Academic Program Director/ Education

Columbia Southern University

Job Description

Job Title: Academic Program Director/ Education

Department: College of Education

Reports to: Dean for the College of Education and Assistant Provost

FLSA: Exempt

Hours: Available to perform administrative responsibilities, in addition to course development and teaching, when applicable, which may include evenings and weekends.

Location: Off campus: Remote

Job Summary

The Academic Program Director leads strategic planning, program maintenance and assessment, and curriculum development of an/the identified and appropriate program(s). Furthermore, the Academic Program Director leads faculty to meet or exceed expectations, resolve academic issues and builds a community among faculty and staff. The director is responsible for the courses and programs that align under the assigned program.

Essential Job Tasks
• Oversee online academic programs within the College of Education, ensuring alignment with licensure, certification, programmatic, and institutional standards.
• Lead program evaluation and continuous improvement efforts using data-driven decision-making.
• Innovate and revise curricula to reflect emerging trends in education and best practices in online instruction.
• Recruit, onboard, mentor, and evaluate online faculty members.
• Provide ongoing professional development in instructional design, digital pedagogy, and approaches that support various learning needs.
• Foster a collaborative virtual faculty culture that supports engagement, innovation, and academic excellence.
• Champion the design and delivery of engaging, interactive, and accessible online courses.
• Collaborate with instructional designers and tech teams to ensure user-friendly, high-impact learning environments.
• Monitor and enhance the quality of online course content, discussions, and assessments.
• Lead preparation for programmatic accreditation reviews (e.g., CAEP, state-level agencies), including report writing, evidence collection, and team coordination.
• Ensure programs meet regulatory and licensing requirements for educator preparation.
• Maintain thorough documentation and data for institutional reporting and audits.
• Maintain active involvement in the field through conference presentations, research, publications, or professional memberships.
• Represent the university at national or regional events related to education, online learning, or accreditation.
• Work closely with academic leadership, enrollment services, and student support to drive student success.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and advocate for online education in internal planning and external partnership conversations.
• Support outreach and marketing efforts to promote assigned programs.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities.

Knowledge
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Academic Processes - Knowledge of university guidelines, course descriptions, and academic terminology.
• Clerical - Knowledge of office administrative procedures including word processing, managing files and records, typing, and other office procedures.
• Computer - Knowledge of basic computer processes including word processing, web browsing, and Microsoft Office including Basic Microsoft Excel.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of mathematics.

Skills
• Critical Thinking - Uses logic and reasoning to look at different types of information in order to make conclusions and work through problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Research - Locates key facts and information in order to learn more about different types of information.
• Interpersonal Skills - Communicates and interacts with people effectively while being aware of social perceptions.
• Time Management - Manages one’s own time to accomplish assigned tasks.
• Attention to Detail - Thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing a task ensuring all aspects are reviewed.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Selective Attention (Vigilance) - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Education & Experience
• Doctorate in Education or a related field (Ed.D. or Ph.D.).
• Minimum of 5 years of online teaching experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated leadership in online program administration.
• Experience mentoring and evaluating online faculty in a fully remote or online-only university environment.
• Proven record of managing programmatic accreditation processes (e.g., CAEP, NCATE).
• Strong understanding of digital pedagogy, assessment, and instructional design.
• Experience presenting at national or regional conferences preferred.

Equipment Used
• Computer, telephone, and a printer with a scanner
• Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Blackboard, and internal database software
• Internet access with sufficient speed/bandwidth to perform job responsibilities

Work Environment

Expected to design one’s own personal work environment with an understanding that periodic travel to work on site will be required. Required to be available via remote access and/or technology during working hours. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Outside Employment

Academic Program Directors must consider CSU as their primary employer and avoid additional part-time employment opportunities that distract from essential job duties and responsibilities. Other full-time employment of a competitive nature violates the employee policy on outside employment.

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