Summary

The Saint Xavier University invites applications for a Director of the Education Division. The Director leads the division and supervises academic operations for undergraduate and graduate programs. The Director advocates for student success and retention, monitors student progression and concerns, initiates and coordinates curriculum development and assessment, leads academic planning and course staffing, supervises faculty and staff, ensures compliance with regulations and accreditation requirements. The Director builds and nurtures partnerships with schools and community organizations to strengthen the program and build its reputation. This is an eleven-month administrative faculty appointment with halftime teaching load over the academic year. The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Leadership
  • Upholds the university's mission and core values as a Catholic Mercy institution. Serve as a role model for colleagues and students.
  • Works collaboratively with the Dean and other directors to enact the shared vision of the college and the strategic plan of the university.
  • Serves as a member of the college leadership team and provides guidance to achieve academic excellence and operational efficiency.
  • Articulates and advocates for division needs. Engages in decision making through consultation and shared governance guidelines.
  • Convenes regular meetings to coordinate administrative tasks and ensures proper communications and dissemination of information.
  • Leads faculty and staff to complete academic operations tasks with the highest quality in a timely manner.
  • Serves as the program representative to internal and external constituents including students, faculty, supervisors, alumni and the community at large.
  • Supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives at the university and be a part of a welcoming community.
  • Collaborates with the dean to prepare the program budget(s) and manage the expenditures.
  • Oversees all aspects of school partnerships and clinical experiences.
  • In collaboration with institutional research and other offices, assists in preparing internal and external reports required by regulatory and accrediting bodies.
  • Works with licensure officer to maintain compliance with Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) policies, projects, timelines, and procedures.
  • Conducts actions in accordance with university policies and procedures. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidentiality of information.
  • Engages in the life of the university through participation in campus and community events.
  • Remains engaged in developments within the field or area of expertise and possesses an understanding of the challenges facing higher education.
• Program and Faculty
  • Provides curricular oversight to ensure academic rigor, curriculum currency and alignment with accreditation agencies, students’ needs and market expectation.
  • Leads program(s) planning, and manages departmental offerings to meet student needs to progress towards completion of the program.
  • Manages faculty teaching loads, advising and service activities to ensure equity, efficiency, and transparency.
  • Leads faculty hiring, development, and evaluation. Identifies adjunct faculty and practitioners that will strengthen the delivery of instruction.
  • Ensures that all course materials are complete, consistent, and in compliance with college and university policies and guidelines by the specified deadlines.
  • Leads the faculty to review learning outcomes and completes assessment reports.
  • Ensures the program(s) is meeting accreditation requirements and is compliant with regulatory requirements.
  • Contributes to and supports faculty scholarship, professional practice, community engagement as well as effort to seek external funding and grant management.
• Students
  • Partners with the enrollment team to prepare program material, present at open houses, and support in meeting enrollment goals.
  • Works with enrollment and advising to remove obstacles that impede students’ access, retention, and graduation.
  • Serve as point of contact for academic decisions including grade appeals, admission exceptions, and academic progress.
  • Advocates for students by responding to students’ concerns in a timely manner and working with the student success team to ensure exceptional student experience.
  • Uses institutional data and student satisfaction surveys to make program improvements.
  • Works effectively with external advisory board(s) to strengthen the program and align student learning with employment needs.
  • Works with university offices and community partners to secure experiential learning opportunities and the highest quality of training for students to ensure they are competitive in the employment market.
  • Performs other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned.

Qualifications

• Appropriate terminal degrees: Ph.D. or Ed.D. in education or related field.
• A track record of teaching excellence, administrative leadership and accomplishments in research, scholarship, or professional practice.
• Demonstrated record of establishing and stewarding partnerships with various local and regional stakeholders (e.g., PreK-12 institutions, service agencies, colleges/universities).
• Experience in and knowledge of university, state, and national accreditation processes, planning, and policy implementation.
• Three years of professional experience in a leadership or advanced role in an educational setting.
• Evidence of effective management of human and fiscal resources and commitment to working with diverse populations.

Additional Expectations

We inspire success by working together to provide meaningful, personalized service in a spirit of excellence. SXU seeks candidates that deliver value-added services in a responsive, collaborative, effective, and respectful manner.
The University is committed to diversity and encourages applications from individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Saint Xavier University affirms its position as a Catholic institution, inspired by the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy, and asserts its rights to employ persons who subscribe to the mission, vision and core values of the University.
Saint Xavier University is an Equal Opportunity Employer that makes all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotions and all other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status or other factors protected by law. Hiring decisions will be based on the bona fide occupational qualifications of each applicant.