Dean of Arts and Sciences
Job Description
Full job description
Description
The Dean of Arts and Sciences is a visionary leader responsible for directing the operation of the Arts and Sciences faculty programs and departments at Jackson College. This role is pivotal in driving innovation, fostering inclusive excellence, and ensuring the alignment of academic programs with the College’s Strategic Agenda goals and the evolving needs of students and the community. The Dean participates in the development of forward-thinking policies and procedures, shaping the future of Jackson College as a leader in higher education. The Dean is a member of the President’s Leadership Council
Essential Functions
Leadership and Strategic Vision:
- Serve as a member of the Chief Academic Officer’s Academic Leadership Team (ALT), contributing to the strategic vision and policy formulation for the College.
- Collaborate with peer members on the ALT.
- Lead the Arts and Sciences division in developing and implementing innovative academic programs that anticipate and respond to emerging educational trends and technologies.
- Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
- Supervision of committees & task forces as assigned by the Chief Academic Officer.
- Attend to regular professional development through reading, state affinity group participation, and national conferences so as to ensure currency and future view.
- Assist in the development of the College’s Strategic Agenda, ensuring the attention to and delivery of assigned areas.
- Provide leadership on other institutional committees as assigned by the Chief Academic Officer and/or President.
Program Development and Academic Excellence:
- Oversee the development, assessment, and continuous improvement of academic programs, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality and relevance, particularly to baccalaureate-granting transfer institutions.
- Participate in the development, execution and regular evaluation of the Department’s Academic Master Plan.
- Promote the integration of emerging technologies and data-driven decision making in curriculum design and delivery.
- Foster a culture of academic excellence by encouraging innovative teaching methodologies and active learning strategies that cater to diverse learning styles.
Faculty Development and Support:
- Collaboration with the Human Resources Department to recruit, select, and mentor a diverse and highly qualified faculty, supporting their professional growth and development.
- Facilitate professional development and in-service training, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to new educational paradigms.
- Lead efforts in faculty evaluation, promotion, and retention, ensuring alignment with the college’s mission and strategic goals.
- Ensure the guidance and development of new faculty in their advancement to continuing contract status.
- Understand and follow the faculty union contract requirements.
- Ensure the annual development and completion of Academic Performance Review Process documents and review, making adjustments and improvements as need.
Student Success and Engagement:
- Collaborate with administration, faculty and staff to enhance student learning outcomes, retention, and success through personalized and adaptive learning strategies.
- Address student concerns and complaints, fostering a supportive and responsive academic environment.
- Fully partner with the Chief Student Services Officer to ensure alignment of work.
- Engage with students to understand their needs and aspirations, ensuring the Arts and Sciences programs remain student-centered.
- Fully partner with the Institutional Research and Effectiveness Department (IRE) to ensure the advancement of instructional program effectiveness and undifferentiated student outcomes.
Community and Industry Engagement:
- Represent Jackson College to external stakeholders, including other colleges, universities, civic organizations, and industry partners, building strong collaborative relationships.
- Drive community engagement initiatives that align academic programs with local and regional needs, enhancing the college’s role in community development and workforce readiness in partnership with other College departments.
- Develop and implement an Arts & Sciences Advisory Committee that minimally includes representatives of universities/colleges, community members, external organizations, etc.
Resource Management and Sustainability:
- Develop and manage the annual budget for the Arts and Sciences division, ensuring efficient, engagement of all department faculty, and effective use of resources.
- Lead sustainability initiatives within the division, incorporating sustainable practices into academic programs and operations.
- Lead a sustainability plan for full-time and adjunct faculty to ensure a sufficient resource and bench strength for ensuring that all classes are filled each semester.
- Oversee the strategic planning and market analysis for academic offerings, in partnership with the College’ Marketing and Public Relations Department, ensuring programs are current, marketable, and aligned with future workforce demands.
Innovation and Continuous Improvement:
- Encourage a culture of innovation by promoting research, experimentation, and the adoption of new technologies and methodologies in teaching and learning.
- Implement robust quality assurance processes to maintain high academic standards and compliance with accreditation requirements.
- Stay informed of national and global educational trends and best practices, guiding the Arts and Sciences division in continuous improvement efforts.
- Understand and fully deploy all requirements of the College’s regional accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Doctorate in an academic discipline or a related field preferred; minimum of a Master’s degree with advanced specialized training in administration required.
- At least five years of teaching experience at the college level and a minimum of three years in a leadership or administrative role in higher education.
- Demonstrated experience in innovative curriculum development, faculty leadership, and strategic planning.
Skills and Abilities:
- Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team of professionals.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and use hands to feel, finger, handle or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
WORK ENVIROMENT: The work environment characteristics describes here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
“This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required and shall not be construed as declaring the specific duties and responsibilities. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.
Supplemental Information
Jackson College only accepts on-line applications though this system. For assistance with this, please call 517-796-8468.
Please use your legal first and last names on your application. If you are hired you will have the opportunity to identify and utilize your preferred name.
The Jackson College Nepotism policy prohibits hiring of a relative or someone with a familial relationship to work in the same instructional department, office or administrative unit of the College including spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent or sibling of the employee or spouse, aunt, uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and members of the same household including domestic partner.
It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess (even if you are repeating it from your resume or cover letter). For instance, do not say, "See Resume or C/V." Your resume, cover letter that includes your salary requirements and an unofficial transcript for the degree required must be attached to your application. Applications will be rejected if incomplete. When you apply for the position, you will get to the document upload area where you will be given an opportunity to attach your documents such as your resume/vita, transcripts, etc. Instructions will also be found there.
The College reserves the right to request proof of degree or certification at a later date, if these documents are required as part of the qualifications for the position.
Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background as part of the employment process.
If selected you will be required to complete the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Employment Eligibility Verification form I-9 and provide documentation verifying identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Jackson College is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered.
Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.
A copy of Jackson College's Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report is available on the JC Campus Safety & Security website. The security report contains crime statistics for the previous three years for all of our campus locations and the annual fire safety report, which contains statistics for any reported fires in campus housing units and fire safety systems in these buildings. Additionally, the report contains policies, available resources and information concerning personal safety, fire safety and reporting procedures for both crimes and fires.
Applicants have rights under Federal employment laws . Jackson College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.
Jackson College provides a generous benefit package to full-time administrative employees that includes: medical, dental, vision, employee life/AD&D, optional life for employee and family, long and short-term disability,and travel insurances; personal illness, personal, bereavement and vacation leaves; tuition reimbursement and waivers; 16 paid holidays; and retirement plans. Details are available on the Jackson College website.
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