Associate Dean, Flexible Delivery

The Faculty of Arts offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate-level certificates, diplomas, and degree programs. These programs are taught domestically and internationally using face-to-face, on-line and blended delivery methods. The Faculty of Arts is dedicated to providing a supportive learning environment in a culture of diversity, enabling our students to achieve their full potential and be competitive in the workplace. 

The Associate Dean, Flexible Delivery is a member of the Faculty of Arts senior leadership team. The Associate Dean reports to the Dean of Arts and is responsible for leading and managing the development and quality assurance of flexible learning options of certificates, diplomas, programs, and courses offered at TRU, inclusive of synchronous, asynchronous, and blended delivery. The Associate Dean participates and acts as a designate on behalf of the the Dean in all on-campus governance meetings related to the development and ongoing accountability for online learning in the Faculty of Arts, such as the Faculty Council and the Chairs’ group, and liaises with other university offices in the coordination of programs and courses. In addition, the Associate Dean will provide operational oversight of academic integrity cases originating from on-line and blended delivery methods, and the development of Faculty-specific educational resources for students and faculty with regards to academic integrity and TRU’s academic integrity policy. This appointment is for a five-year renewable term and appointment as a tenured faculty member. Please note this is not a remote position, the Associate Dean is expected to work on campus in Kamloops.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Associate Dean, Flexible Delivery is responsible for academic and administrative support to the Dean. Duties include the following:

FLEXIBLE DELIVERY PROGRAM INNOVATION

• Works collaboratively with academic leadership and staff in the Divisions of Open Learning, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and Learning Technology and Innovation, and academic departments in the Faculty of Arts, to identify, initiate and ensure coordination of flexible learning educational courses and programs.
• Oversees and manages development and updates the academic contents of the programs and courses of the Faculty of Arts that are synchronous, asynchronous, and blended models of delivery. 
• Assists in strategic planning and activities such as market analysis, capacity assessment, and resource demand for flexible delivery program innovation (synchronous, asynchronous, and blended models of delivery).
• Works with the Dean, Department Chairs, Faculty and Staff in identifying new flexible learning options, and alignment of the Faculty’s Strategic Plan.
• Works collaboratively with TRU’s PLAR office and Credit Bank for programs to support student entry into the Faculty of Arts.
• Acts as a designate on behalf of the Dean to review and provide approvals as and when required to the advertisement and hiring process of subject matter experts, consultants and Open Learning Faculty members at TRU.
• Initiates, coordinates, creates, reviews, and implements all operational systems and/or procedures within the Faculty of Arts that supports TRUly Flexible Operations initiative at TRU.
• Stays up-to-date and current with regional and national developments in flexible delivery options and updates the Faculty of Arts faculty and staff on these developments as appropriate.

QUALITY ASSURANCE: FLEXIBLE DELIVERY  

• Responsible for alignment of Faculty of Arts certificates, diplomas, programs, and courses offered through face-to-face and flexible delivery option (synchronous, asynchronous, and blended models), and submits an annual analysis report to the Office of Quality Assurance at TRU.
• Manages TRU’s Senate approval processes of new, major, and minor changes to the certificates, diplomas, programs, and courses of the Faculty of Arts offered through the flexible learning option.
• Manages the review and approval process of the student program plans, and graduation audits, of all Faculty of Arts programs offered through the TRU OL Unit in a timely manner.
• Works closely with the Office of Quality Assurance, department chairs and faculty in designing and implementing processes of reviewing and evaluating online and hybrid programs and courses for instructional effectiveness and quality assurance.
• Ensures that provisions of the Collective Agreements with TRUFA and TRUOLFA are administered correctly and in accordance with administrative policies and regulations.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

• Acts as a designate on behalf of the Dean to oversee and perform duties as appropriate to process the academic integrity cases originating within Faculty of Arts through face-to-face, on-line and blended delivery methods.
• Liaises with the Directors to oversee all online student academic accommodations and appeals and other academic oversight and acts as a designate on behalf of the Dean.
• Supports and facilitates a culture of academic integrity across TRU, working closely with the (proposed) office of Academic Integrity, and the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CELT).
• Leads the development of educational materials with the Faculty of Arts pertaining to academic integrity, including a suite of training and educational materials in a variety of formats and delivery options for students, faculty, and staff.
• Work closely with the (proposed) office of the Academic Integrity and CELT to develop, promote and incorporate pedagogical and assessment-based preventive measures to reduce academic integrity cases.
• Assists the Dean and or the Office of the VP Academic & Provost in other duties as assigned.

REPORTS TO
Dean, Faculty of Arts

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
Required qualifications:

• Professional profile suitable for appointment as a tenured Associate or Full Professor; and
• Completed doctoral degree in a relevant discipline.

Preferred qualifications:

• Demonstrated effectiveness and success in online teaching, course design and pedagogy, or online program development.
• An extensive record of service including significant administrative contributions in a leadership role;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• A strong commitment to collegiality and consensus building across organizational, disciplinary, and program boundaries;
• The ability to make difficult decisions and handle situations that require diplomacy and confidentiality;
• Experience in curriculum, policy development and the academic approval and program review process;
• Experience in multi-modal delivery (face-to-face, blended, online, and distance learning) of educational programming and demonstrated appreciation for open educational practices;
• Skills in problem solving, application of critical thinking and consulting multiple sources for information;
• Understanding of student needs, concerns, mental health issues and commitment to student success;
• Conflict management skills with young adults in university setting.
• Manages highly sensitive and strictly confidential information.
• Experience managing in a unionized environment (, employee recruitment and selection, evaluation, conflict resolution, contract negotiation, and the grievance process).