"Research Consultant, GYO-IL Credit for Prior Learning - Oakton College"

Basic Function and Responsibility:

To tackle the long and demanding path to PreK-12 licensure for community connected individuals, the project will develop a data-driven Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program, integrating standardized, challenge, and portfolio assessments to validate non-classroom, college-level learning. The expected outcome of this program is to significantly reduce degree completion time through identifying alternative strategies to meet the requirements of specific general education courses that function as primary stumbling blocks.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Research effective strategies and best practices for aligning prior learning and external experiences with general education course credits.
2. Conduct focus groups with potential and current Education pre-majors and majors, particularly centered on returning adult, male, and BIPOC participants.
3. Facilitate planning meetings across department Chairs, staff and administrators at Oakton to review general education offerings and identify standardized, challenge, and/or portfolio assessments to validate non-classroom college-level learning aligned with specific departmental course learning objectives.
4. Facilitate joint planning meetings with Oakton and Northeastern Illinois University personnel to align CPL practices between the two institutions and develop aligned transfer agreements for Education majors.
5. Drive a collaborative effort to finalize the CPL guidelines for the K-12 Education Program at Oakton College.
6. Regularly meet and collaborate with the K-12 Education Program Coordinator and PI for the Grow Your Own-IL grant.

Supervision Received:

K-12 Education Program Coordinator

Supervision Exercised:

None

Qualifications and Working Conditions

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Behavioral Sciences, or Social Sciences.
• Experience in equity-focused education policy development
• Experience in teacher preparation programs within higher education
• Experience working on multifaceted research projects

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in Education, Behavioral Sciences, or Social Sciences.
• Experience leading multifaceted research projects
• Experience in higher education policy development
• Experience in Credit for Prior Learning policy development

Working Conditions

Mobility to move from building to building on-Campuses and to visit off-Campus entities. Work is performed in a general office environment. Little to no exposure to adverse working conditions.

Additional Information:

Salary: approximately $119.00 per hour
Duration: 16 weeks, approx. 25 hr/wk, preferred hours are between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday - Friday, with some flexibility and evening hours depending on the needs of the project.
Anticipated start date: February 2026
Firm end-date: June 30, 2026

For information regarding employment eligibility, please visit our employment at Oakton web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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