DEANS OFFICE-BUSINESS - Dean, College of Professions

Job Classification

  Executive Admin FT (75-100%)

Position summary

The Andrews University College of Professions Dean is responsible for casting a shared vision for the various departments of the College of Professions to help the College to move forward as a cohesive entity. S/He is responsible for the operation of the College of Professions and will report to the provost. The candidate must be dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and is expected to cultivate strong alumni and external relationships to support and grow the College of Professions. 

Qualifications summary

A successful candidate will hold a terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) qualification in one of the disciplines in the college or related disciplines represented on campus and have administrative and/or mid-management experience in higher education setting, with an understanding of trends in North American higher education; specifically for Adventist institutions. The candidate should also have experience in teaching and scholarship, knowledge of accreditation processes, and understanding of trends in business, computing and aviation sectors. 


Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Duties and responsibilities

The Dean of the College or Professions performs the following functions in addition to duties that the provost may delegate or assign: 

• Undertakes all responsibilities with a Christ-like mindfulness toward fostering ethical, transparent, collaborative, and respectful relationships. All responsibilities should be done with inclusive, equitable mentorship and relationship building in mind in the context of the complex, multicultural environment that is Andrews University.


• Articulates and empowers the implementation of a vision for the College, as well as its respective departments, that supports faculty academic rigor, participation in scholarly activities, and professional service through financial resources and advocacy of professional programs across the University. This vision and implementation should ensure that the College is exemplary among its peers.


• Works with faculty to establish the strategic direction of the College that reflects the vision for the College and University.


• Promotes spiritual community among faculty, staff and students to create a learning environment facilitating spiritual growth. 


• Calls and presides over meetings of the faculty of the College. Reports to the faculty on the activities, needs, and achievements of the College. Dialogs with faculty and solicits feedback on matters affecting CoP. The Dean in turn informs administrative officers or to the Board of Trustees about faculty recommendations. 


• Communicates actively with departments and their faculty members through CoP Chairs council and direct interaction with departments as needed.


• Collaborates with other deans in furthering the overall academic mission of the University through participation in the deliberations and decisions of the Academic Administration Council and the executive Deans Council chaired by the provost. 


• Serves as the admissions officer for the College. The Dean also counsels with students, in cooperation with departmental advisors, regarding their progress and special needs and give final approval to their registration. 


• Promotes departmental assessment of student learning outcomes and utilization of resulting data as tools to advance the quality of departmental programs and services. 


• Advocates for a variety of resources: finances, faculty, equipment, instructional materials, visual and auditory aids, and space. The Dean supports recruiting events and reviews recruiting materials to ensure consistency of the CoP message and informs the fundraising agenda of the University.


• Makes a recommendation to the provost regarding the appointment, reappointment or promotion of faculty in consultation with the departments. 


• Assists departmental chairs in developing a strategy to schedule classes that adhere to the University schedule of classes for the provost’s approval.


• Supports and mentors departmental chairs in their roles and serves as a liaison between departments when necessary.


• Supports faculty development actively in teaching, research and service -- including financial support; a cooperative responsibility with chairs.


• Administers the budget in consultation with fellow administrators.


• Facilitates decision making to proactively respond to the changing landscape of higher education and to advocate innovative ways to lead a college in challenging times.


• Oversees the timely preparation and modification of bulletin copy and course schedules for CoP relevant areas (including implementation of new programs and termination of old programs).

Supervisory responsibilities

The College of Professions Dean has direct responsibility over CoP Associate and Assistant Deans, office managers, the Dean’s assistant, chairs, and serves as a supervisory resource for CoP faculty. Across these demographics and responsibilities, the Dean:

• Models servant leadership to department chairs, faculty, and staff to help ensure a culture of collegiality and care.


• Provides leadership to the faculty in development of academic policies, procedures and plans for furthering the educational mission and strategic plans of the College in synchrony with the university mission and strategic plans. 


• Manages (or through designees) all buildings and rooms, and general equipment assigned to the College. 


• Ensures that the departments of the College develop, offer, and maintain programs of excellent quality in areas of instruction, research, and service.


• Provides recommendations on academic administrative policies and procedures for the university by participation as a College representative in appropriate academic committees and councils. 


• Monitors the academic progress of students towards graduation which includes presenting their names for appropriate action by the CoP faculty and recommending them to the Board of Trustees for conferral of degrees. 


• Coordinates the communication of all official affairs of the College with other university officers, students and the public. 


• Requires and keeps current the job descriptions of persons reporting to the Dean. 


• Provides administrative support for ancillary businesses and organizations of CoP (Enactus, Spring Hill Foods, etc.).


• Chairs the committees of the College of Professions.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience:
The Dean of the College of Professions should have the following qualifications:

• Hold a terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) qualification in one of the disciplines in the college or related disciplines represented on campus.


• Demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching and scholarship and preferably eligible for the rank of Full Professor.


• Demonstrate a record of leadership in higher-education administration with an understanding with an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing higher education in the United States. This experience may include at least five years of administrative/mid-management experience in higher education or in a business setting.


• Demonstrate knowledge of, and experience with, accreditation of academic programs.


• Exhibit a capacity to network effectively within and beyond the academic community.


• Understand (including a willingness to learn more about) each discipline and the relevant trends in business, computing and aviation sectors.


• Experience working with diverse educational communities in an inclusive and equitable fashion.

Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Technical competencies

Familiarity with online instructional technology and applied software that support student experiential learning.

Interpersonal interactions

Across all duties and responsibilities, the Dean engages daily with a wide range of people and should exhibit the following abilities:

• Serve as a spiritual leader who sets the tone for a culture of mutual respect and care.


• Foster relational and collaborative interactions with peers, faculty, and students.


• Value individuals as persons and promotes the dignity of the human.


• Advocates for faculty.


• Promote student success.


• Function as a team builder, not only within the College of Professions, but across the university and external communities.


• Act with integrity, fairness, and confidentiality in all duties. 


• Work effectively in, and promote, the multicultural environment of Andrews University.


• Be a visionary who can create and implement a strong vision for the College. 


• Promote the integration of the academic environment with the workplace.

Physical demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. 

Work environment

Normal office and classroom environment. Attend meetings across campus.