Instructional Specialist, Principal

Job Summary/Basic Function:

The Instructional Specialist, Principal provides demonstrated expertise and team leadership in the design, management, and support of online courses across the MSW online program and working directly with faculty to support effective and innovative delivery of graduate level academic courses in collaboration with Program Coordinator.

Housed within the College of Health Sciences at Boise State University, the School of Social Work prepares students for beginning and advanced social work practice through rigorous, student-centered academic programs. The School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees delivered through a combination of on-campus and fully online formats, serving students across Idaho and the nation.

Programs within the School of Social Work are designed to be both academically rigorous and practice-focused, emphasizing experiential learning and close faculty mentorship. The curriculum is grounded in a liberal arts foundation and informed by cultural, political, and socio-historical contexts that shape social work practice. Students develop strong competencies in communication, critical thinking, analysis, ethical decision-making, and an understanding of human behavior and research-informed practice.

The School offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) as well as Master of Social Work (MSW) programs, including both full-program and advanced standing options, with delivery models designed to support a variety of student populations and professional pathways. All social work programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Recognized master’s in professional discipline with significant impact and influence on campus policy and program development. Establishes critical strategic and operational goals; develops and implements new products, processes, standards or operational plans to achieve strategies. Regularly leads projects of critical importance to the campus; these projects carry substantial consequences of success or failure. Requires significant influence and communication with executive leadership.

Problems faced are frequently complex and multidimensional, requiring broad based consideration of variables that impact multiple areas of the organization.

• Assist the online program coordinator and faculty with identifying current instructional issues and implementing strategies to address issues and improve course effectiveness.
• Coordinate orientation and ongoing professional development requirements for faculty teaching in the online program.
• Onboard new faculty around Canvas, technologies used in the course, program standards, and resources.
• Communicate with online faculty including pre-semester welcome, semester updates, end of course check in, and professional development opportunities.
• Supports the Lead Instructor (LI) model which includes communications of pre-course, mid-course, and end of the session LI instructor tasks.
• Connect faculty with teaching groups and ensures that course questions/concerns are shared with all faculty teaching different sections and with the program coordinator.
• Assist with course launch for faculty teaching in the online program, problem solve issues that arise during course launch.
• Produce webinars, podcasts, newsletters and other learning opportunities to expand online faculty’s skills in online teaching and knowledge of online learning.
• Serve as a resource for faculty teaching online around Canvas issues.
• Maintain a relationship with Center for Teaching Learning, OIT, LTS, other online programs, and eCampus to enhance online teaching, communicates those with faculty as appropriate.
• Assist faculty in locating resources as problems arise (ie library, OIT, etc).
• Consult with faculty on course updates and maintenance.
• Provide expertise in best practice in online learning and teaching.
• Provide technical Canvas administration and course support for faculty through phone calls, email.
• Provide training and course support to online faculty teaching from the Primary course.
• Provide basic guidance for usability, accessibility,…