"Dean, UINDY Online & Sease Institute"

Job Description

The University of Indianapolis (UIndy) has an important opportunity to serve the post-traditional learner market— in particular, degree completers, short-term credential seekers, career changers, and career chargers. UIndy is building on core strengths, including existing academic programs, faculty expertise, and dedicated resources. At the same time, the university will drive innovation, redesigning and tailoring existing offerings to serve different markets via new modalities, formats, and modules. To fully seize opportunities for transformational impact, UIndy will also enter new markets with new modalities where demand is growing. Toward this end, the University of Indianapolis has created a new business unit— UIndy Online and Sease Institute.

Through UIndy Online (credit-bearing and degree-granting programs) and Sease Institute (non-degree corporate and community training and executive education programs), the university will develop and deploy a robust array of offerings that respond to the needs of post-traditional learners in online, hybrid, and face-to-face formats, including fully online degree programs. This includes degree completion options for learners who have completed some college coursework or may have relevant work experience that might apply towards a degree. Other offerings will include customizable programs such as stackable certificates and industry-responsive credentials.

UIndy founded the Gene and Joanne Sease Institute in 2019 to adapt to the changing world of work and advance the region and state with the goal of better outcomes for Indiana businesses and communities. Named in honor of Gene Sease, the university's president and chancellor from 1970 to 1989, the Sease Institute carries forward his commitment to innovation and boldly seizing opportunities. The Institute promotes Indianapolis as a pioneer in understanding, evaluating, and implementing workforce development strategies and programs.

Through the Sease Institute, UIndy is redefining the role of higher education in workforce development by generating custom business solutions, including noncredit certification programs and on-demand offerings for employers and employees. Building on the university's legacy of preparing learners for impactful careers and its history of partnerships in Central Indiana with organizations such as Roche Diagnostics and Community Health Network, the Sease Institute creates and offers programs that are flexible, nimble, and relevant to contemporary workforce needs in healthcare, business, technology, and other sectors. By continuing to invest in the regional workforce, UIndy plays an important role in strengthening the economic vitality and competitiveness of Indianapolis, the state, and the region.

UIndy Online and Sease Institute will play a leading role as the university establishes new partnerships and expands existing collaborations with corporate, government and community organizations. These partnerships will provide UIndy students with invaluable experiences through internships and work-based learning options, paving the way for employment opportunities. In turn, UIndy Online and Sease Institute will support corporate and community partners in their continuing education needs, ranging from deskilling and upskilling offerings to corporate and executive education programs. Corporate and community partnerships will also create opportunities through sponsorship of industry-targeted programs, scholarships for UIndy students, and other forms of support. Moreover, by actively tying into the fabric of the Indianapolis business community, UIndy will anchor its position as a thought partner, a convener of ideas, and a supporter of regional workforce demands.

OPPORTUNITIES & EXPECTATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP:

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Dean of UIndy Online and Sease Institute will oversee a new business unit at the University of Indianapolis and play a pivotal role in advancing the university's new strategic plan. As the university's chief online learning officer, the Dean will lead the ongoing planning and development of UIndy Online and Sease Institute, working in close partnership with the President, Provost, and deans of the university's four colleges.

Specifically, the Dean will be expected to:

Operationalize plans and strategy for UIndy Online and Sease Institute

• Assemble the team and infrastructure necessary to develop, deploy, and manage an expanded portfolio of programs and offerings for post-traditional, corporate, and not-for-profit learners.
• Working in close partnership with fellow UIndy deans, supporting the colleges' efforts to modify existing programs to meet changing market demands and learner preferences, including through stackable certificates.
• In collaboration with the colleges and schools, launch new degree programs and new stackable certificate programs, all fully online, in support of the University's strategic plan.
• Launch non-credit leadership and training seminars through the Sease Institute.
• Build capacity for UIndy Online and Sease Institute to provide primary one-stop support services for all UIndy online learners, including admissions, registration, financial aid, and advising assistance.
• Assess the opportunities and limitations of strategic third-party partnerships that support the near-term development and growth of UIndy Online and Sease Institute's capabilities and processes.

