DEAN OF LIBRARY AND ONLINE LEARNING
Oakton Community College, a caring community of educators dedicated to excellence and learning, invites applications for Dean of Library and Online Learning.
A premier comprehensive community college, Oakton is 17 miles from downtown Chicago and serves the near northern suburbs of Chicago with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie. This position will be based out of the Des Plaines campus. The College has undertaken a five year, $68.5 million Master Plan which included the construction and opening of the Margaret Burke Lee Science and Health Careers building on the Des Plaines campus.
The College is known for its academic innovations, commitment to serving students, solid financial position, and supportive environment for both students and employees. Oakton seeks a Dean who is an innovative academic leader and who will continue a strong tradition of excellence.
Candidates with a commitment to working in a culturally competent environment are especially valued at Oakton.
We encourage applications from candidates who reflect the increasing diversity of Oakton's student body and community, enhance and promote engagement with other cultures, and have demonstrated a commitment to working with and as part of a multicultural faculty and diverse student body and community.
Job Description:
The Dean of Library and Online Learning works under the general direction of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and coordinates the library, distance learning, the Koehnline Museum of Art, and alternative education; formulates procedures, supervises faculty and staff, and coordinates service delivery with other agencies both within and external to the college. The Dean plans and monitors budgets for the library, Alternative Education Distance Learning.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Recommends faculty and staff for employment as needed in the Library, Museum, Distance Learning and Alternative Education.
- Evaluates library faculty, incorporating evaluation data from other division deans as appropriate and as called for in the college evaluation policy and procedure. Provides input to other divisional deans for evaluation of alternative education and distance learning faculty. Evaluates classified staff as necessary and required.
- Directs and oversees all operations and offerings of online and other distance learning at the college. This includes collaboration with the faculty, division deans, and sometimes guidance as we meet the non-face to face curricular needs of our students.
- Supervises the operations of the Library, Museum, Distance Learning and Alternative Education.
- Ensures that the Library, Distance Learning, Alternative Education, and Museum comply with national, state, regulatory, and accreditation guidelines and requirements.
- Develops and executes intellectual property agreements with Oakton personnel and/or external consultants for works for hire projects related but not limited to distance learning.
- Develops, prepares and monitors library, distance learning, alternative education, and Museum budgets.
- Evaluates changing technology and makes recommendations as necessary to maintain currency and to promote effective, efficient delivery of library, distance learning, alternative education.
- In conjunction with appropriate personnel, provides direction for the long and short term planning needs of the library, face to face instructional spaces, distance learning, alternative education, and Museum.
- Relates effectively with a wide variety of diverse students, faculty, and staff, while promoting access to the Library, Online Learning, and the Museum to a diverse population.
- Maintains appropriate quantitative measurements, statistical reports, and other records to assess current and future needs.
- Assigns library faculty to the divisions to serve as area liaisons and resources.
- Maintains and improves relations with other libraries, distance learning and professional organizations external to the college.
- Communicates regularly with the college community to keep it informed of the latest developments in the library, information and new learning modalities.
Qualifications:
A Master's degree in Library Science and/or Educational Media; five years of successful experience in a library or educational administration/teaching; a thorough knowledge of computerized circulation/cataloging systems; a detailed knowledge of new learning and teaching technologies such as the Internet, World Wide Web, synchronous and asynchronous technologies, and their applicability to the college's programs and needs; and the ability to communicate complex information orally and in writing in an effective manner are required.
Preferred Qualifications:
A second Master's degree in a content area taught within the College is preferred. Also preferred are:
- Demonstrated experience working with a culturally diverse student population.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse workforce.
- Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in organizational change.
- Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural communication, diversity, organizational and problem-solving skills.
- A clear understanding of cross-cultural, international and diversity communication theory.
- Understanding of and commitment to diversity and cultural competence.
Cultural Competency is defined as a composite awareness, emotional maturity, insights, and skills including, but not limited to:
- Self-insight, ability to suspend judgment and take responsibility for self.
- Self-control of emotions and demonstration of empathy.
- Experience with and success in valuing and working with people of different gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc.
- Adaptability and flexibility in understanding and addressing problems and opportunities in situations where different cultural perspectives and points of view are in play.
Additional Information:
COMPENSATION
The salary range associated with the Dean of Library and Online Learning is: Minimum annual salary: $101,154. Salary midpoint: $134,136. Maximum annual salary: $167,115. Placement in the salary range is based on educational qualifications, related experience, and internal equity. Usually, new hires into administrative positions are placed into the lower half of the salary range.
TIMELINE
The full consideration deadline is April 22, 2016.
It is anticipated that screening interviews will be conducted by the search committee from May 2-4, 2016. Upon the conclusion of the initial round of screening interviews, the search committee will likely recommend 3 finalists to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Finalists will participate in a second round of on campus interviews. It is anticipated the finalist interviews will be conducted from May 10-17, 2016.
Appointment to an administrator position is contingent upon approval by the College's Board of Trustees. It is anticipated that the appointment will be taken for approval to the Board of Trustees at the June 28, 2016 Board meeting.
The anticipated start date is August 1, 2016, or earlier if appropriate.
Application Instructions:
To become an applicant, interested individuals must complete the online application found on the Oakton website. Electronic copies of a cover letter, resume/cv, list of three (3) references with contact information, two letters of recommendation and transcripts must be submitted by the applicant via uploading to the Oakton employment website. Please indicate the position code (DOL-17) on the cover letter. Uploaded documents need to be under 2 MB in size and in either .doc, .txt, or .pdf format. A total of 8 separate documents may be uploaded to an application file that has been successfully submitted to the College.
TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:
An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application. Official transcripts for all degrees earned are required prior to appointment.
Recommendation letters may either be original documents with signature or e-mailed from the reference to adminsearch@oakton.edu. Official transcripts or a placement/credential file should be e-mailed to adminsearch@oakton.edu. Official transcripts or placement/credential files sent by postal mail should be sent to:
Oakton Community College
Dean of Library and Online Learning Search DOL-17
c/o Human Resources
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Please contact Craig Ahrndt, Assistant to the Executive Director for Human Resources at 847.635.1676 or ahrndt@oakton.edu if you encounter any difficulties with electronic submission of these documents.
The full consideration deadline for this search is April 22, 2016. The deadline for submitting documents required for an applicant file is also April 22, 2016. The posting will be removed from the Oakton website at 10:59 EDT on April 30, 2016. Once posted positions are removed from the website, no additional applications will be accepted.
Oakton Community College is an equal opportunity employer.