Dean of Distance Learning General JOB Summary

Position: Dean of Distance Learning GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:
Location: Estherville

This is a multi-campus position with a home base on the Estherville Campus. The Dean of Distance Learning will provide strategic leadership for the College's online and technology-enhanced learning initiatives, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and innovative educational experiences for students across all campuses. The Dean will provide leadership, facilitate change, and effectively manage distance learning programs, instructional technologies, resources, and personnel while working collaboratively with academic deans, faculty, and administrative departments to advance the College's mission and strategic priorities.

This position serves as the College's primary leader for online education, overseeing learning management systems, distance education operations, faculty support, instructional technology, online course quality, and compliance with state, federal, and accreditation requirements. The Dean works closely with academic divisions to expand high-quality online learning opportunities, improve student success and retention, support faculty professional development, and promote the effective integration of instructional technologies throughout the College.

Position:
Dean of Distance Learning

Classification:
Administration

Department:
Dean of Distance Learning

Report to:
Vice President of Academic Affairs

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (% OF TIME):

Constant (67-100%)

* Provide leadership and supervision for the Educational Technologist, Distance Learning Coordinator, Associate Director of Academic Resources, Online Adjunct Faculty, and the ICCOC Mentor Trainers.

* Direct and oversee selected academic programs, ensuring program quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.

* Manage online faculty recruitment and assignment processes, including identifying course sections requiring instructors, recruiting and screening qualified candidates, collaborating with Academic Deans on faculty selection, and preparing contracts for full-time and adjunct online faculty.

* Lead the continuous evaluation, enhancement, and development of online courses and curriculum to ensure high-quality learning experiences and alignment with institutional standards.

* Oversee the coordination and planning of professional development initiatives offered through the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), including the planning, delivery, and assessment of training opportunities for faculty and staff.

* Serve as the institutional Canvas Administrator, providing oversight, system administration, and support for the College's Learning Management System.

* Direct and oversee the Distance Education course offering process, including instructor assignments, course creation and maintenance in Canvas, accurate course scheduling and listing in Colleague, and resolution of related technical issues.

Frequent (34-66%)

* Develop and implement the college's strategic vision for distance education, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, student needs, and emerging trends in online learning.

* Collaborate with the management of the Dropout Detective student retention platform, including faculty and ally training, communication strategies, and maintenance of accurate and up-to-date dashboards and reporting.

* Oversee the implementation and administration of Simply Syllabus for face-to-face, hybrid, and restricted online courses, ensuring syllabi and required components are reviewed and updated each academic term.

* Manage Canvas Catalog. Collaborate with Continuing Education and Workforce Development to support course offerings, generate revenue and enrollment reports, and complete required MIS reporting.

* Establish and monitor quality standards for online learning, including accessibility, instructional design, student engagement, and compliance with accreditation expectations.

* Lead Iowa Lakes' Inclusive Access program, including oversight of participating courses, eBook fees, stakeholder communication and coordination with the ICCOC.

* Collaborate with Academic Deans to support and enhance the online course evaluation and quality assurance process.

* Partner with the ICCOC and consortium institutions to monitor and analyze online enrollment, course offerings, student retention, success metrics, and institutional reporting as a member of the ICCOC Oversight Committee.

* Collaborate with marketing and academic departments to promote online course offerings, programs, and support student recruitment efforts, and maintain adequate enrollment levels.

* Develop, recommend, and implement policies and procedures related to distance education, online instruction, and instructional technologies.

* Work collaboratively with college administrators to develop, analyze, and report data and analytics from Canvas and other learning technologies to support institutional decision-making.

* Serve as the primary point of contact for online student concerns and complaints, conduct investigations, resolve issues, and coordinate with appropriate Academic Deans and…