Director of Honors Program

The Honors Director of La Sierra University’s prestigious Honors Program is responsible for maintaining the program's high academic quality in harmony with the university’s mission and purposes. In this University Professor role, the director oversees curriculum development, faculty recruitment and support, and honors students’ well-being. Duties include administration, planning, budgeting, fund-raising, program coordination, and communication with other units within and outside the university. The Director reports to the Provost.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Fulfills expectations for faculty as outlined in the Faculty Handbook and as outlined by the Provost

· Implements the policies of the Faculty Handbook and proposes policy changes to the appropriate bodies.

· Typically teaches three Honors courses per year

· Maintains responsibility for the content, emphasis, quality, and format of the curricula.

· Ensures that appropriate academic standards are maintained.

· Oversees Honors student thesis and research projects, in collaboration with university faculty

· Directs appraisal and improvement of the curricula, including periodic program reviews.

· Prepares annual budget needs, equipment requests, and space requests to the administration and develops a balanced budget within the constraints set by the administration.

· Coordinates special Honors programs, such as study tours

· Authorizes expenditures of items included within the approved budget, subject to approval from the Provost

· Assists the Provost in the preparation of material for the university Bulletin and of other materials of an academic and promotional nature for publication, in consultation with the editor of academic publications.

· Maintains responsibility for the timely completion of reports, including the annual report to the Provost and similar documents as requested by the administration.

· Represents the program, in counsel with the Provost, to professional accrediting or approving organizations.

· Assists the Provost in representing the program to the administration and other entities within the university.

· Coordinates with Student Life and Residential Life to oversee the Honors dormitory

· Connects with Honors Directors of other colleges through participation in national honors societies

· Assists in the advancement efforts on behalf of the program by friend-building and fund-raising in collaboration with the Office of Advancement.

· Supervises Honors Program faculty, staff and student workers.

· Aids in recruiting in collaboration with university enrollment and admissions staff.

· Coordinates with Student Life, deans, advisers and the Division of Pre-Health in enabling Honors student retention .

· Maintains student morale and promotes student involvement in the program.

· Processes student academic grievances.

· Encourages academic honesty and takes steps against all manifestations of academic dishonesty.

· Administers the curricula and ensures that policies are enforced in the areas of student admissions, student academic progress, and student disqualification and makes exceptions as permitted by university and school policies.

· Recruits faculty to the Honors Program.

· Chairs the Honors Council and creates Honors Faculty Task Forces when needed.

· Schedules honors classes within the guidelines set by the University and in cooperation with other academic entities.

· Attends as voting member the General Education Policy Committee.

· Advises students in the Program about the Honors curriculum.

· Fosters social activities for Honors students through the Honors Student Council.

· Participates in fund raising for Honors students and activities, in collaboration with university philanthropic staff.

· Performs other duties as are appropriate to her or his office and as the Provost may authorize or request.

Competency

The director will be able to apply University goals/policies into operational plans and procedures. Will have latitude for independence of action within the function of the position and is directly accountable for accomplishment of the function. Must have the ability to maintain accurate and appropriate office, student and departmental records. Must be able to act quickly and independently. Ability to multitask and interface with diverse publics is essential. Must be able to work effectively as a member of a team. The director must be professional at all times, including in relationships with faculty, students, community partners, and external publics. Must be skilled at working in the culture of an academic institution, respecting the roles of faculty, administration, students and support staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to represent the University well with external publics, including knowledge about the University as an academic institution.

Education/Experience

Terminal degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university. Three to five years’ experience working in a university setting.

Language Ability: Excellent oral and written use of Standard English.

Reasoning Ability

Excellent trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated experience in identifying needs, developing and improving services and evaluating best practices in dealing with problems involving many complex variables and competing interests. An ability to organize and prioritize different projects.

Mathematics Ability

Ability to accurately calculate figures and amounts as they related to department. Ability to understand and manage a budget.

Computer Skills

A working knowledge of both a PC and/or Mac computer.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the university’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced, office-type working conditions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Special Requirements

· A member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

· Terminal degree.

· Knowledge of La Sierra University procedures and General Education curriculum desirable.

Salary: $70,304, plus generous benefits

Required Skills


Required Experience