November 19, 2018
Paul Feist
T 916.327.5353
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Board of Trustees for the California Online Community College District has extended the national search for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in order to draw a diverse pool of applicants from education and industry.
“To be successful, the new online college needs an energetic and innovative CEO,” said Tom Epstein, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “For the next three weeks, we will continue our search for candidates with the skills and experience to bring the college rapidly from early stage development to scale.”
A final candidate will be brought to the Board of Trustees for approval in early 2019. California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley serves as the interim CEO until a permanent CEO is hired. For consideration, applicants can send an email with a letter of interest, a resume or CV, and contact information to DigitalCEO@whelesspartners.com by December 5, 2018.
The CEO will be responsible for hiring and developing a team to execute on early business and operational plans and lead the college’s vision and strategy to respond to California’s economic needs. The position will be a critical first hire, building upon design and development work coordinated by an advance team at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. Learn more about the position here.
In June 2018, the Online Community College District was created to better serve working adults in California who are often stranded in the workforce by a lack of access to education and training opportunities. The online college will offer programs using a model of competency-based education through short-term courses leading to stackable credentials. Three initial pathways are being developed which will prepare students for careers in information technology, medical coding, and as first-line supervisors.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 115 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; degree and certificate pathways; and basic skills education in English and math. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success , a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges web site or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
