<p>With approximately 16,000 students, Northern Illinois University (NIU) is one of the largest public universities in the state of Illinois. NIU strives to improve outcomes for all students by identifying and removing barriers that disproportionately hinder the academic achievement and student experience of historically and currently underserved populations. As the direct descendant of NIU's origin as the Northern Illinois State Normal School opened to prepare teachers, the College of Education continues that legacy as the state's second largest producer of teachers. Students prepare for, or advance in, professional careers across the P-20 educational spectrum as teachers and administrators and in fields such as counseling, higher education, student affairs, exercise science, athletic training and sport management. We cultivate an equity-focused, inclusive, engaging and supportive learning environment that inspires students, faculty and staff to strive for excellence. We commit to proactively meeting the changing educational and professional needs of students and their fields while advancing teaching, learning, research, practice and advocacy in our program areas. NIU's geographical reach extends beyond its main DeKalb campus (65 miles west of downtown Chicago, 60 miles from the O'Hare International Airport, and 40 miles west of Naperville - a booming community with one of the best school systems in the nation) to satellite campuses in Naperville, Chicago and abroad as well as to students online.</p> <p>Position Summary</p> <p>The Director carries overall responsibility for a wide range of services and functions supporting the educational, social, cultural, and professional needs of COE undergraduate and graduate students. This position provides leadership in the development of student success curriculum, programs, and services directed towards shaping and creating student development support structures designed to engage students and lead to improved academic success and persistence until educational goals are achieved, as well as the coordination and oversight for the many efforts across the COE that involve teacher preparation and development, including development of school partnerships, field placements and engaged learning experiences.</p> <p>As the designated advising director for the COE, this position leads, oversees, and implements a variety of tasks that impact the six departments and the College as a whole, including curriculum, licensure, co-curricular experiences, recruitment, retention, and graduation.</p> <p>Essential Duties and Responsibilities</p> <p>Direct Supervisory Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Train and supervise COE Office of Student Services staff in the professional, efficient, and accurate conduct of the tasks for that role. </li><li>Train and lead COE departmental undergraduate academic advising staff. Train and lead COE departmental clinical field University Supervisors. </li><li>Train and oversee COE Office of Student Services graduate assistant staff. Train and oversee COE Office of Student Services Intern staff. </li><li>Assign workforce coverage within the COE Office of Student Services as appropriate. </li></ul> <p>Leadership Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Work closely and collaboratively with NIU campus colleagues and offices with regard to campus-wide programs and initiatives. These offices include, but are not limited to, Admissions, Registration and Records, Orientation, Enrollment Management and Marketing Communications, Honors, Student Athlete Academic Support Services, the Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the P-20 Office. </li><li>Collaborate with external community college partners such as Kishwaukee, Elgin, College of DuPage, Rock Valley, Waubonsee in the development of curricular pathways and transfer guidelines that meet both educator licensure and non- licensure, as well as accreditation requirements. </li><li>Keep the COE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs informed regarding concerns and issues, and meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs on a biweekly basis. </li><li>Review and process issues related to teacher educator clinical placements, student grade appeals, and academic appeals for both graduate and undergraduate students in conjunction with related College departments. </li><li>Continuously monitor the student dispositional Growth and Professional Performance Review and appeals procedures conducted at the department level and provide information to the COE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs regarding those procedures for consistency and equity. </li><li>Provide background information and serve in an advisory capacity to the Provost's Office in student-related issues that are forwarded to said office. </li></ul> <p>Curriculum Development</p> <ul> <li>Actively create and shape program, department, and college student success curricula via curriculum development, curriculum review, and academic curriculum planning. </li><li>Implement curricular changes regarding Illinois educator licensure requirements related to the State via ISBE, national educator licensure requirements from CAEP, and educator licensure knowledge for the 19 ISBE professional educator license and advanced professional endorsement programs in the COE, as well as support curricularly for the College's affiliated 20 nationally recognized, Specialized Professional Association (SPA) licensure programs. Lastly, the Director applies their knowledge in regards to the implementation and facilitation of change in the curricular process with the external accrediting bodies active with the COE: AER [VRT, TVI, O&M], CAATE, CACREP, and HLC. </li><li>Serve as curriculum expert for the College by developing and infusing student success curriculum in programs of study and clarifying potential impact on student progress to degree completion resulting from curricular changes. </li><li>Work with faculty and staff from program areas and departments to promote the development of alternative, curriculum delivery formats (e.g., off-campus, on-line, hybrid, and time-shifted), courses, and programs. </li><li>Lead faculty and staff in the development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum engagement experiences (e.g., clinical and field experiences for teacher licensure and non-licensure programs). </li><li>Conduct comprehensive review of requests for curriculum waivers to University graduation requirements and make recommendations to the Vice-Provost's Office. Consult with the COE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and department chairs as appropriate. </li><li>Participate in developing and expanding both graduate and undergraduate curricular programs including: general education, dual credit with high schools, 1+1+2 plans with high schools, community colleges, and the COE, overall curriculum plan updates, 2+2 initiatives with community colleges and the COE, degree completion majors, conceptualization of new degree programs, new minors, new undergraduate and graduate certificates, endorsements, accelerated degrees from undergraduate to graduate (3+2), new online opportunities, new adult learner opportunities, new international cohort online opportunities. </li><li>Develop student success curriculum and lead implementation into academic plans, including annual updates to degree paths, academic advising worksheets for each major, community college transfer guides, degree emphases (undergraduate), degree specializations (graduate), curricular mapping, curricular infusion of culturally sensitive