Job Description
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences General Statement of Duties: Westfield State University seeks an innovative and collaborative leader who will bring scholarly and administrative skills to the role of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Dean will have the opportunity to lead a talented group of faculty in the University's most diverse College in terms of the breadth of disciplines represented. The Dean will supervise an Administrative Assistant and the academic department chairs; manage a significant budget; and provide leadership to the College of 112 full-time, tenure/tenure-track faculty and a comparable amount of part-time faculty.
The Dean will be a champion of the liberal arts, leading the faculty in developing a compelling vision for what it means to provide a public liberal arts education in disciplines ranging from Data Science to Music. The Dean must provide active leadership for the College's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and promote an environment that advances inclusive excellence and actively opposes discrimination and intolerance. The Dean will work with the campus community to sustain a learning environment that recognizes the value of an education in Arts and Sciences and the value of a transformative education for Westfield's diverse student body. The Dean will also maintain a quality assurance system for continuous program improvements.
Leadership Opportunities Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will serve as the senior academic officer for the College. The Dean promotes excellence in curricula; teaching and learning; diversity, equity, and inclusion; academic advising; scholarship and creative activities; professional development; and the stewardship of financial and other resources. The Dean develops faculty leadership within the College and enables faculty to develop their scholarly and pedagogical visions to fully realize their strengths.
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.
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 systemic 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 fundraising.
Academic Department Support - Works with department chairs, program coordinators, and faculty to ensure that all academic programs meet the needs and demands of today's 21st Century learners. This may include new curriculum offerings that are responsive to student interests; diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; 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.
Faculty 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 public education.
- Assists departments in mentoring new faculty to maintain the sense of community and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the liberal arts 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 in an academic discipline appropriate to the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Demonstrated record of distinguished teaching, research/scholarship, and service consistent with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Professor in one of the University's academic departments.
Preferred Qualifications - Evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and experience with programs and pathways to support historically underrepresented groups.
- 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.
Additional Information:
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 Benefits & Wellness webpage .
Disability Accommodations Westfield 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 Check Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.
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About Westfield State University
In 1839, Horace Mann founded Westfield State University as the first public higher education institution without barrier to race, gender or economic class. The University is dedicated to providing educational, working and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people including minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and other protected persons, or individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds.
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