Application Guide
How to Apply for Director of Educational Programs
at Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences
🏢 About Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences
The Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) is unique as a nonprofit professional association specifically focused on supporting academic leaders in arts and sciences through peer-to-peer learning and practical application. Working here offers the opportunity to shape professional development for higher education leaders nationwide while contributing to the evolving landscape of arts and sciences education in a remote, mission-driven environment.
About This Role
As Director of Educational Programs, you'll lead CCAS's entire educational portfolio, managing signature programs like the Seminar for New Deans and Seminar for Department Chairs while overseeing weekly Zoom discussions and annual meeting programming. This role is impactful because you'll directly shape how academic leaders develop skills to navigate complex higher education challenges, influencing leadership development across arts and sciences colleges nationwide.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing evaluations from recent Zoom discussions to identify topics for future sessions, collaborating with volunteer faculty experts to develop content for the upcoming Seminar for Department Chairs, and planning the integration of educational programming into the Annual Meeting agenda. You'd likely spend time coordinating with CCAS staff on program logistics while also engaging directly with deans and chairs to understand their evolving professional development needs.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years specifically designing curriculum for adult professionals, with experience creating learning experiences that balance theoretical frameworks with practical application
- Demonstrates experience collaborating with faculty and subject-matter experts to translate academic expertise into accessible professional development content
- Shows proven ability to manage volunteer-led initiatives, particularly in facilitating collaboration among academic professionals who balance these roles with primary responsibilities
- Possesses experience with both in-person seminar delivery (like the New Deans Seminar) and virtual programming (weekly Zoom discussions), understanding different engagement strategies for each format
📝 Tips for Applying to Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences
Quantify your experience with adult professional development - specify how many programs you've designed, participant numbers, and evaluation metrics showing impact on professional audiences
Highlight specific experience with higher education audiences, particularly if you've worked with deans, department chairs, or faculty in arts and sciences disciplines
Demonstrate understanding of CCAS's peer-to-peer learning model by describing how you've facilitated collaborative learning rather than just traditional instruction
Showcase experience with both synchronous (seminars, Zoom discussions) and asynchronous learning formats, as this role manages multiple delivery methods
Provide concrete examples of working with volunteers in professional associations, emphasizing how you supported volunteer-led initiatives while maintaining program quality
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your philosophy on adult professional development specifically for academic leaders, connecting it to CCAS's emphasis on peer-to-peer learning and practical application", "Specific examples of designing and evaluating professional development programs that demonstrate measurable impact on participants' leadership capabilities", 'Experience collaborating with subject-matter experts in higher education to create content that balances academic rigor with practical utility', "How you've successfully managed educational programs with multiple stakeholders, including volunteers, participants, and organizational leadership"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review CCAS's current educational offerings on their website, particularly details about the Seminar for New Deans and Seminar for Department Chairs to understand their structure and content
- → Explore recent higher education trends affecting arts and sciences deans and department chairs that CCAS programming might need to address
- → Investigate CCAS's membership structure and typical member profiles to understand the specific audience you'd be designing programs for
- → Look into CCAS's Annual Meeting themes from recent years to understand how educational programming integrates with their broader organizational goals
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on K-12 or undergraduate curriculum design without emphasizing adult professional development experience
- Presenting as primarily an administrator rather than an educational designer who understands learning theory and instructional design for professionals
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of the unique challenges facing arts and sciences academic leaders in today's higher education environment
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences!