A positive, constructive relationship with university faculty is critical to 2U's success in building groundbreaking academic programs online. The primary role of the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations is to foster that relationship, acting as an advocate for 2U among faculty and an advocate for overall program quality within 2U. 2U partners with elite institutions that have ambitious visions for their programs; the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations is a critical player in seeing that these visions are realized.
We are looking for someone who has a unique blend of experience, someone with a proven ability to work effectively in an academic setting and the clear potential to integrate into a young, fast-growing private company. Success in this position depends above all else on outstanding communications skills and on effective teamwork -- we want someone who prefers to reach across the aisle rather than someone who enjoys doing things solo. Comfort working with academic subject matter and a passion for excellence in education are absolute musts.
Primary Responsibilities
Faculty Relations
Many different individuals and departments within 2U interact directly with university faculty, administration and staff. It is the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations, however, who has the most persistent contact. In this capacity, the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations is responsible for:
Fostering collaborative partnerships with university faculty, staff and administration;
Eliciting faculty feedback concerning any and all aspects of the program;
Ensuring the highest quality live-session instruction possible through active management of instructors on the university side (to the extent allowed by the partner);
Identifying problems and opportunities at other key points of contact between 2U and faculty, e.g., Faculty Training (led by the 2U Post-Enrollment Services) and Course Development (led by 2U Content);
Ensuring consistent, thoughtful communications to faculty from all divisions of 2U.
Academic Oversight
Understanding the full scope of each program’s curricular goals and advocating for the achievement of those goals is another key responsibility of the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations. Different departments within 2U lead the development of different components of the academic programs we build and maintain, but the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations is uniquely positioned to assess whether these parts add up to a successful whole. In this area, the VP Curriculum & Academic Relations is responsible for:
Understanding the explicit and implicit goals of program curriculum as articulated by the partner school’s leadership; documenting and communicating those goals across all departments within 2U;
Shaping the overall framework of the Curriculum across the degree program;
Collaborating with the partner school’s leadership and 2U management to determine the menu of course, program and non-course offerings;
Keeping program-level management apprised of curriculum and faculty-relations issues that could impact the business unit or the GM’s relationships with university administration;
Providing course input and feedback to Faculty and 2U for Content at all stages of the Course Development lifecycle;
Assisting 2U Marketing and Admissions departments in the development of recruiting materials and communications that touch on aspects of program curriculum;
Providing accurate information to 2U Compliance and 2U Content in their efforts to fulfill the requirements of various examination/accrediting bodies;
Supporting 2U Content in the management of faculty during the course-planning and course-production processes, e.g., by developing support documentation, identifying conceptual synergies between courses and providing subject-matter guidance;
Assisting university faculty and administration in achieving and maintaining consistency and high quality in synchronous class sessions;
Advising 2U Post-Enrollment Services in the planning and implementation of non-classroom learning activities, from required field placements and on-campus intensives to optional site-specific immersion opportunities;
Providing necessary information and assistance to the Faculty Support, Student Support and Career Placement groups within 2U Post-Enrollment Services;
Assisting in the development of survey instruments to assess the success of the program.
Things That Should Be in Your Background:
JD preferred, firsthand experience managing the academic programming of a degree, certificate or other credential
Proven ability to meet strict deadlines and deliverables
Demonstrated success working in an interdisciplinary, academic institution
About
Founded in 2008 by a unique team of education veterans with unparalleled experience, 2U, Inc., formerly known as 2tor, Inc., partners with preeminent institutions of higher education to deliver rigorous, selective degree programs online to students globally.
2U supplies universities with the tools, expertise, capital, and global recruiting needed to build and support programs of quality and scale.
Technology: 2U develops state-of-the-art technology platforms that give universities the ability to deliver traditional offline curricula in a unique online learning environment.
Instructional Design: Our instructional designers work closely with faculty to translate classroom courses into a compelling combination of synchronous and asynchronous online and real-world experiences, using the best educational and social technologies available. We work side-by-side with professors to evolve those courses. We make improvements as usage and learning patterns emerge and new technologies become available.
Infrastructure: 2U provides the support infrastructure and the logistical components of our partners’ online programs. This includes comprehensive student support services from enrollment through graduation and beyond, as well as practical learning experiences in communities around the world.
Resources: 2U makes an upfront investment of over $10 million in each of our partner programs. By supplying capital and global marketing capabilities, we enable universities to give high-performing students around the world a transformational educational experience.
Since our founding, 2U has partnered with some of the most prestigious research universities to deliver groundbreaking online degree programs. You can read about our partners here (www.2U.com/partners [5]).
And if you’re ready to help our team (www.2U.com/team [6]) build the next great movement in higher education, consider joining us (www.2U.com/careers [7]).
Why It’s Great to Join Our Team
There are plenty of reasons, but here are a few:
Benefits – at 2U we offer a great benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability and 401k. We also offer paid time off and company holidays. That’s not all! Admissions Counselors receive a 100% paid tuition benefit for themselves, their spouse and their legal dependants.
Our Culture – We are a highly energetic, innovative start-up company with room to grow. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and strive to maintain a casual, professional and highly productive work environment for our team. 2U employees enjoy many perks, including the ability to wear jeans to work every day.
Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time-to-time, as needed.
2U is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans' status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. 2U’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits, pay, and dismissal.