Academic Program Coordinator/Director
Guidelines
(May be Adopted by Department Governance Process)
August 15, 2012
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to set out the guidelines and standards for the appointment
Academic Program Coordinators/Directors. Programs are defined as areas of emphasis within a
Department. Academic Program Coordinators/Directors consult regularly with the Department
Chair and advocate on behalf of program staff and students. The Coordinator/Director communicates
and disseminates information (needs and goals) across the program and at Department meetings on a
regular basis. Academic Program Coordinators/Directors report to the Department Chair and may be
given a course release or student assistant dependent upon the size, development and demands of the
particular program.
Duties of Academic Program Coordinators/Directors
An Academic Program Coordinator/Director, in collaboration with the Department Chair, is responsible and
accountable for the following:
1. Achieves and maintains external program accreditation (as appropriate) in a timely manner.
2. Conducts regular program meetings and maintains minutes of decisions made and action items to be
accomplished.
3. Represents the interests of the program in a larger department context; this may include assisting in course
offerings and scheduling, as well as catalog content preparation and review.
4. Manages outreach and recruitment of new students, as applicable, to meet college-approved goals.
5. In consultation with the Department Chair, recommends appropriate faculty members for courses in a timely
manner in order to facilitate textbook selection, syllabus development, and faculty course preparation.
6. Collaborates with program (and where appropriate other department) faculty in curricular design, articulation
and course delivery.
7. Mentors/advises students, as applicable.
8. Facilitates responses to student needs and complaints.
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9. Infuses the multicultural values and goals of the Department throughout the curriculum, program policies, and
recruitment of program staff.
10. Mentors faculty, especially part-time instructors.
11. Facilitates program review processes.
12. Facilitates the program’s academic assessment work; evaluates the program’s teaching and learning
progress and makes appropriate changes to achieve excellence in the program’s mission.
13. Performs other duties as mutually agreed with the Department Chair.
Appointment of Academic Program Coordinators/Directors
Academic Program Coordinators/Directors must be academically qualified to teach in their respective
programs (e.g., they must hold the terminal degree of the program or its equivalent)
Appointment of an Academic Program Coordinator/Director may occur by recommendation from the
Department Chair to the Dean; or through usual department governance processes (e.g., nomination and
recommendation by election within the department). Only full-time faculty with tenure/tenure track
appointments are eligible to serve as Academic Program Coordinators/Directors. Exceptions to this must
be approved by the Dean.
Following the selection of the Program Director, the Department Chair is responsible for developing a
workload agreement and defining specific goals for the Program Director on which to be evaluated. The
Department Chair will notify Academic Personnel regarding the faculty member assuming a Program
Director role and the effective date. This is especially critical if the position involves staff supervision.
Term of Office
The term of office for Academic Program Coordinators/Directors ordinarily shall be three years. The term
of office may vary if recommended by the Department Chair and agreed upon by the Dean. During the
term of office, the Academic Program Coordinator/Director serves at the pleasure of the Dean and may be
removed from office at any time. The Dean must notify Academic Personnel if the position supervises
staff.
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