the ability to recommend strategic future directions for programming, a familiarity with the higher education environment, and knowledge of current online learning technologies.  Ideal candidates will have experience in both online teaching and program administration. The position may include the opportunity to teach 1-2 classes per academic year.
 
JMU is committed to academic excellence as a primary attribute of all its online courses and programs.  The university's online efforts are focused on three primary areas: providing online courses to meet the needs of JMU students who are generally not in residence during the summer, developing and sustaining distinctive online programs for adult learners and other students whose learning needs are best served via these technologies, and encouraging innovation in hybrid and online learning environments to support student learning broadly.  The university supports faculty who teach online by providing training, guidance, quality indicators and other support that enable them to design or transform their own courses for an online environment.  Students have access to support services and resources to facilitate success in the online environment.  The university supports collaboration and innovation in the future growth of online courses and programs, where appropriate.
 
JMU is located in the heart of Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley, an area rich in culture and outdoor recreational opportunities. The mission of the university is to prepare students to become educated and enlightened citizens, and its vision is to become the national model for the engaged university. The university is a selective institution with a national reputation for its strong commitment to teaching and learning both inside and outside the classroom. JMU enrolls over twenty thousand students, 19,144 of whom are undergraduates, and offers 72 undergraduate programs that span the fine and performing arts, humanities, mathematics, natural and applied sciences, social sciences, engineering, business, and numerous pre-professional areas of study.
 
Duties and responsibilities include:
 
Provide administrative oversight of online learning.
1. Analyze university-level data regarding online student retention, satisfaction and success, and promote the use of these results to improve student experiences and to inform decisions regarding online learning.
2. Oversee the maintenance of the University Programs online learning website and JMU Best Practices for online learning.
3. Serve as the central point of contact for university-level online learning for identified external contracts and third-party vendors.
4. Assist the JMU SACS office to insure the institution is in compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), as well as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and other state and national regulations related to online learning.
 
Build partnerships, collaborate and communicate.
1. Build partnerships, commitment, and collaboration throughout the university to achieve current institutional goals and develop future goals regarding online learning for both traditional and non-traditional students.
2. Work collaboratively with deans, unit heads, unit-level online course and program coordinators, faculty, and other offices to support future directions and potential areas of growth of online learning at JMU.
3. Serve as the university liaison working with units and offices university-wide involved in the areas of online learning.
4. Represent JMU at national and regional events regarding online learning.
 
Advocate for online learning.
1. Act as an advocate for all graduate and undergraduate areas of online learning to include faculty, unit, and student support.
2. Support online learning initiatives from individual units and offices by assisting in the facilitation of the initiatives across the university.
 
Required Qualifications:
-          Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
-          Understanding of higher education and the operations of higher education institutions
-          Experience teaching in, or the administration of, online courses/programs at a postsecondary institution
-          Strong grounding in current and emerging trends in online learning
-          Strong critical thinking and interpersonal skills along with a demonstrated history of successful collaboration without direct authority
-          A minimum of 5 years work experience

 
Preferred Qualifications:
-          Experience with accreditation processes in higher education, including accreditation standards governing online learning
-          Familiarity with regulations regarding state authorization (SARA) of online learning
-         Working knowledge of the Online Learning Consortium Quality Matters standards for online and blended courses
-          Experience in the administration of online courses and programs

 
To apply go to JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number 0406687. Salary is commensurate with experience. James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.  

PI90224684