Associate Dean for Credit for Prior Learning an...

About Bristol Community College:

Bristol Community College is an exciting place to work, learn, and grow! Bristol is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment with a rich diversity of beliefs, cultures, languages, abilities, and lifestyles. Committed to enriching its educational experience through a supportive community, Bristol actively encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply and achieve our vision of advancing a vibrant, diverse community through education, learner by learner. If you share a passion for helping students succeed and enjoy working in a community of innovative, inclusive, and collaborative colleagues, Bristol is the place for you!

As a Commonwealth of Massachusetts employer, Bristol offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including health, dental, life, long-term disability, retirement and paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, and holiday pay). We also offer tuition waiver discounts at the Commonwealth's public higher education institutions. More information can be found on our Benefits website .

Job Description:

POSITION TITLE: Associate Dean for Credit for Prior Learning and Competency Based Education Programs
DEPARTMENT: Academic Affairs
PRIMARY LOCATION: Fall River, MA
REPORTS TO: Executive Dean - Academic Affairs
POSITION STATUS: This is a full-time, non-unit professional with benefits.
SALARY: $102,118.32 - $107,288.06

STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Associate Dean for Credit for Prior Learning and Competency Based Education Programs is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, implementation, and assessment of CBE and CPL initiatives and work across the institution. This role focuses on creating opportunities for students to earn academic credit through prior learning experiences, such as work, military training, certifications, or other non-traditional educational experiences, in alignment with institutional, state, and national standards. The role also focuses on the role of competencies in education programs and thoughtful design principles that allow students to skill-based  and performance attributes.  The Associate Dean will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to ensure that CPL and CBE policies and practices support student success, equity, and institutional goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Strategic Leadership 
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive CPL strategy that aligns with the institution's mission, vision, and academic policies. 
  • Develop and execute program solutions that are supportive of CBE.   
  • Identify and implement best practices for awarding CPL and CBE, including prior learning assessments, portfolio reviews, exams (e.g., CLEP, DSST), and competency-based evaluations. 
  • Manage student experiences for those engaging CPL.  
• Policy Development 
  • Collaborate with institutional leadership and academic departments to establish and maintain CPL and CBE policies, procedures, and standards. 
  • Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, accreditation standards, and institutional guidelines related to CPL and CBE. 
  • Represent Bristol Community College in Statewide and National organizations and associations.  
• Faculty and Staff Collaboration 
  • Partner with faculty to design and implement assessment tools and rubrics for evaluating prior learning. 
  • Partner with Chairs, Associate Deans and Executive deans to develop and implement CBE programming.   
  • Provide training and resources to faculty and staff to support consistent and equitable CPL and CBE practices. 
  • Select participants for and support Faculty Fellowships for CPL. 
• Student Support 
  • Develop processes and tools to guide students through CPL opportunities, including advising on eligibility, application, and assessment processes. 
  • Collaborate with academic advisors, enrollment management, and student services to integrate CPL into onboarding and degree planning. 
• Outreach and Partnerships 
  • Build and maintain relationships with community partners, businesses, military organizations, and other stakeholders to identify CPL opportunities. 
  • Promote CPL offerings to prospective and current students through marketing, events, and informational sessions. 
• Data Management and Reporting 
  • Design and maintain data solutions that collect, analyze, and report on data related to CPL and CBE, including student participation, credit awarded, and impact on student success and retention. 
  • Use data insights to inform continuous improvement of CPL and CBE initiatives. 
• Innovation and Expansion 
  • Explore and implement emerging CPL and CBE trends, technologies, and models, such as competency-based education and digital credentialing. 
  • Seek grant funding and other resources to expand CPL and CBE programs and services. 

Requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in higher education, with a focus on credit for prior learning, assessment, academic advising, or curriculum development.
• Bachelors degree in higher education or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing CPL programs or related initiatives.
• Experience managing processes in higher education.

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A master's degree in education, higher education administration, instructional design, or a related field.   
• Experience with military education credit evaluation, including ACE Military Guide and JST transcripts.   
• Knowledge of various competency-based education models and digital credentialing.   
• Familiarity with regional accreditation standards related to CPL.   
• Proven track record of securing grant funding or managing budgets related to CPL initiatives.   

Additional Information:

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action:

Bristol Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Title IX and Affirmative Action Officer, Johanna Bielawski at diversitytitleix@bristolcc.edu or 774.357.2681; the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination; the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Right.

Application Instructions:

TO APPLY: Please complete our online application by clicking on the "Apply" button. The position will be open until filled. Review of applications will begin 10 calendar days from the posting date.

REQUIREMENTS TO COMPLETE APPLICATION PROCESS:

1) A completed Bristol Community College Employment Application.

2) A current resume/curriculum vitae.

3) A cover letter that demonstrates how your skills and experience meet the desired and required qualifications of the position (not limited in length).

All candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States. Bristol Community College is an institution that does not sponsor work authorization.

A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted for all positions.

The college will independently verify education credentials as provided on the application. For certain positions that require a college degree, the hired candidate must supply official transcripts upon hire. Transcripts must include your name and degrees conferred.