October 02, 2018
Paul Feist
T 916-327-5353
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Board of Trustees for the California Online Community College District has selected Wheless Partners Consulting and Executive Search—one of the nation's leading executive search consultant and human capital advisory firms—to lead a national search for the CEO of the newly-established Online College.
In June 2018, an 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.
“To be successful, the new online college needs an energetic and innovative CEO,” said Tom Epstein, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We are seeking candidates from industry and education with the skills and experience to bring the college rapidly from early stage development to scale.”
The Board of Trustees has authorized the California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley to serve as the interim CEO until a permanent CEO is hired.
“A credential from a California Community College is the path to a better life for millions of Californians,” said Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. “The 115th online college will help increase social mobility for California’s working adults seeking better wages within a rapidly changing economy.”
The new Online Community College District is established as a separate community college district under the authority of the Board of Governors, which serves as the Board of Trustees for the Online Community College District. The search will occur now through November, and a final candidate is expected to be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in January of 2019.
The CEO will be responsible for hiring and developing a team to execute on early business and operational plans necessary to launch three inaugural pilot pathways by the end of 2019 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.
There are more than 2.5 million Californians between the ages of 25-34 with some or no college experience. 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.
To Apply
To apply, please send an email with a letter of interest, a resume or CV, and contact information to DigitalCEO@whelesspartners.com. For full consideration, all applications should be completed by November 15, 2018.
Senior Partners Scott Watson and Mike JR Wheless will lead the search process and candidate recruitment effort on behalf of the Online College. Any information sent to this address will be treated confidentially. California Online Community College District is an equal opportunity employer and seeks a diverse pool of candidates.
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.