Cultivate and steward strategic external partnerships

• Develop and maintain relationships with local industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations to create mutually beneficial programs that bridge the gap between academia and industry.
• Collaborate with community organizations on grant opportunities that support local workforce development needs, offering market-valued academic credentials, degree completion options, and assistance to small business entrepreneurs.
• Establish business/community partnerships with actively operating training/academic programs in support of the University's strategic plan.

Provide institutional leadership regarding online, professional, and continuing education

• Collaborate with the deans and other college and school leaders to continually identify and assess UIndy's strengths, capabilities, and potential relative to market and workforce demands for educational offerings and credentials across sectors and disciplines.
• Steward the development and implementation of relevant policies, processes, and best practices, including those related to faculty effort and workload, instructional design, Prior Learning Assessment guidelines and workflow, online program tuition and fees, Universal Design for Learning, and wraparound support for learners, among others.
• Serve as a liaison to the deans, academic and student affairs officers, program directors, and other institutional leaders regarding online and professional education, operations, and student success.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & PERSONAL QUALITIES

The University of Indianapolis seeks an experienced, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as the Dean of UIndy Online and Sease Institute. The successful candidate will have prior experience building, leading and/or managing a complex online education enterprise and a record of successfully managing change. The ideal candidate will have a master's or doctoral degree and significant relevant operational and administrative experience.

In addition, the preferred candidate will possess the following qualities and qualifications:

Expertise and thought leadership in online and professional education

• Strategic and innovative vision for the future of online learning and professional education, including ways to distinguish and differentiate UIndy and its programmatic offerings, learner experience, and value proposition.
• Deep familiarity with the dynamic landscape of online and professional education, including regional and national markets and competing programs.
• Knowledge of the continuum of online and hybrid offerings, including freestanding degree programs, certificates, badges, and stackable and alternative credentials.
• Sophisticated understanding of the cost/benefit of Online Program Managers and third-party service providers.

Sophisticated administrative, financial, and operational acumen

• Advanced facility with budgeting, marketing, and enrollment management and other strategic forecasting.
• Successful experience building and leading effective cross-functional teams.
• Capacity to build and scale a learner-focused organization.
• Ability to analyze, redesign and implement structures, policies, and processes.
• Experience gathering and translating market research into successful programs or initiatives.

Collaborative leadership

• Capacity to inspire and catalyze engagement across constituent groups to build consensus and support for a shared vision.
• Ability to build trust, steward relationships, and partner effectively with colleagues and stakeholders with varying needs and interests.
• Commitment to advancing the University's values and commitments, including access in education.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and an inclusive and transparent approach to decision-making and communication.

Company Description

Thank you for your interest in the University of Indianapolis! The University is a private, liberal arts university located on 65 acres just minutes from downtown Indianapolis. With more than 700 faculty and staff, it is a place where you can become part of a close-knit campus community that emphasizes the importance of community partnerships in the future growth of the University.

UIndy’s mission is to prepare its graduates for effective, responsible, and articulate membership in the complex societies in which they live and serve and for excellence and leadership in their personal and professional lives. The motto of "Education for Service" provides the foundation for our work to better our communities, both near and far.

As University employees, we know the work we do is important to our students and our communities. To accomplish our mission, we welcome talented, civic-minded, and diverse individuals from all career levels to help maintain our high standards of excellence and quality. If you want to join our dynamic environment and experience hard work, creativity, and teamwork, we welcome your application!

The University of Indianapolis is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, citizenship status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The University of Indianapolis does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission as required by Title IX.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Discount
• Retirement Savings Plan - 403B
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time Accruals
• Paid Holiday time and additional University days off
• Employee Discounts & Services
• Free Parking
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center

For more information about the benefits of being a staff member at UIndy, visit our Benefits site.