About the Company

Black Studies Online is a new internet educational company offering courses on the Black experience to the general public.  Utilizing a 10-week schedule, classes will begin January 2014 and will be offered in ongoing sessions throughout the year.

Black Studies Online presents a new model for student interaction and engagement in an online setting, as well as presenting a new model of Community Teaching in which instructors engage with a student population outside of the traditional academy.  The Mission of Black Studies Online is to:

• Create a collaborative online community founded on the wisdom of the Black Experience and grounded in decades of scholarship;
• Create courses aimed at illuminating the contributions of the ancestors, as well as analyzing and interpreting our contemporary situation;
• Create a safe space where people who want to learn more about Black people can engage in honest discourse and thoughtful discussion with educational and professional leaders.

About the Position

Black Studies Online invites applicants who have experience in either the academy or in professional fields to apply for Part-Time Online Instructors.  We are searching for dynamic and talented instructors who are capable of creating a rewarding online experience for our students.  An ideal BSO instructor is someone who has:

• an understanding of the mission of Black Studies Online and how that mission is reflected in their course;
• experience and/or expertise in a relevant topic or field of study;
• experience teaching (online a plus);
• a passion for teaching and belief in the value of their course;
• the time to commit to creating a rigorous yet engaging online course;
• the technical ability to create such a course;
• the time to dedicate to full participation in classroom management via monitoring discussion blogs and weekly videoconferences.

We are looking for instructors who teach the following subject areas:

            African American Politics                               Hip-Hop Culture

            Social Movements and Social Action            Community Building and Engagement

            Black Males and Masculinity                         History of Black Women

For Business Professionals, we are seeking courses that discuss:

            Personal Finance and Investing                     African Americans and the Law

            Anger Management                                        Navigating the Criminal Justice System

            Parenting Skills                                               Interpersonal Communication Skills

Instructors are to create online courses using either Power Point, digital videotape of lectures, or a combination of both.  All classes, which include syllabi and course description, must be approved by Black Studies Online staff prior to student enrollment.  Candidates must show a commitment to teaching excellence, as evidenced by outstanding course assessments, teaching or professional evaluations, or outstanding presentation skills.

Part-time Instructors can teach up to four classes per 10-week unit.  These can be four distinct courses, or up to four sections of one class.

Candidates with prior experience creating and managing online courses are preferred.

Responsibilities of the Position

The primary responsibilities of instructors can be categorized into three areas – Course Creation, Student Assignments and Feedback, and Faculty Training.  The essential duties include:

Course Creation

• Create courses suitable for an online platform, either via Power Point (or some other presentation software) or through digital videotaped lectures;
• Prepare course description and syllabi;
• Load classes weekly onto the Black Studies Online Website;
• Aid in the marketing and enrollment of their classes.

Student Assignments and Feedback

• Conduct dynamic classroom discussions via the Black Studies Online website Discussion Forums;
• Provide weekly assignments in the form of discussion questions, individual writing assignments, private journals, outside readings, quizzes or examinations;
• Provide timely and actionable student feedback;
• Monitor class attendance and discussion boards for disruptive behavior as identified by the policies established by Black Studies Online;
• Respond to student questions in weekly live Webinar sessions.

Faculty Development

• Complete Black Studies Online New Faculty Orientation before commencing online instruction.
• Participate in online faculty training and online faculty development meetings and workshops.

Salary

All instructors will be paid based on a scale of 20% of course enrollment for each course section.

Preferred Qualifications

For Educators, the successful candidate will have:

• a Master’s degree or higher from an accredited university;
• one full year of teaching in higher education;
• evidence of excellence in teaching in the form of teaching evaluations;
• a strong record of student advising and university service.

For Business Professionals, the successful candidate will have:

• a Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university;
• five years of professional experience in your chosen field;
• experience in public speaking and/or giving presentations;
• an active record of professional achievement;
• two years of committed service with a volunteer organization.

Technical Requirements

• A PC with Windows 7 or higher or Mac OS X;
• 20GB Hard Drive; 256 MB RAM; 1.6 GHZ or faster;
• A Monitor capable of 1024 x 768 video resolution;
• A computer Video Camera;
• A Sound Card, Speakers, and Microphone;
• A High-Speed Internet Connection;
• Microsoft Office 2010 or higher;
• Adobe Acrobat Reader;
• Anti-Virus Software.

Other skills

Candidates must demonstrate:

• excellent writing, speaking and presentation skills, with use of proper grammar within the internet platform;
• strong interpersonal communication skills;
• creative, innovative and strategic thinking, effective listening, and problem solving skills;
• excellent time management skills with an ability to set and meet deadlines;
• clear attention to detail;
• the ability to work independently and within a flexible schedule that could include evenings and weekends;
• the ability to work with a diverse student body and the non-traditional learner;
• the capacity to exercise mature, sound judgment.

To Apply

All candidates should submit a letter of application describing their interest in the position and details their qualifications, as well as a current CV or Resume.

In addition, Educators should also submit:

• at least two teaching evaluations, one positive and one negative;
• three Letters of Recommendation, one from a colleague attesting to your collegiality and willingness to work with others; one from a former student who can attest to your teaching skills and willingness work with students; and one from a representative from a community, social, or civic organization who can attest to your community engagement.

Business Professionals should also submit:

• three Letters of Recommendation, one from management attesting to your work ethic and collegiality; one from a professional colleague or client; and one from a representative from a community, social, or civic organization who can attest to your community engagement.

Course Description

All candidates must submit a brief essay describing their course, its objectives, and why you believe the course is relevant to your students and the mission of Black Studies Online.

Once candidates move forward to the interview phase of the application, they will be required to submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions that they have attended.

Black Studies Online is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  Women, minority candidates, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline

Applications are currently being accepted.  The review process will begin January 31, 2014 and will continue until the positions have been filled.  Please submit all materials to:

https://blackstudiesonline.recruiterbox.com/

For questions about the position or application process, please submit an e-mail query to

ceoblackstudiesonline@gmail.com.