POSITION SUMMARY

Western Governors University (WGU) is seeking an individual to help disrupt higher education through relevant, high quality, innovative programs. WGU currently has over 100,000 actively enrolled students in over 60 different degree programs at both the bachelor's and master’s levels. Enrollment has grown exponentially year over year for the past several years and is projected to continue at a phenomenal rate. We are looking for a dynamic and future-thinking leader who will help lead the vision, strategy, and roadmap to achieve this exciting and transformative mission.

The program chair ensure the integrity, excellence, national reputation, and continuous improvement of a portfolio of educational programs through leadership, influence, innovation, partnerships, and the advancement of the discipline. The chair will provide program-level leadership to the matrixed cross-functional program teams, have in-depth knowledge of the organization’s goals, and be part of a team responsible for student success and all associated program performance outcomes. The program chair will provide contribute to cross-functional leadership in the design of the program curriculum and learning experience as well as faculty training and support models.

The program chair must have in-depth knowledge of academic and accreditation requirements in the field of information technology and be skillful in innovative pedagogical interventions, faculty development, and development of internal and external relationships. This position ensures our information technology management programs are of the highest quality by providing the most relevant and current information, blending industry-based knowledge, accreditation standards, and academics. This position is responsible for communicating relevant program information to both internal and external stakeholders. The program chair will work with college level leadership under the guidance of the Academic Program Director to help establish operational and performance objectives and to positively impact student outcomes, program quality, and enrollment growth within educational programs.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Support the Academic Program Director during all monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reviews of program quality, continuous improvement projects, and student success

Works in concert with cross-functional faculty and leadership to:

• Help create program advisory committees comprising employers and industry representatives
• Assist in the creation, measurement, and communication of program outcomes
• Partner with design and development team and cross-functional faculty team to design the student experience and build into both program and course designs the opportunity for regular and substantive student-faculty interactions and community of care support
• Partner with faculty training team to ensure faculty is prepared to support the on-time launch and implementation of all programs and courses
• Ensure all student-facing program, course, and assessment material is clearly defined and communicated
• Set requirements for faculty quality and sufficiency
• Provide feedback for performance evaluations of full-time faculty

Solicits faculty perspective and insights through regular meetings and provides updates to faculty on program, department, and college concerns

Participates through ongoing involvement in external professional, regulatory, and/or accreditation organizations and professional certifications

Provides subject matter expertise in support of new and revised curriculum proposals, participates in ongoing program performance reviews, and continuously monitors program success and executive level reporting

Champions student success through cross-functional teams across multiple departments

Works with cross-functional teams to ensure program and course content is rigorous, responsive, and relevant to workforce needs, and aligns to defined student competencies

Serves as critical liaison across all program faculty teams

Supports outreach and research on the development of additional degree programs and certificates

Works with educational and industry partners to identify opportunities for expanding articulation opportunities and resolving potential gaps

Reviews and monitors student and course feedback to ensure the student voice is represented and provides recommendations for content improvement

Communicates with stakeholders across multiple teams and departments, providing a bridge between program management and support teams

Required Skills

REQUIRED SKILLS

• In-depth knowledge of program area
• Working knowledge of accreditation and regulatory standards in program area
• Working knowledge of program performance metrics
• Ability to collaborate with and work across teams toward a unified goal
• Philosophical commitment to the value of having a master curriculum

COMPETENCIES

PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS: Investigates appropriate resources and involves partners when appropriate. Future-oriented. Assesses what will help/hinder achieving goals. Focuses on what is important.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Deals with others in a considerate, respectful, and unbiased manner. Approaches conflict proactively. Solicits and shares feedback openly. Listens with empathy and maintains composure.

ACCURACY: Draws on factual information garnered from careful cultivation of a broad knowledge of WGU’s goals and processes. Investigates beyond assumptions.

ADAPTABILITY: Course corrects behaviors and communication style to meet the needs of a wide range of situations. Tackles obstacles appropriately. Is comfortable with ambiguity.

RELIABILITY: Accountable to others; does what it takes to get the job done. Actions are consistent with words. Follows through on commitments. Exhibits exceptional integrity.

ATTITUDE: Displays commitment to the organization and to personal growth and is self-motivated and able to motivate and inspire others. Asserts self appropriately to champion ideas. Tells the truth in a direct and constructive manner.

INITIATIVE: Self-directs with a strong bias for action. Leads the way in improvement of performance or processes. Displays keen interest in students and organization.

Required Experience

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Doctoral degree required in information technology or related field. A master’s degree may be accepted when combined with significant industry and/or professional experience. Master’s degree equivalent or commensurate determined by hiring manager.
• Proven track record of successful faculty development and program leadership within the discipline of information technology.
• 5+ years of demonstrated teaching excellence in a variety of courses at the post-secondary level.
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience, preferably at a post-secondary institution.
• Experience in curriculum design, implementation, and oversight preferred.
• Industry certification and credentials (Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)) or similar strongly preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• In-depth knowledge of program area
• Working knowledge of accreditation and regulatory standards in program area
• Working knowledge of program performance metrics
• Ability to collaborate with and work across teams toward a unified goal
• Philosophical commitment to the value of having a master curriculum

COMPETENCIES

PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS: Investigates appropriate resources and involves partners when appropriate. Future-oriented. Assesses what will help/hinder achieving goals. Focuses on what is important.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Deals with others in a considerate, respectful, and unbiased manner. Approaches conflict proactively. Solicits and shares feedback openly. Listens with empathy and maintains composure.

ACCURACY: Draws on factual information garnered from careful cultivation of a broad knowledge of WGU’s goals and processes. Investigates beyond assumptions.

ADAPTABILITY: Course corrects behaviors and communication style to meet the needs of a wide range of situations. Tackles obstacles appropriately. Is comfortable with ambiguity.

RELIABILITY: Accountable to others; does what it takes to get the job done. Actions are consistent with words. Follows through on commitments. Exhibits exceptional integrity.

ATTITUDE: Displays commitment to the organization and to personal growth and is self-motivated and able to motivate and inspire others. Asserts self appropriately to champion ideas. Tells the truth in a direct and constructive manner.

INITIATIVE: Self-directs with a strong bias for action. Leads the way in improvement of performance or processes. Displays keen interest in students and organization.