IDs, what department do you work for?

[kylecage]

Just curious about where instructional designers fit, structurally, in their organizations. I'm an ID and I work in the Center for Teaching and Learning, which is a division under Academic Affairs. I have met other IDs who work for their campus IT departments. While a lot of my work is somewhat technical, my organization thinks that IDs should be under Academic Affairs, not IT. Wondering where others find themselves at their organizations?

[sethgurell]

At Utah Valley University we are under Academic Affairs. We try to communicate and coordinate with IT as well.

[nikki_ballentin]

At my university, we not really Academic Affairs or IT. But if I had to choose one, I would say that we fall more under Academic Affairs. Our department is name the Center for Education and Information Resources. We handle alot of technical issues as well.

[valentinesking]

At FIU, we have a unique situation. Most of our web-assisted or F2F classes are supported by a department that is within the IT umbrella. However, FIU Online (a department dedicated to fully online classes/distance learning/online programs) is a department that is currently under the Academic Affairs umbrella. This split of responsibilities sprouted from how our online program was originally founded and funded.

[ericwhitmer]

At my institution St. Johns River State College, Distance Learning falls under Academic Affairs but works jointly with Information Technology.

[rlbrown21]

We are our own department, the Faculty Resource Center.  We work will IT, Curriculum, DSPS and Faculty, but we remain on our own.

[bkeith]

At Saint Francis University we also have a Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning under Academic Affairs. 

[bpayne01]

Kyle, at Baker College we fit in the same place as you do!

[RhondaB]

At Cuyamaca College, I am in the Learning and Technology Resources division which is under Instruction.

[Shar]

Howdy,

I'm in the continuing education division at my institution, but as Instructional Designers we fall under a department called Academic Excellence along with video team, instructional coaching, and learning technologies. We used to only be online learning, but recently starting preparing course shells for classroom-based courses. We are definitely not under the same umbrella as IT.

Cheers - Shar

[jdick1]

I'm in our IT department in our academic tech (Educational Initiatives) subdivision.

This is always an interesting conversation and it's fascinating to hear the various thought processes behind where we're slotted.

[zdg52633]

At Creighton University, Instructional Design and eLearning are in the Teaching and Learning Center and we report up through the academic side of the house. While separate units/divisions, we partner with campus IT for a lot of our work.

[rmthomas]

At Frostburg State University, we belong to the Office of Information Technology (where the CIO is in charge) and our branch is in the unit of Instructional Design & Technology. OIT reports to the VP of Administration & Finance. 

[gailc]

At the Chester County Intermediate Unit in PA, Instructional Design falls under the Division of Innovative Educational Services. IES collaborates with the IT division on multiple projects.

[hllow]

I started my career in Educational Technology way back in 2001 under the Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning, for a state university in Singapore. But I design E-learning courseware 75% of the time. That makes me an Instructional Designer instead of an EdTech. Similarly, 17 years on I head an Educational Technology unit for an arts institution. Aside from training the faculty on Canvas skills, much of the time is spent on designing for blended-learning by working with willing faculty members. That makes me an ID? I suppose I'm a better fit as an ID albeit as a head of EdTech Unit. There are many shades of greys depending on where you turn your gaze.

[mlabbett]

I agree, I think ID should rest under an Academic structure, not IT.  They should work closely with IT, but will work better under an Academic eye. 

[MollyCaldera]

At Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL, we are under Academic Affairs. However, to better coordinate technology-related issues, the IT department and Media Services moved their operations over to the Center for Instructional Design & Academic technology, the center out of which the Instructional Design team operates. We are separate, organizationally, but having all of us in the same wing, as part of the same "Center" allows students, faculty, and staff to better understand where to go for their technology needs). 

[Adrienne_J_Gaut]

You might find this report from April 2016 by Intentional Futures interesting:

https://intentionalfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Instructional-Design-in-Higher-Education-R... 

Enjoy!

[mchild76]

At Maryville University in St. Louis, I work as an ID under the School of Adult and Online Education. We function separately from IT and our CTL. Within our school, we have our design team, a media development team, our Canvas admin, online recruitment and advising, faculty technology support and training, and the administration of our campus 1:1 iPad initiative. Our Dean reports to the VP of Academic Affairs.

[veronica_armour]

I have worked at two institutions and the ID team was placed differently at both.  At the first institution the ID group was placed under the IT Department and the responsibilities of the IDs was primarily service based, help desk style.  Course design was limited in to copying/pasting content into the LMS, we had limited flexibility in our hours as we had to make sure someone was available if a faculty member stopped by for help, and any workshop or training we wanted to do had to be about the technology not about pedagogy.

The second institution I have worked for has multiple ID groups.  Individual schools/colleges within the larger university have their own ID teams and there is one quasi-central ID group for the entire university.  I am an ID for a particular college and I am part of the Dean's office and my focus is more on teaching and learning best practices, onboarding new faculty, and learning design for F2F, hybrid, and online courses.  The emphasis is more on being a resource for faculty to consult with on the best tool(s) for a particular activity or teaching strategy and less on the point and click aspects of technology.