Non-Tenure Track Clinical Associate Professor/Assistant Dean for Online Education & Innovation, Scho

Boston University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in social work education is seeking an innovative Assistant Dean for Online Education & Innovation. This pivotal role focuses on enhancing the Online MSW program through strategic vision, digital innovation, and inclusive teaching practices. The ideal candidate will bring a wealth of experience in online education, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a passion for developing cutting-edge curricula that meet the needs of a diverse student body. Join a vibrant community dedicated to addressing societal challenges and fostering an equitable learning environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of social work education in a dynamic and supportive atmosphere.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in online education and administrative leadership.
• Proven track record in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage online MSW program operations and curriculum development.
• Collaborate with faculty to enhance digital pedagogy and student engagement.

Skills

Leadership in online education

Curriculum development

Digital innovation

Diversity and inclusion

Teaching and facilitation

Scholarship in social work

Education

PhD in social work or related field

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Tools

Digital learning platforms

Data analytics tools

Generative AI

Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality

Job description

Job Description

As one of the nation's top schools of social work, Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, and evidence-based practice to solve the most pressing societal problems of the 21st century. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration, and upholds freedom of expression. BUSSW views the racial, cultural, and social diversity of our faculty, staff, and students as essential to the excellence and distinction of our MSW and PhD programs. Thus, we are seeking and value candidates for this faculty and administrative leadership position who represent a variety of social identities, including those who have been underrepresented in higher education, who possess skills that spark innovation, and who, through their scholarship, teaching, service, and professional experience, bring expertise that will contribute to a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community.

The Online MSW program (OLP) is BUSSW's largest program and enrolls nearly 500 students living and working throughout the United States. The Assistant Dean for Online Education & Innovation will hold a non-tenure track appointment at the Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor rank. This leader will play a pivotal role in ensuring cutting-edge and student-centered curriculum development, digital innovation, and inclusive approaches to teaching in our Online MSW program. The Assistant Dean also oversees the administration of Online MSW program operations within a complex institutional and community context and collaborates with instructional design teams and a large and dynamic team of online instructors and facilitators. A central focus of our school is our commitment to anti-oppressive practice pedagogy to combat racism and other forms of oppression based on social identities such as gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy status, and physical and/or behavioral health through community and/or organizational practice as well as policy advocacy.

We invite applicants with a strong record of justice-based practice, robust scholarship, online course development and teaching, and administrative leadership in digital technologies and inclusive pedagogy in online social work education to join our leadership team. As a member of the BUSSW leadership team, the Assistant Dean provides vision, leadership, and oversight for the BUSSW Online Program including their implementation and growth. They collaboratively develop comprehensive and strategic approaches to digital education by analyzing national trends in innovative technology, social work training, non-traditional graduate education trends; evaluating effective online and non-traditional education practices; implementing and engaging in continuous enhancement of the BUSSW Online MSW program; and providing cutting-edge training and support for OLP faculty and instructors.

This role includes daily administrative management for the Online program through ongoing program development, training, mentoring, consultation, and evaluation of the MSW program and digital education. The Assistant Dean collaborates with other units and university teams to develop and direct the OLP, manages budgetary activities for the OLP, develops annual budget and income projections, monitors expenditures, and oversees and negotiates affiliation agreements with host sites across the US.

Key responsibilities include leadership and management of OLP operations to:

1. Develop and implement a strategic vision for online education in the MSW program that fosters program growth and differentiation, excellence, innovation, and inclusivity, while overseeing daily operations of the online MSW program.
2. Work effectively with administrators, leaders, and SSW faculty and staff engaged with the OLP (e.g., OLP advisors and practicum teams), BU Virtual, University administration, other schools of social work, the Council on Social Work Education, and professional and educational organizations on issues related to online and part-time graduate social work education.
3. Build capacity to incorporate emerging technologies such as generative AI, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, cloud computing, and data analytics into teaching and learning.
4. Leverage online learning and other educational platforms to support and augment current teaching practices and learning needs of MSW students.
5. Ensure digital initiatives address equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
6. Expand and enhance our online SSW programs in ways that drive reach, relevance, and a superior experience for our students.
7. Participate in faculty governance, specifically in relevant School committees that develop and monitor curricula, teaching, and course development for the OLP MSW.
8. Collaborate with faculty to expand and diversify OLP curriculum, specializations, teaching practices and innovation in digital pedagogy, including online practicum education.
9. Conduct an ongoing critical analysis of national and regional trends in online social work education, incorporating findings into program development, enhancement, and expansion.
10. Collaborate with BUSSW's social work leadership to elevate online student recruitment efforts and career development programs.
11. Provide leadership and training for OLP instructors of record, online facilitators, and staff.

Required Skills

Required Skills and Experience

• Master of Social Work (MSW) (preferred)
• PhD in social work or related field (required)
• LICSW or equivalent/Macro experience equivalent
• 7+ years of post-master's experience including administrative leadership, teaching and curriculum development in online education, and digital learning and innovation.
• Demonstrated success in supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in online teaching, student support, and instruction. Demonstrated leadership in supporting an inclusive, positive team culture and successful experience collaborating with faculty, staff, advisors, and practicum teams.
• Evidence of excellent teaching, facilitation, and training skills in areas relevant to the MSW curriculum and online programming.
• Scholarship/expertise in a substantive area related to social work, anti-oppressive practice, or pedagogy (e.g., journal articles, chapters, monographs, books, newsletter articles, commentary, editorials, professional conference presentations, op-eds, invited talks, training, workshops, and social media).

Application process: Applicants should submit:

1. a cover letter which includes a description of practice, leadership, and administrative experience as well as experience in online course development and implementation for large scale degree programs and any scholarly work;
2. a resume;
3. the names and contact information for three references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Questions about the position can be directed to the SSW Search Committee/Dean's Office: ([e-mail]).

BU conducts a background check on all final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. The background check includes contacting the final candidate's current and previous employer(s) to ask whether, in the last seven years, there has been a substantiated finding of misconduct violating that employer's applicable sexual misconduct policies. To implement this process, the University requires a final candidate to complete and sign the form entitled "Authorization to Release Information" after execution of an offer letter.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy, or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.