I serve as the Associate Vice Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Digital Education at Northern Illinois University (NIU). I function as the chief online learning officer and oversee the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, university-wide accreditation and digital learning. My responsibilities include:
- Provide leadership and vision on faculty development and instructional support activities for faculty, instructors, teaching staff, and graduate teaching assistants for all course modalities.
- Oversee campus-wide needs assessment on teaching effectiveness, technology integration, online teaching, and professional development for faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants.
- Define, create, and implement programs to advance faculty development in teaching and to support the use of innovative research-based pedagogical practices in line with NIU’s mission, vision and values
- Provide leadership to CITL staff on development programs, resources, and services to address those needs.
- Serve as the Academic Liaison Officer to the HLC and oversee functions related to university-wide accreditation.
- Collaborate with the Chief Diversity Officer, Executive Director for Academic Equity and Inclusion, and advisory committees to promote inclusivity and cultural competence across all teaching modalities. Champion research-based pedagogical practices that drive an equity-minded and inclusive approach to instruction and student success
- Monitor current and emerging practices in digital and online learning; advise university leadership on pedagogies, technologies, policies, curriculum, and faculty development needs related to digital and online learning.
- Collaborate with the Chief Information Officer, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Resources, and advisory committees to address academic technology, facilities, and space needs for classroom, hybrid, and online instruction.
- Provide strategic leadership and long-range vision for the development and delivery of academic credit-bearing online courses and programs, to champion innovative approaches, ensure use of research-based practices and quality standards, and expand online enrollments.
- Manage on behalf of Academic Affairs any digital/online education vendor partnerships.
- Work with appropriate advisory committees, governance, colleges, and units on teaching initiatives, policies, and procedures; make recommendations on policy and procedure as appropriate.
- Seek external funding to support pedagogical and curricular innovation; participate in national initiatives, affinity groups and conferences to ensure NIU is aware of national trends in pedagogy and digital learning; support the adoption of innovative curricula.
- Serve on university committees to represent the Executive Vice President and Provost as needed.
Additionally, I’m Associate Professor of Instructional Technology with the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. More details on my role at NIU is available at niu.edu/jrhode.
Education
- Ph.D., Instructional Design for Online Learning, Capella University, 2008.
Dissertation Topic: Interaction equivalency in self-paced online learning environments: An exploration of learner preferences - M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, Seattle Pacific University, 2003
- B.A., Children’s Ministries, North Central University, 2000
