Dean of the College of Professional Studies

Dean of the College of Professional StudiesCampus Title: Dean of the College of Professional StudiesState Job Title: DeanDepartment: Academic AffairsJob Code: HA7000FLSA Status: ExemptFunding: 7115-0100Bargaining Unit: NUPJob Type: Full-time, PermanentTimeframe: 52 WeeksShift: Monday-Friday 9am-5pmRegular Days Off: Saturday and SundaySupervision Received: Reports directly to the ProvostSalary: $165,000.00-$180,000.00 (commensurate with education and experience)APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR FORWARDED FROM THIS SOFTWARE APPLICATIONGeneral Statement of Duties:Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the College of Professional Studies will serve as the senior academic officer for the College. The Dean promotes excellence in curricula; teaching and learning; academic advising; scholarship and creative activities; professional development; the stewardship of financial and other resources; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Dean develops faculty leadership within the College and enables faculty to develop their scholarly and pedagogical visions to fully realize their strengths. The Dean will lead all accreditation efforts for accredited programs in the College and will ensure that all programs meet national and state professional standards. The new Dean will need to provide leadership in several significant initiatives that are currently underway at Westfield and within the College. These include the implementation of the University's new general education program (Westfield Integrative Student Experience: WISE) and the accompanying Academic Plan in each department. WISE is centered on five student learning outcomes chosen by the faculty and implemented in fall 2024. The Dean will work with departments to ensure their majors are relevant to the 21st Century student. Other initiatives include supporting the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan and continuing to foster Westfield's culture of assessment of both student learning outcomes and academic advising. The Dean will also assist in refining our professional graduate programs to better meet the interests and needs of today's market.Duties and Responsibilities:Duties include but not limited to:Essential:ADMINISTRATION OF THE COLLEGE• Works with department chairs and faculty to develop a vision for the programs within the College that are consistent with Westfield's mission, the University's strategic plan, and the Academic Plan of the Division of Academic Affairs.• Shares the University's deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while working to introduce strategies, systems, and initiatives that work to counter the inherent biases within higher education.• Works with the Provost and other deans to develop and administer policies that guide the consistent and responsible use of budgets within the College. This includes the strategic deployment of tenure-track faculty lines, ensuring the consistent allocation of operating funds across academic departments, and assisting department chairs in managing their budgets.• Manages the course schedules in the College to ensure course offerings match student needs.• Continuously review the organizational structure and operations of the College to enhance efficiency and respond to opportunities.• Represents the University's academic interests to external stakeholders, including other educational institutions, government agencies, industry partners, and community organizations, including cultivation and fundraisingACADEMIC DEPARTMENT SUPPORT• Works with department chairs, program directors, and faculty to ensure that all academic programs meet the needs and demands of today's 21st Century learners. This may include new curricular offerings that are responsive to student interests and emerging career opportunities. It may also include enhancing Westfield's professional graduate program offerings.• Works with academic departments to develop effective assessment plans that measure the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum.• Assists departments in enhancing their connections to alumni and fundraising.• Supports and enhances the College's capacity to fund and conduct research and creative activity.• Leads the ongoing accreditation efforts of the academic departments to ensure that all relevant programs maintain national recognitionFACULTY SUPPORT AND EVALUATION• Reviews application portfolios in Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure, as well as six-year professional assessments, and makes recommendations to the Provost.• Reviews tenure-track position requests from departments and makes recommendations to the Provost.• Works with department search committees to evaluate candidates for faculty and staff positions to ensure we hire high quality people who share our commitment to our mission.• Assists departments in mentoring new faculty to maintain the sense of community and commitment to public education that characterizes Westfield.• Supports faculty scholarship and other creative efforts and assists with grant applications.• Works with appropriate governance committees and other offices to develop and implement meaningful faculty development opportunities.• When appropriate, holds the responsibility and shares governance for hearing and responding to faculty or staff issues.• Evaluates staff and makes recommendations for advancement.Job Requirements:Required Qualifications• Earned terminal degree and demonstrated record of distinguished teaching, research/scholarship, and service consistent with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Professor within a department at the university.Preferred Qualifications• A demonstrated history of an open, collaborative, and collegial leadership style that demonstrates a commitment to shared governance and the ability to earn the trust of faculty, students, staff, and administrators.• Ability to work collaboratively with academic departments and faculty to ensure academic programs are innovative, current, and relevant.• Experience developing, overseeing, and assessing professional graduate programs that serve recent graduates and working adults.• A record of progressively substantial and successful experience in academic administration including, but not limited to, budgeting, strategic planning, and personnel management.• Experience successfully leading academic departments through national accreditation and program recognition.• Evidence of an ability to balance multiple competing demands and priorities and a strong track record of problem solving and proactively addressing challenges.• Evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and experience with programs and pathways to support historically underrepresented groups.• Ability to work within a unionized environment with shared governanceAdditional Information:Salary:Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the https://www.mass.edu/forfacstaff/classificationspecs/home.asp.Employee Benefits:Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.• Health Insurance: Westfield State offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.• Retirement: the MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.• Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.• Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.• Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University's https://westfield.ma.edu/offices/hr-titleix-eo/benefits-wellness.Disabi… AccommodationsWestfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.Background CheckEmployment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6724507jeid-46d69f9392eb7b4098dff7b2994a815a