With diminishing state support of higher education and increased operational costs, the need to identify new sources of revenue has increased considerably, and the work of garnering such support has become a primary function of academic deans in most institutional settings. Responsibilities associated with fundraising, the increasingly complex financial environment presented by issues of student access and equity, and increasing numbers of part-time faculty has made the role of the academic dean far more complex than it has been in the past.
The press of responsibility and the critical role assumed by academic deans is reflected in the increasing skills required for the position. Typically, academic deans are not only required to be scholars of highest repute but also to possess some measure of managerial and leadership talent. Communication with faculty is a central activity to the deanship and one that often provokes disagreement, if not conflict.
Faculty interactions often involve sensitive issues, such as tenure decisions and salary concerns, demanding an acute sensitivity to faculty needs and skills in problem-solving and conflict management. The most effective deans are skilled in building consensus, influencing outcomes in support of academic programs in a context of disparate goals, and in negotiating for resources in an increasingly scarce resource environment.
On a university-wide level, many of the rivalries among academic units are resolved in the relationship between the dean and the central administration. Thus, persuasiveness and ability to navigate the political environment are essential. Effective deans also possess skills in collaboration and integration that facilitate development and implementation of new academic programs and cultivation of new opportunities for research and student learning. Possibly one of the biggest challenges of academic deans is enacting leadership in a context where those being led neither believe they need to be led, nor are predisposed to succumb to administrative policy and procedural dictates.
To make the decision, they counsel that you assess your strengths and ponder whether you like that big-picture view. Van Acker puts it another way: you have to think about whether you value service at least as much as research.
Those interested in the job must also honestly assess their own people skills and leadership abilities. Steele says she did a self-assessment of which skills she needed to develop, and sought out mentorships, training programs and leadership positions. After jumping into this fast-paced role, new deans should work quickly to assess the environment and seek support.
Duclos recommends building community immediately. Go to everything, meet as many people as you can, and listen. Seek out other deans as well, says Dr. Andersen, who was surprised by the warm welcome he received from his fellow deans at the U of A. He adds that you should also assess your own skill set. You also need to adjust to the shift in dynamics that comes with leadership.
Academic deans may lead or develop educational strategies for a specific school within their university. They may also work in an administrative capacity, overseeing or collaborating with other members of faculty, staff, and the student body. On the academic side, deans take an active role in developing educational plans with professors, carrying out these plans, and determining the effectiveness of the programs in each individual department. Another major function of an academic dean is managing all aspects of the staff for his or her school within a university.
The dean also establishes standards for each department that are in line with the overall vision of the university or college and continually reviews faculty and academic performance to ensure that these standards are met. Academic deans can also have enrollment and business-related duties associated.
Their role can encompass recruiting new students and marketing academic programs. They must also monitor budget concerns for each department. For larger universities, academic deans may be in charge of overseeing each school, such as the business school, while at smaller colleges, multiple activities may fall under one department or committee. To become an academic dean, education professionals are typically required to have advanced degrees and extensive experience in education. The requirements to become a dean can vary by school.
Some universities might have more strict requirements about who is eligible to become a dean, such as applicants must hold tenure within a university for a certain amount of time.
Other deans may be appointed on the basis of their past professional accomplishments. Academic deans are also often required to hold a doctorate in higher education or a similar field.
Protected Health Information Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure adherence to Federal regulations and university policies and procedures instituted to safeguard protected health information PHI. Oversees that all faculty and personnel complete the appropriate level of training regarding access, use, and disclosure of PHI in accordance with Federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Supports and endorses cooperation with university compliance and monitoring efforts related to the access, use, and disclosure of PHI and reports instances of noncompliance to the appropriate compliance office. Reporting Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the timely fulfillment of technical, progress, and compliance reporting requirements in accordance with federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Project Closeout Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the submission of accurate and timely closeout documents to applicable federal agencies, university entities, and the sponsoring agency in accordance with federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures. Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure that appropriate documentation for the study is secured and maintained in accordance with Federal regulations and University and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Animal Welfare General Administrative Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the humane care and use of animals involved in research in accordance with federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures. Requires that all faculty and key personnel involved in animal research complete the required education for the humane care and use of animals and laboratory safety and radioactive materials in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Supports and endorses cooperation with university compliance and monitoring efforts related to animal welfare and reports instances of noncompliance to the appropriate compliance office. Preparation of Scientific Proposal Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the preparation of scientific proposals in accordance with Federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Protocol Preparation and Review Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure that animal research protocols comply with Federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures. Award Acceptance Terms and Conditions Requires that protocol complies with the terms and conditions of the award and that Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee IACUC protocol approval is in place prior to acceptance of award and the start of research.
Conduct of Research Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure that animal research is conducted in accordance with federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures. Reporting Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the timely fulfillment of technical, progress, and compliance reporting requirements in accordance with Federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Project Closeout Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the timely submission of accurate and timely closeout documents to applicable federal agencies, university entities, and the sponsoring agency in accordance with Federal regulations and University and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure that appropriate documentation for the study is secured and maintained in accordance with federal regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Environmental Health and Safety General Administrative Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure adherence to and support of federal, state, and local regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures instituted to protect the health and safety of research participants, personnel, and the environment. Requires that faculty and key personnel involved in handling hazardous or regulated materials are well trained in proper safety procedures and have completed the required environmental health and safety education in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Provides direction, resources, and oversight to help ensure the compliance of safety and environmental programs in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures.
Supports and complies with Stop Work decisions. Supports and endorses cooperation with university compliance and monitoring efforts related to environmental health and safety and reports instances of noncompliance to the appropriate compliance office.
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