Avalon Center is currently recruiting energetic and dedicated volunteers who are inspired by the vision of creating this institution and wish to contribute their talents in ways other than as teachers.
Although these are unpaid positions presently, it is our expectation that they will become paid positions as we proceed in our fundraising activities and the Center's resources increase. All members of the staff will be automatically included as members of the Avalon Advisory Board with access to all the private staff discussion forums on our message board. Staff members also receive a 100% tuition waiver on all courses at ACDS for the duration of their voluntary service to the Center, or subsequent paid employment by the Center. Furthermore, the immediate family of staff members may also receive a 50% tuition reduction for all Avalon courses.
Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor
The Chancellor's administrative assistant works to support the answering of e-mail queries about Avalon Center and will work directly in the Chancellor's office keeping the filing system and other records. He or she will also be called upon to carry out research on the Internet and in local libraries, to help the Chancellor schedule meetings, and to engage in routine correspondence or telephone calls to other members of the Center staff and faculty, and as may be required. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, experience with creating and maintaining filing systems and databases, excellent social skills and an energetic personality. Minimum 10 hours per week. Must be located in the Twin Cities area.
Head Webmaster and Web Designer
This position oversees and administers the ACDS web site, the Center's message board forum, and the Moodle online learning software. The Webmaster must be available to promptly answer technical questions and solve technical problems related to these resources. As webmaster and designer, he or she will handle any upgrades to the web site, including the addition of syllabi, catalog listings, instructor and staff bio-blurbs, and quarterly lists of courses being offered. This position will report to the Merlin (Head of Information Technology). Minimum 10 hours per week. May be located outside the Twin Cities area if reliability can be demonstrated.
Registrar
The work of the Registrar is threefold. First, the routine maintenance and publication of lists of courses offered each quarter. This part of the work will be coordinated with the Webmaster and the Dean. Second, the keeping of student records, recording grades submitted by the faculty on students' permanent records, maintaining files, both paper and electronic. Third, in consultation with the Dean, making decisions regarding transfer of credits, the granting of credit for experience, and action on any petitions regarding changes of enrollment status or grading option after the deadline. The Registrar must be familiar with all internal instructional policies and be capable of designing and maintaining a database for student records (working in conjunction with the Merlin and the Webmaster). The Registrar will ultimately report to the Provost, but initially he or she will report to the Chancellor. Minimum 5 hours per week with more time required at the beginning and end of each quarter. Must be located in the Twin Cities area.
Head of Development
One of the positions intended to report to the Provost, but initially reporting to the Chancellor, the Head of Development oversees fund-raising for the Center and participates in planning the budget and long-term goals of the Center, as it garners the resources necessary to pursue its educational and charitable mission. Minimum 10 hours per week. May be located outside the Twin Cities area if reliability can be demonstrated.
Head of Marketing
One of the positions intended to report to the Provost, but initially reporting to the Chancellor, the Head of Marketing oversees and implements all advertising, market research, and public relations for the Center. The ideal candidate will have experience with marketing and public relations in the educational, non-profit center. Minimum 10 hours per week. May be located outside the Twin Cities area if reliability can be demonstrated.
Head Librarian
One of the positions intended to report to the Merlin, but initially reporting to the Chancellor, the Head Librarian's duties will initially include overseeing the development of the Center's library and the acquisition of books and resources for the use of the students and faculty. In this Information Age, the Librarian will work closely with the Merlin and the Webmaster to utilize Internet resources and information technology. In addition, however, the Librarian will seek out donations of books, as well as donations of cash in support of the John Dee Library. He or she will administer the library acquisitions budget and oversee the implementation of online and other electronic research services. The ideal candidate will have experience working in library science, online research methods, and library acquisitions. Experience in the book business generally and as a researcher in the fields of Celtic studies, mythology, and esoterica generally are also valuable. Minimum 5 hours per week. May be located outside the Twin Cities area.
Executive Level Positions
Dean of the Center
Applicants to the position of The Dean of ACDS must have experience as a manager and administrator, preferably experience mentoring and supervising teachers. Teaching experience in one or more of the Center's academic departments is also necessary as the Dean is expected to teach at the Center. Ideally, experience as an Avalon teacher is preferred, but significant experience in college or other academic administration, including recruiting and hiring is also of great value. The Dean of the Center oversees (and is a member of) the faculty. He or she will work closely with the president of the faculty senate and all the members of the faculty to assist and encourage them in the development of new courses and in professional growth as teachers. The Dean will take primary responsibility for recruiting new teachers, evaluating their performance, and dismissing them if necessary. The Dean, with the Chancellor and the president of the senate, serves on the Promotions Committee to promote faculty members to the higher academic ranks of associate and full professor. The Dean also takes primary responsibility for determining which courses are offered in each quarter and maintaining a calendar of course rotation that will permit students to complete their study programs in a timely manner. The Dean of the Center reports directly to the Chancellor. Minimum 10 hours per week. Must be located in the Twin Cities area.
Provost
The Provost of the Center is the head business administrator reporting directly to the Chancellor. The position oversees all financial and development operations of the Center. At this point in the Center's growth, the Provost's duties focus on development and marketing of the Center, including working with the Dean and Chancellor on recruitment strategies. The Provost works with other members of the staff to arrange events and campaigns that can assist in fund raising, and he or she also oversees the revision and implementation of the Center's business plan. In addition at this stage, the Provost takes a large measure of responsibility for seeking out the donation or acquisition of land for the physical campus and the subsequent construction of facilities on that land. The ideal candidate will have experience in business administration, marketing, organizational development, management, and the non-profit educational sector. These abilities should lead to the revenues necessary to make this and other staff positions paid positions. The Provost reports directly to the Chancellor and supervises the Bursar, Registrar, Head of Marketing, and Head of Development. Minimum 10 hours per week. Must be located in the Twin Cities area.
Application Process
To apply for any of the above volunteer positions, please send the following:
- Your resumé
- A letter of application describing what qualities you would bring to Avalon Center. Please particularly address how you see volunteer work for ACDS as part of your larger career and life goals.
- The names, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of two previous or current employers, or people with whom you have carried on other volunteer work.
You may submit your application via e-mail to:
alferian@avaloncollege.org
or by post to:
Dr. James W. Maertens
Chancellor Avalon Center for Druidic Studies
4509 Drew Ave. So.
Minneapolis, MN 55410
Last Revised 9/24/2007
