Vice president and dean of academic affairs

Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs

Full time/12 months

The following statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

POSITION SUMMARY
:
The Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs leads the faculty and the undergraduate academic program, graduate and non-traditional academic programs, and other areas designated by the President. The Vice President/Academic Dean encourages faculty development, provides creative leadership in new academic initiatives, oversees the recruitment and hiring of faculty and staff in academic affairs, and oversees the faculty promotion and tenure process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
:

• Academic Leadership & Strategic Planning
  • Provide overall academic leadership aligned with the institution’s mission and strategic plan.
  • Serve on the President’s Cabinet and collaborate with senior leadership to set goals and academic priorities.
  • Lead development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of academic programs.
  • Support and further the mission of the institution by serving as leader of the faculty, ensuring a creative, vital and dynamic academic program, including faculty development, faculty evaluation, and faculty hiring.
  • Oversee curriculum planning, approval, scheduling, and evaluation of academic programs.
  • Ensure instructional programs respond to community, workforce, and transfer needs.
• Faculty & Staff Leadership
  • Provide direction and supervision for academic department chairs and faculty including hiring, evaluation, and professional development.
  • Oversee the following offices and functions of the university, including hiring, evaluation, and professional development:
    Academic Affairs;
    University Registrar;
    Disability Services and the Learning Resource Center;
    Institutional Research;
    Musselman Library and University Archives;
    General and cross-cultural Education;
    The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center.
• Accreditation & Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with institutional, state, federal, and accreditation requirements (e.g., HLC or other bodies).
  • Work with or serve as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) to lead accreditation initiatives.
• Budget & Resource Management
  • Lead planning and oversight of academic budgets and resource allocation within Academic Affairs.
• Program Assessment
  • Direct assessment of student learning outcomes and academic program effectiveness.
  • Use data to inform decisions on curriculum adjustments.
• Policy & Governance
  • Develop, recommend, and implement academic policies and procedures in support of institutional goals.
• Institutional Representation & Collaboration
  • Represent Academic Affairs internally and externally (with boards, partners, community or K-12 systems).

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
:

• Acting in Executive Leadership Roles
  • Serve as principal institutional representative in the President’s absence.
  • Assist President with institutional governance tasks or external affairs.
• External Relations & Partnerships
  • Develop educational partnerships with industry, community organizations, or other colleges/universities.
  • Work on articulation agreements or cooperative programs with secondary and post-secondary institutions.
• Fundraising & Advancement
  • Support philanthropic efforts by engaging donors or external stakeholders on academic priorities.
• Special Initiatives & Task Forces
  • Lead or participate in campus committees, strategic task forces, accreditation self-studies, or broad institutional initiatives (equity, guided pathways, workforce projects).
• Crisis or Compliance Work
  • Respond to complex compliance issues and prepare reports for oversight entities; support legal/regulatory responses.

QUALIFICATION
:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties of this job.

Minimum

• Education and Experience
  • Earned terminal degree (PhD, EdD, or equivalent) from an accredited institution, appropriate to the Bluffton University’s academic mission.
  • 5-7 years progressive academic leadership experience with responsibility beyond a single…