JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Director of Online Learning and Digital Credentials provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for Southern University and A&M College’s online degree programs and workforce-aligned micro credentials, digital badges, and certifications. The Director ensures that all online offerings meet the highest standards of academic quality, instructional design, student engagement, accessibility, and accreditation compliance while promoting the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support teaching, learning, and academic integrity.

This role plays a critical leadership function in advancing SUBR’s mission, enrollment strategy, workforce development goals, and Carnegie R2 status by expanding high-quality online and alternative credential pathways that meet student and employer demand.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Provide vision and leadership for the design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of online degree programs and digital credentials.
• Lead the expansion of microcredentials, digital badges, and industry-recognized certifications aligned with workforce needs, economic development priorities, and emerging disciplines.
• Collaborate with colleges, departments, the Graduate School, and external partners to develop stackable credential pathways that articulate into degree programs.
• Support enrollment growth, retention, and completion through scalable, high-quality online academic models.

Academic Quality, Integrity & Ethical AI Use

• Establish and enforce standards for ethical and responsible AI use in online teaching and learning, ensuring alignment with academic integrity policies, federal regulations, and accreditation expectations.
• Partner with faculty and academic leadership to integrate AI-enhanced instructional practices while safeguarding originality, assessment validity, and student learning outcomes.
• Develop guidance, training, and monitoring processes related to AI use in course design, assessment, feedback, and student support.
• Ensure compliance with institutional academic integrity policies, including proctoring, authentication, and identity verification.

Instructional Design & Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)

• Oversee instructional design standards that ensure all online courses meet Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) requirements under federal Title IV regulations.
• Supervise or coordinate instructional designers to support faculty in course development, redesign, and quality assurance.
• Implement and maintain quality frameworks, accessibility standards, and universal design for learning.
• Ensure online courses demonstrate clear instructor presence, engagement, feedback, and academic rigor.

Faculty Development & Support

• Provide leadership and oversight for faculty training in online pedagogy, instructional technology, assessment, and ethical AI use.
• Support faculty certification and onboarding for online teaching.
• Partner with centers for teaching and learning to deliver professional development workshops and institutes.
• Serve as a resource for faculty innovation in online, hybrid, and alternative credential instruction.

Online Administration & Compliance

• Ensure institutional compliance with SACSCOC, the U.S. Department of Education, and state authorization requirements related to distance education.
• Coordinate reporting and documentation related to online programs, RSI, faculty credentials, and student authentication.
• Collaborate with Institutional Effectiveness, Accreditation, Financial Aid, the Registrar, and IT units.
• Monitor and assess student success metrics and online program effectiveness.

Technology & Learning Management Systems

• Provide leadership in the effective use of the Learning Management System (LMS) and instructional technologies.
• Collaborate with IT to evaluate and implement digital learning tools and analytics.
• Use data to inform continuous improvement in online instruction and student engagement.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Earned a Master’s degree in education, instructional design, higher education administration, or a related discipline (doctorate preferred).
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in online education administration and leadership.
• Demonstrated experience teaching online at the postsecondary level.
• Strong working knowledge of RSI requirements and instructional design principles.
• Experience developing or managing microcredentials, digital badges, or certification programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of ethical and responsible AI use.
• Abreast of rapidly changing AI
• Knowledge of accreditation and regulatory requirements for distance education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience supporting online programs at an R2 institution.
• Experience with faculty development and curriculum innovation.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic academic leadership and operational execution
• Ethical decision-making and academic integrity leadership (including responsible AI use)
• Online pedagogy expertise and faculty coaching
• Instructional design literacy and course quality assurance
• Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) compliance and documentation
• Microcredential, digital badge, and certification program development (stackable pathways)
• Accreditation and regulatory compliance for distance education (e.g., SACSCOC, Title IV)
• Data-informed decision-making using learning analytics and student success metrics
• Cross-functional collaboration (IT, Registrar, Financial Aid, Institutional Effectiveness, colleges)
• Project management, change management, and a continuous improvement mindset
• Clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and service-oriented leadership
• Commitment to accessibility, UDL principles, and inclusive online student support

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants must complete a Southern University employment application.

External applicants can apply here.

Current Southern University employees should apply here.

APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE:

• A cover letter detailing experience and alignment with the role.
• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume highlighting expertise and accomplishments.
• Transcripts (official or unofficial).
• Three (3) professional letters of recommendation.

Point of Contact:

A criminal background check and reference verification are required.

AAP/EEO Statement

In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal, state, and local laws, Southern University and A&M College forbids discriminating or harassing conduct that is based on an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, membership in Uniformed Services, and all other categories protected by applicable state and federal laws. This commitment applies to but is not limited to decisions made concerning hiring and promotion, the administration of educational programs and policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other college-administered programs. Discriminatory acts of any kind are strictly forbidden.