Online Academic Coach (HigherEd, Graduate Level, Remote, Part-Time)

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nOnline Academic Coach (HigherEd, Remote, Part-Time) Instructional Connections, LLC is a comprehensive third-party provider of high-quality instructional support services for colleges and universities that offer fully online courses and degree programs. Institutions partner with Instructional Connections to support the delivery of their high-quality asynchronous online courses at an affordable cost. In the online course, students are assigned an Academic Coach, which may also be known as or referred to as a Teaching Assistant, Course Assistant, or Instructional Associate, depending on the program. We are currently working with over 50 US public and state universities across over 75 programs, and we expect to add several additional ones in the coming year. MORE ABOUT THE POSITION: Our Academic Coaches assist with the grading of assignments according to faculty instructions, monitor discussion threads, respond to inquiries and emails within 24 hours, monitor student engagement, provide online support, and regularly partner with the university faculty of record. Academic Coaches act as facilitators and graders, while the university faculty member is the instructor of record. Approximately 75% of the courses we support are accelerated, consisting of 5 to 9-week course cycles, and the programs offer fully online courses year-round, outside of traditional semester calendars, with 4 to 7 course term starts throughout the year. On average, an Academic Coach spends about 10-30 minutes per week, per student. However, this can vary based on the course level, subject area, specific course assigned, and the number of open-ended assignments involved. Academic Coaches who consistently complete coach assignments with positive feedback from their faculty will be considered for additional student loads or sections. Our objective is to prevent overextending a coach’s commitments to ensure their capacity to serve all assigned students effectively is not compromised. In the first assignment as an Academic Coach, the practical limit is around 50 students, with 30 being more typical. An experienced Academic Coach typically supports 75-90 students. A highly proficient coach with ample time may be assigned up to 120 students, but this is the upper limit. Compensation is calculated based on a per-student-per-course formula. Since we support all disciplines, course levels (undergrad, graduate, and doctoral), and courses from 5 to 16 weeks, specific per-student-per-course rates are not disclosed until an approved Academic Coach is assigned to a course by a Lead Coach. After submitting your application, if you are selected as a candidate to begin the first step in our vetting process, you will be scheduled for an Academic Coach Pre-Employment Screening (virtual interview) session. Invited participants should plan to dedicate 4 to 6 hours to the self-paced screening, which must be completed within one week (Monday to Sunday). The screening covers details about the role and expectations of an Academic Coach, reviews best practices in online education, explores various learning management systems (LMS), FERPA, and more. If a participant does not complete this screening within their scheduled week, they may request to be rescheduled for a future session. These sessions are offered twice each month, always starting on a Monday. After successfully completing the screening session and receiving a recommendation from the facilitator, you will move on to the next step in our vetting process—contracting. Being offered a contractor agreement depends on the successful completion of the background check. All Academic Coaching positions are considered part-time work as an independent contractor (1099). A complete "Contractor Package" is required and includes a comprehensive resume or CV, official transcripts or evaluations of foreign transcripts for all degrees earned (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Post-Graduate, and Doctorate), and all completed and signed onboarding documents (Signed Agreement, W-9, Direct Deposit, etc.). Once your contractor package is complete, your name will be added to our pool of vetted and qualified Academic Coaches who are ready and available for course assignments. Once in the pool, your resume will be accessible to our Lead Coaches for review and matching with potential assignments based on the credentials and experience requested by the university faculty in their coach request. Course assignments only become available as we receive Academic Coach Requests from our university partners for upcoming course starts. The need for new Academic Coaches mainly depends on student enrollments. All course assignments are not finalized until approved by the university and are coordinated with our Lead Coaches. We usually don't get reliable enrollment projections until about two weeks before a scheduled course start date. The new Academic Coach will receive a brief orientation to the assigned program and course. Course assignments are finalized