Associate Director, Office of Prior Learning

Unit: Office of the Provost

Department: Academic Affairs

Duties & Responsibilities

The Office of the Provost seeks an inaugural associate director for the newly-established Office of Prior Learning. This role is central to VCU’s mission to attract and support adult and returning learners, empowering them to turn their lived and professional experiences into college credit. The associate director will manage VCU’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) efforts, working across colleges and programs to facilitate student access to prior learning opportunities in their desired fields. This position is responsible for assisting individual departments and programs to develop prior learning processes that are appropriate to their fields, ensure academic integrity and institutional reputation, remove administrative burdens, and facilitate student access. This position will report to the Assistant Vice Provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs.

Core Responsibilities

The Director will oversee the day-to-day operations and the strategic scaling of the office, focusing on the following initiatives:

Program Development & Administration

• Develop and manage challenge exams and course-specific portfolio processes in coordination with disciplinary faculty.
• Create policies and processes for noncredit to credit pathways
• Supervise program coordinator
  
  

Instruction & Training

• Design and lead a portfolio development course, guiding students as they build evidence for portfolios.
• Design and implement assessor training for faculty to ensure consistent and rigorous evaluation of student portfolios.
  
  

Collaboration & Advocacy

• Serve as the primary point of contact for students, faculty, and staff regarding CPL policies.
• Coordinate closely with the Transfer Center, Admissions, the Registrar, Continuing & Professional Education, and all academic units (e.g., College of Humanities and Sciences, School of Business, College of Health Professions, etc.) to ensure a seamless student experience.
• Partner with LEDstudio for online course development to promote and deliver CPL options.
  
  

Data & Excellence

• Utilize data to examine and improve the CPL process, tracking student progress and degree completion rates.
• Uphold "guiding principles" that ensure credits are awarded in a way that protects the academic excellence of VCU degrees.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate on relevant strategic University committees, task forces, and ad hoc work groups.
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum of two years of experience working in higher education administration.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Detail oriented with the ability to prioritize responsibilities and stay organized during peak workflow times.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively as well as autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to build "buy-in" across a wide range of academic departments and navigate complex institutional structures.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Terminal degree from an accredited institution
• Proven track record in academic administration, ideally within prior learning assessment.
• Deep understanding of various CPL modes, including ACE/military credits, CLEP, portfolio assessment, and challenge exams.
• Understanding of departmental, college, and university policies and procedures, as well as programs of study at VCU
• Ability to market the value of CPL to nontraditional learners and to the University community.
• Experience working with nontraditional students and adult learners.
• Experience developing and/or administering policy.
• Curriculum development and/or teaching experience, especially in higher education.
• Minimum of three years of experience in a supervisory or team-lead capacity (including academic, volunteer, or extracurricular leadership).
• Familiarity with VCU systems such as Banner, Navigate, etc.
  
  

Salary Range

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Salary: $71,500 - $85,300

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Administrator AA 1-3 (10911-10913)