The Associate Director, Academic Affairs develops and maintains the academic integrity of Boston University Study Abroad (BUSA) programs. The Associate Director works with faculty, chairs, and Deans to address the academic needs of the BU campus and to ensure appropriate academic opportunities overseas to enhance BU students' overall educational experiences. The Associate Director is responsible for the academic rigor of all programs and academic policies at BU Study Abroad sites, working with the directors and faculty on-site to assess, train, advise on academic matters, and update them on BU (and BUSA) academic policies and procedures. Where BU policies are not applicable overseas, the Associate Director will create policies and procedures compliant with the academic standards of the particular Study Abroad site. The Associate Director will work with faculty, directors, and students on grade disputes and on violations of the academic conduct code. In addition, the Associate Director will be responsible for reviewing the curriculum at each site on a regular basis, analyzing course evaluations, and providing feedback to the site director. The Associate Director is also responsible for oversight of academic issues at partner and exchange locations.
Key Responsibilities/Essential Job Functions:
- Develop academic policies for sites, integrating BU academic policies when possible, including policies/practices on the use of AI in instruction. Review all faculty appointment proposals from off-site directors. Assess issues related to grades, e.g., grade inflation or contesting of grades, and manage conflicts regarding student grades and credits obtained in study abroad programs. Serve as a resource to sites on matters relating to violations of the academic conduct code, acting as a liaison between the site staff and academic officers on campus. Review program evaluations, onsite director reports, and student evaluations, with special attention to the design of the curriculum and qualifications and performance of faculty. Liaise as needed with non-BU schools related to academic issues and policy variance. Oversee review of publications and communications for academic content, especially the Undergraduate Bulletin. (30%)
- Oversee development of the academic components of new Study Abroad programs in consultation with deans, faculty members from BU campus, and BUSA and study abroad site directors. Carry out academic design and content assessments and comprehensive evaluations of existing programs and/or Study Abroad sites on an appropriate cycle. Ensure academic relevance to the intellectual activities at BU to help foster deeper curricular connections with academic units on campus. Review and evaluate proposed course or program curricula. Work with directors, advisors on campus, and deans and other academic staff (e.g., BU Hub personnel) to evaluate relevance to undergraduate curriculum, and where possible, to ensure course(s) can fulfill academic requirements for students, including appropriate Hub units. (30%)
- Develop and maintain summer study abroad programs with faculty and staff, gathering curricula, writing text for the summer catalog, sourcing faculty, and evaluating programs. Work closely with Director, Enrollment Services and the Associate Director, Program Development to ensure the success of Study Abroad summer programs and on any other Study Abroad program issues as appropriate. (15%)
- Oversee semester-by-semester course offerings at study abroad sites, ensure timely communication of any changes to academic units on the Charles River Campus, in close coordination with Enrollment Services and Outreach staff, and assess opportunities for course additions as appropriate. (15%)
- Serve as a member of the senior executive staff, which drives the strategic planning efforts for the Study Abroad unit. Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the study abroad programs from an academic perspective. Present academic plans to the senior staff and make recommendations for changes or developments. Participate in decision-making and implementation of strategic plans. (10%)
Required Skills
Required Qualifications, Skills, Abilities:
- Doctoral degree strongly preferred.
- Minimum of five to seven years of experience in higher education, including with curriculum development in an international dimension.
- Classroom experience is strongly preferred, ideally in an international education context.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build partnerships among constituents.
- Must manage expectations with diplomacy and manage competing priorities.
- Intermittent travel to BU Study Abroad sites required, including in the context of comprehensive program review.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
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