close to the course start date and depend on several factors, including the area and level of graduate study, university approval, and student enrollment. Please carefully review the minimum requirements listed below before applying, as they are NOT negotiable; our university partners have set these criteria for any applicant to qualify for assignment. FOR BUSINESS PROGRAMS (Graduate-Level/Master's Degree): A minimum of a Master’s Degree in a business-related field, with at least 18 graduate-level credit hours completed in the specific course content area listed below, is REQUIRED. A Terminal Degree or actively pursuing a Terminal Degree is STRONGLY PREFERRED. Business degrees from AACSB or ACBSP-accredited institutions are strongly desired. Some experience in online higher education is a plus.Computer Science (Master’s Degree in Computer Science or a closely related area is REQUIRED)Data Analytics (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED, PhD or DBA preferred)Economics (Master’s Degree in Economics or a closely related area is REQUIRED)Finance (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED, PhD or DBA strongly preferred, CFP preferred)Information Technology Mgmt (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED)Digital & Social Media Marketing (Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing or a closely related area is REQUIRED) FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMS (Graduate-Level/Master's Degree):A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Computer Science or Information Technology related field with at least 18+ graduate-level credit hours completed in the specific course content area listed below is REQUIRED—3 to 5 years of industry experience in the field.Computer Science (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED)Computer/Software Programming (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED, experience in PYTHON strongly desired)Cybersecurity/IT Security (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED)Data Analytics/Quantitative Analysis with PYTHON experience (Master’s Degree REQUIRED, PhD or DBA may be preferred)Health Information Management/Health Informatics (Master’s REQUIRED, RHIA or RHIT is preferred)Information Technology Mgmt (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED) FOR NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS (Graduate/MSN/Post-Graduate Level):A current and valid RN license and a conferred Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) or greater is required. However, a PhD in Nursing or DNP (doctorate/terminal degree) is strongly preferred for all MSN, Post-Grad NP, and DNP programs. NP candidates must be Board Certified; see below for specific area(s) of need. Nursing degrees must be from ACEN or CCNE-accredited institutions. A minimum of 3 years of nursing practice experience is required; prior teaching experience (trainer, clinical, preceptor, face-to-face, or online) is preferred.Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Primary Care Nurse Practitioner [AGACNP-BC/AGPCNP-BC] (min. MSN in NP REQUIRED with NP License (APRN) and board certification with prescriptive authority)Pediatric Acute Care/Primary Care Nurse Practitioner [CPNP-PC/CPNP-AC] (min. MSN in NP REQUIRED with NP License (APRN) and board certification with prescriptive authority)Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner [PMHNP] (min. MSN in NP REQUIRED with NP License(APRN) and board certification with prescriptive authority) FOR HEALTH SCIENCES/SERVICES PROGRAMS (Graduate/Master's Degree)A minimum of a Master's Degree with at least 18+ graduate-level credit hours completed in the specific course content area listed below is REQUIRED. Experience in online higher education is preferred. A doctorate/terminal degree may be preferred in some areas or for specific courses.Health Information Management/Health Informatics (Master’s REQUIRED, RHIA or RHIT is preferred)Human Nutrition/Dietetics (Master’s Degree in Nutrition or Dietetics REQUIRED)Radiologic Sciences (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED, with a valid Radiology Tech or other closely related Licensure/Certification)Respiratory Therapy (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED, with a valid Respiratory Therapy Licensure/Certification FOR OTHER DISCIPLINES (Undergraduate and/or Graduate Level):A minimum of a Master’s Degree with at least 18 graduate hours in the specific course content area listed below is REQUIRED; this does NOT include any undergraduate courses or credit hours. A Master's in Education or Teaching (MEd, MAT, etc.) is NOT suitable, as a Master's Degree in the specific content area is REQUIRED. Some experience in online higher education is preferred. A doctorate or terminal degree may be preferred in certain fields or for specific courses.Communication Studies (Master’s Degree in Communications or other closely related fields, experience teaching Business Communications or Business Writing in an online format is desired)Geology/Geography/Geographic Information Science (GIS)/Geospatial Intelligence (Master's Degree