Chief Academic & Innovation Officer

Commitment to Mission

This position requires a strong commitment to upholding the Mission of Lone Star College (LSC). The role demands positive interpersonal behaviors, professional communication, integrity, leadership, stewardship, respect, and accountability to LSC students and employees.

• One LSC
• Student Focused
• Own It
• Foster Belonging
• Cultivate Community
• Choose Learning

The Chief Academic and Innovation Officer (CAIO) is the senior executive responsible for advancing the academic vision, intellectual identity, and innovation agenda of LSC-Online. Reporting directly to the President, the CAIO serves as the institution's primary architect of pedagogical transformation, leading the design and implementation of emerging instructional models, technology‑integrated learning environments, and workforce‑aligned academic pathways. The CAIO also ensures the quality, rigor, and growth of fully online and non‑traditional programs, driving student learning outcomes and enrollment success through data‑informed leadership.

• Serve as LSC‑Online’s chief architect of academic innovation, driving the identification, design, piloting, and scaling of emerging instructional models such as CBE, PLA, HyFlex, AI‑enhanced learning, and adaptive courseware.
• Lead implementation of innovative learning models, accelerated education, and digitally‑enabled education across multiple channels.
• Develop and articulate LSC‑Online’s academic identity, positioning the institution as a thought leader in fully online community college education.
• Develop and maintain a multi‑year Academic Innovation Roadmap aligned to LSC strategic plans and workforce outcome requirements.
• Oversee the LSC‑Online HyFlex Center of Excellence, providing executive sponsorship for implementation, faculty development, technical infrastructure, and system‑wide knowledge transfer.
• Lead implementation and scaling plans across the full three‑phase lifecycle (2025‑2030), ensuring institutional readiness, faculty alignment, and student outcome measurement.
• Provide strategic direction for the Office of Instructional Design, Digital Learning, and Academic Technology, ensuring technology investments are pedagogically grounded and aligned to measurable outcomes.
• Champion the ethical integration of artificial intelligence tools into instructional design, faculty workflows, and student learning environments, establishing institutional policy frameworks that balance innovation with academic integrity.
• Develop and implement LSC‑Online’s Open Educational Resources (OER) and zero‑cost course material strategy, advancing affordability and access.
• Ensure digital learning environments and instructional tools meet accessibility standards, including compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
• Develop industry‑aligned academic programs and stackable credentials that respond to Texas workforce demands and satisfy outcome‑based funding metrics.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with employers, industry associations, and workforce boards to keep the program portfolio aligned with labor market needs.
• Oversee prior learning assessment strategy and implementation, including credit for industry certifications, apprenticeships, and experiential learning.
• Collaborate with state agencies to position LSC‑Online as a preferred provider for workforce development programming.
• Perform other reasonable related duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of teaching and learning theories specific to online, accelerated, competency‑based, and non‑traditional program models.
• Skills in new program development, instructional design evaluation, and application of emerging technology, including AI‑enhanced and adaptive learning platforms.
• Knowledge of alternative credentialing models, such as micro‑credentials, stackable credentials, and prior learning assessment.
• Ability to establish and scale new academic operations with a start‑up mindset.
• Ability to anticipate and respond to shifts in higher education policy, workforce demands, and student demographics with innovative, data‑informed…