Working at Goddard, your next career step!

Goddard College, located in the quaint town of Plainfield, Vermont, was a pioneering liberal arts institution renowned for its innovative approach to higher education. Nestled in the heart of New England, this small college emphasized individualized learning, low-residency programs, and a commitment to social justice. Although Goddard College officially ceased operations on July 21, 2024, due to longstanding financial challenges, its legacy continues to influence progressive education models across the United States. Understanding jobs at Goddard College provides valuable insights for academic professionals seeking similar roles in flexible, student-centered environments.

Historically, jobs at Goddard College attracted educators, administrators, and support staff passionate about adult learners and interdisciplinary studies. The college's unique model allowed faculty to blend teaching with personal research interests, often in fields like creative writing, sustainable agriculture, and community development. For those exploring higher ed jobs, Goddard's story highlights the rewards and realities of working at mission-driven institutions.

📜 History of Goddard College and Its Employment Landscape

Goddard College traces its roots to 1863 when it began as the Vermont Episcopal Institute, evolving into a progressive college in 1938 under the leadership of President Royce S. Pitkin. Pitkin introduced the individualized degree program, one of the first in the U.S., where students designed their own curricula with faculty mentorship. This philosophy shaped jobs at Goddard College, prioritizing faculty who excelled in guiding self-directed learners rather than traditional lecturing.

Over its 86 years, the college grew to serve around 700 students, mostly adults in low-residency formats combining online work with intensive residencies. Employment peaked with about 100 staff, including full-time professors earning average salaries around $60,000-$80,000 annually, per higher ed benchmarks. Administrative roles focused on enrollment and fundraising, critical amid fluctuating finances. Despite closure, alumni networks sustain Goddard's influence, with former employees transitioning to roles at places like Antioch University or online programs.

🎓 Types of Jobs at Goddard College

Jobs at Goddard College spanned faculty, administrative, and support categories, tailored to its non-traditional structure. Faculty positions dominated, including:

• Core Faculty in BA and MA programs like Food and Agriculture, Health Arts, and Social Innovation.
• Adjunct Lecturers for residencies, often part-time with travel to Plainfield.
• Program Directors overseeing individualized advising.

Administrative jobs included admissions counselors adept at recruiting non-traditional students and development officers securing grants. Support roles like IT specialists supported the hybrid learning platform. For a broader view, explore university job types available across institutions. Goddard's emphasis on creativity meant roles often involved arts integration, appealing to versatile academics.

Definitions

To fully grasp jobs at Goddard College, key terms include:

• Low-residency program: A flexible educational model where students complete most work remotely, attending short intensive sessions (residencies) on campus 1-2 times per year. This defined faculty workloads, blending online mentoring with in-person workshops.
• Individualized degree: Student-designed majors based on personal goals, requiring faculty skilled in portfolio assessment over standardized grading.
• Progressive education: Learner-centered approach prioritizing experience, democracy, and social responsibility, pioneered by John Dewey and central to Goddard's hiring criteria.
• Narrated portfolio: Culminating student project where learning is documented through reflections and artifacts, evaluated by faculty committees.

Required Academic Qualifications, Research Focus, Preferred Experience, and Skills

Securing jobs at Goddard College demanded specific credentials aligned with its ethos. Required academic qualifications typically included:

• A PhD or MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in relevant fields like education, literature, environmental studies, or performing arts.
• Master's degree minimum for adjunct or administrative roles.

Research focus emphasized practical, community-engaged scholarship. Faculty often pursued projects in sustainable living, prison education, or artistic expression as activism. Preferred experience encompassed 3-5 years teaching adults, publications in alternative journals, and grant success from sources like the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Essential skills and competencies were:

• Adaptability to non-hierarchical advising.
• Strong digital literacy for online platforms like Moodle.
• Cultural humility and facilitation of diverse dialogues.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration, as programs crossed arts, sciences, and humanities.

These aligned with Goddard's mission, preparing employees for dynamic roles. Similar demands appear in professor jobs today.

Application Process and Tips

The application process for jobs at Goddard College mirrored progressive values, emphasizing narrative over metrics. Steps included:

1. Reviewing postings on platforms like university jobs boards.
2. Submitting a tailored cover letter highlighting alignment with individualized learning.
3. Uploading a CV, teaching portfolio, and diversity statement.
4. Providing 3 references familiar with low-residency work.
5. Interviewing via Zoom, followed by a residency simulation.

Actionable tips: Customize your academic CV with narrated portfolio examples. Network via Goddard's alumni listservs. Demonstrate social justice commitment through specific projects. Prepare for questions on facilitating self-directed learning. Use our free cover letter template to stand out. Post-closure, apply these to nearby Vermont colleges.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Goddard College championed diversity, integrating equity into its core. Initiatives included:

• Mandatory anti-oppression training for faculty, drawing from Paulo Freire's pedagogy.
• Scholarships prioritizing first-generation and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students, influencing hiring for culturally responsive educators.
• Affinity groups for LGBTQ+ staff and women in leadership.
• Partnerships with Native American communities for land acknowledgment and curriculum.

By 2020, 40% of faculty identified as people of color, above national averages for small colleges. These efforts created inclusive workplaces, vital for jobs in higher education focused on justice.

Work-Life Balance and Campus Life

Campus life at Goddard College offered a serene, intentional environment in Plainfield's rural Vermont landscape. Employees enjoyed:

• Flexible schedules with remote advising, allowing time for personal pursuits amid Green Mountains hikes.
• Residency weeks fostering deep connections through potlucks, performances, and workshops.
• Wellness programs like mindfulness sessions and farm-to-table meals from the college garden.
• Proximity to Burlington (1-hour drive) for urban amenities, balancing isolation with access.

Challenges included small-team intensity, but community bonds mitigated burnout. Salaries supported modest Vermont living, with benefits like tuition remission. This holistic approach appealed to those valuing purpose over prestige, akin to remote higher ed jobs.

In summary, while jobs at Goddard College are no longer available following the 2024 closure, its model endures. Aspiring academics can apply lessons to higher ed jobs, refine skills via higher ed career advice, search university jobs, or post openings with post a job on AcademicJobs.com. Explore employer branding secrets for attracting talent.