Associate Dean (Foundational Studies Division)

Working Hours: Specific work hours to be agreed upon by the supervisor and employee prior to the onset of employment.  

Travel Requirements: Position requires limited local travel; employee must have access to transportation. 

Summary: The Associate Dean (AD) provides administrative leadership for and management of all instructional programs and services within his/her assigned academic division(s). The AD also contributes to the development and implementation of policies, programs, and activities aligned with the strategic plan of the college.  Three principal areas of responsibility are to maximize student access, success, retention and completion utilizing assessment and data to guide decision-making; to insure course and program offerings are accessible, in-demand, current and responsive to college, community and industry needs; and to maintain and manage the fiscal and physical resources of the division.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Maximize student access, success, retention and completion utilizing assessment and data to guide decision-making: 

• Lead and work with faculty to review retention rates and strategies and recommend opportunities to enhance student success.
• Insure all Divisional assessment is completed and submitted to the Dean of Instruction and the Dean of Assessment, Research, and Planning.
• Facilitate problem solving for appropriate college personnel and students as required.
• Work with other administrators to ensure coordination of college-wide efforts to meet the goals of the College Strategic Plan.
• Plan, implement, and monitor progress toward instructional program goals.
• Supervise and review the collaborative work of the faculty to define academic division goals.
• Lead and coordinate faculty efforts in assessing student learning outcomes and other assessment activities.
• Provide input into articulation agreements.
• Prepare reports related to enrollment, assessment outcomes, or other information as requested by the Dean of Instruction.
• Orient and mentor all division faculty.
• Hire and evaluate adjunct faculty.
• Determine parameters of full-time faculty goals and insure they are met annually.
• Supervise and evaluate full–time and adjunct faculty, program coordinators and support staff assigned to an academic division as defined in the College’s Faculty Evaluation System and within the context of the appropriate collective bargaining agreements.
• Evaluate faculty performance plans.
• Act as the initial administrative representative in mediating and documenting complaints, issues and/or concerns regarding academic matters between students and faculty.
• Conduct division meetings for full-time and adjunct faculty as needed but not less than three per semester.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Academic Partnerships to create new pathways with K-12 as well as postsecondary institutions. 

2. Insure course and program offerings are accessible, in-demand, current and responsive to college, community and industry needs: 

• Oversee, research, and recommend the development of new courses and programs of study in response to College, industry and community needs.
• Support On-line learning initiatives.
• Determine course schedules and recommend additions or deletions of programs or courses.
• Insure Program Reviews are completed as scheduled and submitted to the Dean of Instruction and the Dean of Assessment, Research, and Planning.
• Continuously connect with partners including businesses, transfer institutions, and community agencies.
• Assign full-time and adjunct faculty course assignments/loads. Calculate overloads and adjunct remuneration working within the division’s budgetary parameters.
• Assist with the accreditation process for the school and programs, where appropriate.
• Insure that program advisory committees meet as required (at least annually), that appropriate membership lists are current, and minutes are kept up to date. 

3. Maintain and manage the fiscal and physical resources of the division : 

• Participate in budget development for the division as well as the overall academic affairs budget.
• Monitor all division fiscal expenditures making adjustments as necessary.
• Monitor the division’s inventory and maintenance needs of equipment; oversee the ordering process for supplies including instructional materials.
• Assist with the planning and preparation of grant proposals. 

4. Division(s) specific responsibilities:

• Insure the developmental curriculum utilizes best practices and remains focused on getting as many students as possible to their college level classes as quickly as possible with the best chance of success once they are there.
• Oversee division’s collaboration with admissions and advising to effectively transition applicant from placement to enrollment in developmental classes. 

5. Provide academic advising for division students as needed. 

6. Represent academic affairs and where appropriate lead efforts on College-wide strategic initiatives as assigned. 

7. Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean of Instruction. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise full-time and part-time employees in the assigned division. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, management and evaluation of individuals within the division. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Reading Area Community College policies, collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; recommending corrective action; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Required

• Master's degree in relevant field
• Demonstrated progressive management experience
• Must possess leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively manage the faculty, instructional support staff and administrative staff within the academic division(s).  

 
Preferred

• Experience managing in any of the disciplines within the areas of the division(s)
• Demonstrated experience in educational program development or curriculum design
• Community college teaching experience
• Bilingual communications (reading, writing and speaking) in English and Spanish is strongly preferred 

Other Skills and Abilities:                                                   

• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Ability to motivate a diverse group of individuals
• Excellent communication skills
• Commitment to the Community College mission

Computer Skills:  To Perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of internet software; spreadsheet software and word processing software.

Communication Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from students, staff, faculty, administration and members of the public. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Mathematical Skills:  Ability to work with mathematical and create and manage budgets.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

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 frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer: minority/female/disability/veteran