pedagogy, and research-infused curriculum. </li><li>Represent the College of Education in the review and development of student success curricular initiatives to address equity gaps in courses and/or curricula of study. </li><li>Engage in detailed assessments of academic programs and curricula of study for the 19 educator licensure programs, both undergraduate and graduate, with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), NIU's University Assessment Panel, NIU's Academic Planning Council, and NIU's Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation. </li></ul> <p>Recruitment, Retention, Persistence, Advising</p> <ul> <li>Lead and implement the COE strategic plan as it directly relates to recruitment, retention, advising, and meeting the needs of diverse undergraduate and graduate students. This includes the management and development of high-quality, responsive, and flexible student support teams and the delivery of services in accordance with College and University priorities. Support college recruitment initiatives. </li><li>Collaborate to develop and implement graduate and undergraduate recruitment efforts and materials at the department level. </li><li>Attend articulation conferences and undergraduate and graduate recruitment events hosted by the NIU Office of Admissions and/or the NIU Graduate School. Provide information to prospective undergraduate and graduate students regarding majoring in degree programs in the College of Education. </li><li>Develop student success and retention curriculum through both college-wide initiatives as well as individualized mentoring. </li><li>Supervise and implement College retention initiatives. </li><li>Examine University and College level retention and persistence to graduation data to develop and implement undergraduate and graduate retention, persistence, and success curriculum, strategies, and materials. </li><li>Counsel, providing effective remediation, and monitor students determined at-risk via data derived from NIU's Navigate system. </li><li>Develop professional development curriculum for and oversee the Mary F. English Technology award program, the COE Dean's Achievement Scholars, and the COE Educators Rising chapter. </li><li>Provide student and course related leadership affiliated with the COE's Academic Equity Committee. </li><li>Serve as primary COE contact for University academic policies and procedures, graduation requirements for undergraduate students, and review undergraduate student requests for College approval of University requirements. </li><li>Approve exceptions or waivers of policy for undergraduate student related issues; sets new policy precedents in areas of policy ambiguity. </li><li>Co-supervise undergraduate and graduate academic advising. Including the implementation of best practices by providing professional development for advisors in NIU's Navigate system, data-informed decision making, development of guidelines for advisors to interpret and implement academic policy, ensure information exchange of academic advising information, and liaison with the academic advisors through both formal meetings and informal conversations. </li><li>Make decisions and facilitate processes for COE admission cases (e.g., transfer reviews, freshman review, sponsored admission). </li><li>Make decisions and facilitate processes of academic dismissal at the end of each term, including the management of dismissal appeal. </li><li>Plan and conduct orientation meetings for students and parents (via New Student Orientation). Coordinate with department advisors regarding all processes associated with orientation. </li></ul> <p>Student Teacher Placement</p> <ul> <li>Support contact with area school districts. </li><li>Foster and/or maintain relationships with district personnel and school administrators. </li><li>Supervise COE student teaching placements. </li><li>Assist in the preparation of state, university or accreditation reports that require clinical experience data. </li><li>Provide support to COE Coordinator of Clinical Placements in training COE clinical supervisors. </li><li>Conduct Teacher Preparation and Development </li><li>Provide leadership and direction for COE departments on teacher preparation and development. </li><li>Provide liaison between COE teacher licensure programs and PK-12, including school university partnerships. </li><li>Supervise and coordinate school-university partnership efforts and initiatives, including dynamic field experiences and placements. </li><li>Chair College Student Advisory Committee and report regularly to the COE Dean related to student issues. </li></ul> <p>College/University Committee Responsibilities</p> <ul> <li>Chair COE Academic Reinstatement Committee. Chair COE Teacher Education Committee Member, NIU Advising Directors, Represent NIU Advising Directors to other campus committees when requested or needed. </li><li>Member, College of Education leadership Senate. Member, College of Education Curriculum Committee. Member, NIU Orientation Advisory Committee. </li><li>Member, NIU Academic Advising Council. </li><li>Member, NIU University Committee on Initial Educator Licensure. Serve on other University committees as appropriate. </li><li>Serve on College of Education Academic Equity Committee. </li></ul> <p>Other Professional Activities</p> <ul> <li>Attend professional conferences such as ATE, IATE, NAPDS, Educators Rising and NACADA. </li><li>Attend professional development workshops sponsored by the relevant professional organizations. </li><li>Additional responsibility as assigned by the CoE Dean or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. </li><li>Other related duties as assigned. </li></ul> <p>Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)</p> <p>n/a</p> <p>Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)</p> <p>n/a</p> <p>Specialty Factors (Civil Service)</p> <p>n/a</p> <p>Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)</p> <p>n/a</p> <p>Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)</p> <ul> <li>M.A./M.S./M.S.Ed. degree </li><li>Minimum 2 years advising experience in an educator licensure program </li></ul> <p>Additional Requirements (SPS)</p> <ol> <li> <p>Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.</p> </li><li> <p>Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.</p> </li><li> <p>Skill in analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.</p> </li><li> <p>Skill in scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.</p> </li><li> <p>Skill in oral and written communication.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to develop specific goals, plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish tasks.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and outside constituency groups.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to effectively plan, delegate, and supervise the work of others.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in order to be able to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or problems.</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to analyze and develop guidelines, procedures, and systems.</p> </li></ol> <p>Preferred Qualifications (SPS)</p> <ul> <li>M.A./M.S./M.S.Ed. degree in a discipline represented in the College of Education. </li><li>Knowledge of the Illinois teacher licensure process. </li><li>Demonstrated experience working with external partners including schooldistricts and community colleges. </li><li>Demonstrated experience with recruitment and retention initiatives in higher education. </li></ul> <p>Physical demands/requirements</p> <p>Sitting/Standing</p>