in GIS or closely related REQUIRED)Philosophy (Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Humanities, or other closely related field is REQUIRED)Statistics (Master’s Degree in Statistics or closely related area REQUIRED, experience in statistical modeling and analysis)Media/Motion Pictures/Film Studies (Master’s Degree in Media/Motion Pictures/Film Studies or other closely related field is REQUIRED) Please carefully review the minimum requirements listed above before applying, as they are NOT negotiable; our university partners have set these criteria for any applicant to qualify for assignment. We will evaluate educational degrees and certifications for qualification and consideration. Applications that do not meet the stated minimum requirements will not be reviewed or contacted. These virtual positions do not require residency in a specific city or state; however, all applicants must either be a U.S. citizen or possess a valid and current work authorization (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS - https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states). Applicants for employment in the U.S. must possess current and valid work authorization that does not now or in the future require any sponsorship or other support/documentation of a visa for employment authorization (EAD) in the United States with Instructional Connections (i.e., H1-B visa, F-1 visa (OPT), TN visa, or any other non-immigrant status). Thank you; we appreciate your interest. \n\nCompany Description:\n\nInstructional Connections, LLC (IC) was established and incorporated in 2010. We are an independent, third-party provider of high-quality instructional support services to colleges and universities in the United States that offer online courses and degree programs. Higher education institutions partner with Instructional Connections to support the delivery of their high-quality asynchronous courses and programs, meeting the needs of growing enrollments and scaling their online offerings. Our Academic Coaches provide instructional support within the online courses, operating under the direction of the faculty. The Academic Coach may sometimes be referred to by a different title for various programs at the university's discretion, such as Teaching Assistant, Course Assistant, Instructional Associate, etc.\n\nWe currently work with 50+ public and state universities across the United States, supporting over 75 programs in various disciplines and subject areas, including Business (MBA, MAcc, MFin, MIS, MPA, etc.), Nursing (RN-BSN, MSN, NP, etc.), Health Sciences (MPH, MHA, MHS, etc.), Education (MAT, MEd, EdS, etc.), Computer Science (MCS, MSCS, MIT, etc.) and Criminal Justice.\n\nSometimes, we may be asked to help an institution in finding instructors, adjuncts, observers, and other educational professionals strictly on a limited, as-needed basis. \n\nAn Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V\n\nInstructional Connections, LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Instructional Connections, LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.\n\nInstructional Connections, LLC, expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Instructional Connections' employees and contractors to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Company Description

Instructional Connections, LLC (IC) was established and incorporated in 2010. We are an independent, third-party provider of high-quality instructional support services to colleges and universities in the United States that offer online courses and degree programs. Higher education institutions partner with Instructional Connections to support the delivery of their high-quality asynchronous courses and programs, meeting the needs of growing enrollments and scaling their online offerings. Our Academic Coaches provide instructional support within the online courses, operating under the direction of the faculty. The Academic Coach may sometimes be referred to by a different title for various programs at the university's discretion, such as Teaching Assistant, Course Assistant, Instructional Associate, etc.\r\n\r\nWe currently work with 50+ public and state universities across the United States, supporting over 75 programs in various disciplines and subject areas, including Business (MBA, MAcc, MFin, MIS, MPA, etc.), Nursing (RN-BSN, MSN, NP, etc.), Health Sciences (MPH, MHA, MHS, etc.), Education (MAT, MEd, EdS, etc.), Computer Science (MCS, MSCS, MIT, etc.) and Criminal Justice.\r\n\r\nSometimes, we may be asked to help an institution in finding instructors, adjuncts, observers, and other educational professionals strictly on a limited, as-needed basis. \r\n\r\nAn Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V\r\n\r\nInstructional Connections, LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Instructional Connections, LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.\r\n\r\nInstructional Connections, LLC, expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Instructional Connections' employees and contractors to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.