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ONLINE ACADEMIC COACH (Higher Education, Graduate-Level Programs & Courses, Remote/Virtual, Part-Time as Contractor [1099])

Instructional Connections, LLC is a comprehensive third‐party provider of high‐quality instructional support services for colleges and universities offering fully online courses and degree programs. Institutions partner with Instructional Connections to deliver their asynchronous online courses at scale while maintaining academic quality and affordability. Many of these programs serve adult working professionals and are offered in accelerated formats.

Within each online course, and based on the university’s and program’s needs and requirements, an approved Academic Coach—also referred to as a Teaching Assistant, Course Assistant, or Instructional Associate, depending on the program—is assigned to support one or more sections throughout the term. Instructional Connections currently partners with more than 50 U.S. public and state universities across over 75 academic programs, supporting hundreds of courses each year.

MORE ABOUT THE POSITION

Academic Coaches provide essential instructional support to the faculty of record within fully online courses, assisting with day‐to‐day course management. Responsibilities may include grading assignments according to faculty direction, monitoring discussion forums, responding to student inquiries within 24 hours, tracking engagement, and meeting regularly with the faculty of record. In this model, the Academic Coach serves as a facilitator and grader at the direction of the faculty, while the university faculty member remains the Instructor of Record. This structure allows faculty to focus on course objectives, curriculum, and meaningful, high‐impact interactions with students.

Most courses supported by our Academic Coaches are accelerated—typically 5 to 9 weeks in length—and offered year‐round in fully online formats. With 4 to 7 term starts each year, Academic Coaches work in a dynamic, fast‐paced environment that aligns with the needs of adult learners and working professionals.

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.

REQUIREMENTS:

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.

• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (Master’s Degree in Computer Science, AI, or a closely related area is REQUIRED)
• Business Analytics (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED, knowledge and experience with Python)
• Digital/Social Media Marketing (Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing or a closely related area is REQUIRED)
• 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)
• Graphic Design (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED)
• Information Technology Mgmt (Master’s Degree is REQUIRED)

FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMS (Graduate-Level/Master's Degree): A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Computer Science or an Information Technology-related field with at least 18+ graduate-level credit hours completed in the specific course content area listed below is REQUIRED—2 to 5 years of industry/practical experience in the field.

• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (Master’s Degree in Computer Science, AI, or a closely related area 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)

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.

• Philosophy (Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Humanities, or other closely related field is REQUIRED)
• Media/Motion Pictures/Film Studies (Master’s Degree in Media/Motion Pictures/Film Studies or other closely related field is REQUIRED)
• US/American History (Master's Degree in US or American History is REQUIRED)

Thank you; we appreciate your interest.

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 across the United States. Today, IC proudly partners with more than 50 state and public universities nationwide, supporting the delivery of hundreds of high‐quality asynchronous online courses and dozens of online degree programs. As institutions expand their online offerings and respond to growing enrollments, they rely on IC to provide exceptional instructional support that strengthens student success and enhances the online learning experience.

All Academic Coaches contracted with IC hold, at minimum, a Master’s degree in the subject‐matter area of the course they support. Every Academic Coach completes a virtual screening and approval process before becoming eligible to be contracted and then assigned to a course, as available. Once approved, Coaches are aligned to upcoming courses based on their academic credentials, subject‐matter expertise, and relevant professional experience. Course assignments are contingent upon university enrollments and program needs, ensuring Coaches are matched where their expertise will have the greatest impact.

Working under the direction of faculty, Academic Coaches provide timely, high‐quality instructional support that keeps students engaged and progressing. Their support allows faculty to focus on teaching, meaningful student interaction, and high‐impact engagement within their courses. Depending on the university or program, the Academic Coach role may appear under titles such as Teaching Assistant, Course Assistant, or Instructional Associate—but the core purpose remains the same: to support faculty, empower students, and contribute to the success of high‐quality online education.

We support over 75 different degree programs and 100s of courses in various disciplines and subject areas, including Business (MBA, MAcc, MFin, MIS, MPA, etc.), Computer Science (MCS, MSCS, MIT, etc.), Nursing (RN-BSN, MSN, NP, etc.), Health Sciences (MPH, MHA, MHS, etc.), Criminal Justice, and others.

Current discipline‐specific requirements are detailed in our job postings; please review them carefully before applying.

An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D/V

Instructional 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.

Instructional 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.

These virtual positions do not require residency in a specific city or state; however, all applicants must either be a U.S. citizen or have 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).

REQUIRED ONLINE APPLICATION: https://form.jotform.com/ICForms/AcademicCoachApplication2023