Associate Dean of Academic Planning (open)

Job Description and Responsibilities

The Associate Dean of Academic Planning (AD-AP) has oversight over the educational and academic planning activities of the school. The AD-AP directly reports to the dean of the school, but will also work closely with leadership at the College. The AD-AP is a key leader who serves as a bridge between faculty and staff to maximize academic effectiveness and help ensure that SAS is able to attract and retain outstanding students. The AD-AP role is reserved for tenured (rank of associate or full) faculty members of the SAS, and is expected to be 50% administrative effort.

The successful incumbent will have excellent written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills; working with a high degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and tact; experience building long-term professional relationships with a wide variety of different individuals based on trust, predictability, and effective communications; experience successfully promoting a positive working environment that encourages creativity, efficiency, and receptivity to change; and the ability to work as a member of a team in a dynamic environment. Having the ability to handle multiple priorities under deadlines while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail is of the utmost importance.

The current responsibilities of the AD-AP role include, but are not limited to:

  1. Manage academic programs and operations analytically and strategically:
    1. Assesses course offerings needed for student academic success and timely degree completion at the graduate and undergraduate levels and works with Institutional Research to develop robust analytical tools to aid this process.
    2. Evaluates opportunities for program access and helping to source or build capabilities within SAS and across UR for interdisciplinary offerings in collaboration with other Associate Deans in SAS, Hajim and the College and with GEPA.
    3. Work with Senior Financial Officer to develop policies and processes to ensure instructional costs remain in line with the school’s current and forecasted budget and to corroborate adjunct needs are aligned with requirements for student success.
    4. Establishes and maintain relationships with leadership, staff and faculty in each SAS unit.
    5. Works with unit leads, student advisors, and the Registrar to adjust teaching assignments and schedules and to review course cancellations and possible splitting of large sections to ensure student access.
    6. Works with Director of Faculty Affairs to keep Faculty Information System up to date based on FAR submissions and courses taught
    7. Addresses faculty issues involving complaints from students or other faculty, and mediate issues between faculty in conjunction with the AD-FA.
    8. Oversees teaching performance, and setting expectations as well as pedagogical standards and best practices in coordination with the director of the teaching center.
    9. Assembles data for academic external reviews and reporting purposes
    10. Coordinates assessment of academic success outcomes with the Data Insights team
  2. Coordinate curriculum design, curriculum review, design of new programs and major revisions to programs
    1. with Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College
    2. in consultation with program directors and curriculum
    3. provides a review of available resources and potential for student interest.
  3. Participate in Strategic Management
    1. Advises Dean on any matters of importance to the school, and alerts Dean to critical issues.
    2. Manages faculty interactions related to academic
    3. Participates in the annual SAS budget review for all areas of the School
    4. Advises on the implementation of the Strategic Plan areas related to education and academic potential.
    5. Represents SAS on appropriate University and external committees, such as the University Committee on Educational Effectiveness
    6. Works with Associate Vice Provost for Academic Equity, AD-FA, and AD-SI to advance DEI in our curriculum, and culture.
  4. Participate in key Student/Alumni/Advancement Events and Marketing Initiatives
    1. Attend the A&S National Council, AS&E Advisory Council and key alumni events.
    2. Attend student events such as welcome weekend, town halls,
    3. Collaborate with student leadership.