Spokane Community College seeks a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Instruction to lead its academic programs and services. This key leadership role requires a visionary individual committed to fostering a culture of teaching and learning excellence, where all students and faculty thrive. The VP will champion the college's mission to be a "stepping stone" for learners, embodying its values of access, inclusivity, and preparedness.
Leadership and Vision
The VP will provide strategic direction and operational oversight for all academic programs. This includes developing and implementing a comprehensive instructional vision aligned with the college's strategic goals and responsive to the diverse community's needs. The VP will lead the instructional division's ongoing development, striving to "normalize amazing" by challenging the status quo and elevating the classroom experience. This involves ensuring students receive the connection, engagement, teaching innovation, and support needed to achieve their educational goals.
Academic Program Oversight
The VP will oversee the development, review, and approval of academic programs, including curriculum design, course offerings, and program assessment. This includes responding to current and emerging academic transfer, workforce, and community needs. The VP will also manage faculty hiring, evaluation, development, and tenure processes, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous professional growth. This includes managing personnel, specifically hiring, evaluating, and supervising deans, exempt, and classified staff.
Collaboration and Communication
Collaboration is crucial to this role. The VP will work closely with faculty, staff, students, and the broader community to enhance teaching and learning, support student success, and advance the college's mission. This includes collaborating across diverse academic divisions, in partnership with Student Services and other campus/district services. The VP will actively participate in the college's cabinet and shared governance structures, leveraging campus-wide committees (e.g., Guided Pathways, Student Learning and Assessment, Diversity, Equity, and Global Awareness). Strong communication skills are essential for transparently representing the cabinet's vision while advocating for deans and divisions. The VP will foster strong relationships with deans, chairs, faculty, staff, and students, prioritizing shared governance and transparent communication. Building and maintaining partnerships with student services, workforce development, and other departments is also key. The VP will represent the college at external conferences and build relationships with community partners, employers, and transfer institutions.
Operational Management and Assessment
The VP will play a key role in enrollment management, manage the instructional budget, and oversee course scheduling and delivery (online, hybrid, and face-to-face). Ensuring academic program compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements is also a core responsibility. The VP will lead the implementation of a comprehensive system for assessing student learning outcomes, analyze data, and implement data-driven strategies for improvement. Championing a culture of assessment and enhancing assessment literacy across divisions is crucial. Collaboration with other departments (admissions, student services, facilities, IT) is essential for student success and operational excellence.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree, three years of progressive higher education leadership (preferably community college), experience with faculty tenure/promotion, budget management, accreditation, curriculum development, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Desired Qualifications
Doctorate, experience in a unionized environment, online/hybrid learning modalities, supporting diverse instructional divisions, and knowledge of accrediting bodies.
Competencies
Strategic Thinking, Cultural Competence, Innovation, Leadership, Communication, Collaboration, Decision-Making, Change Management, Problem-Solving, Interpersonal Skills, and Data Analysis.