Dean of the College of Liberal Arts

METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY, a vibrant public, urban university, is seeking to hire a Dean for its College of Liberal Arts. This is a full-time, position within the division of Academic and Student Affairs.

The vision of Metropolitan State University is to be the premier urban, public, comprehensive system university in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area where the faculty, staff and students of Metropolitan State will reflect the area's rich diversity, build a culturally competent and anti-racist learning community and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to civic engagement.

Metropolitan State University provides an excellent, inclusive and engaging education to eliminate opportunity gaps and lead our communities to a prosperous and equitable future.  Metropolitan State University is a three-time recipient of the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, most recently in 2019.  Federally recognized as a Minority Serving Institution, its employees serve approximately 11,000 post-traditional learners, two-thirds of whom identify as belonging communities of color or American Indian nations, are first in their family to attend college, and/or are eligible for Pell grants.  Metropolitan State is recognized by CollegeNet as a leading higher education promoter of social mobility for students (Ranked #35 out of 1458 in 2019).  The university offers programs leading to baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees.  We provide accessible, high quality liberal arts, professional and graduate education with continued emphasis on marginalized groups, including adult learners. Recognized in 2008 and 2014 by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement and named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the university is committed to academic excellence and community engagement through curriculum, teaching, scholarship, and services designed to support an urban mission.

The University recently completed a strategic plan for the next five years with a theme of “Building a Resilient, Student Ready University.” The innovative programs of the College of Liberal Arts directly support the university’s mission and strategic goals.

Metropolitan State University has responded to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic by offering nearly all of its courses in a fully online format for the 2020-2021 academic year, limiting any in-person instruction to courses for which in-person learning is essential for students to achieve the learning outcomes. In addition, the majority of employees are working remotely taking advantage of technological tools to engage students and complete their work.  The search for this position will be conducted using web conferencing technology.

Visit the Metropolitan State University website to learn more about the university, our programs, and our students. Learn more about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities at their website. Access campus safety information and crime statistics at the Public Safety and Security website.

The College of Liberal Arts houses the programs in humanities, social sciences, communications and the arts.  The college is organized into nine departments, Ethnic and Religious Studies, History, Literature and Language, Philosophy, Social Science, and the School of Communication, Writing, and the Arts which includes the departments of Academic Writing and Reading, Fine Arts, Professional Communication, and Technical Communication and Interaction Design. These fields make up the heart of a university education. Our departments develop students' skills in thinking, writing, communicating, as well as provide the insights and advantages of understanding history and human culture. We offer a wide variety of majors and minors in these fields and provide many of the classes that fulfill general education requirements. We offer undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Our faculty are experts in their field and have a proven record of excellence in teaching and research.  www.metrostate.edu/academics/liberal-arts .

The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is charged with leading the College in support of the overall strategic aspirations and plans of the University and advocating for CLA faculty, students, staff, and our community partners, keeping the success of students as a primary focus of their work. Specific responsibilities of the position include strategic planning for the College that is aligned to the University’s plan, program evaluation and development, community outreach, recruitment and selection of faculty and staff, building and fostering cooperative relationships internally and externally, managing the finances and budget of the College of Liberal Arts, and fundraising. The dean provides vision for the development of resources and services that meet the scholarly and intellectual needs of CLA and the university community and works closely with other university officers to advance the overall needs of the university. The dean is directly responsible for the evaluation of CLA faculty, including review of their professional development plans and reports, and carries out the necessary activities related to promotion and tenure. The dean is the chief administrative officer for CLA.  The dean is part of the Academic and Student Affairs Executive Cabinet which provides strategic leadership for the Academic and Student Affairs division, advises the Provost, and collaborates to achieve university-wide academic and student support initiatives.  The dean works closely with other university officers to advance the overall priorities and strategies of the university.

The successful candidate will have a record of accomplishment, which demonstrates the leadership competencies needed to manage these responsibilities:

• Articulate and implement a student-centered vision for the college that supports the academic and institutional mission and vision.
• Develop, recommend, implement, and evaluate high-quality, innovative academic programs for the College of Liberal Arts.  Promote the college’s educational, research, and creative initiatives. Coordinate the overall assessment and evaluation of the college’s programs.
• Work collaboratively with faculty and staff within a robust collective bargaining environment.
• Provide leadership and supervision that emphasizes commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity in the recruitment, hiring, promotion, tenure, evaluation, and professional development of faculty and staff, including both full-time and part-time faculty.  Direct the work of faculty and staff, including the approval of faculty assignments and staff position descriptions, training, and orientation of new employees, approval and/or critique of work and performance, and approval of time records and leave requests.
• Promote an academic climate of mutual respect that will facilitate excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.  Support a socially responsible community, enhance cultural diversity, and inspire others to work toward common goals.
• Support the success and persistence of a diverse student body by maintaining an educational environment which supports the interests and needs of historically marginalized groups.
• Develop and strengthen cooperative arrangements with community partners and other institutions to expand enrollment and improve educational opportunities.
• Participate in university planning, policy-making, and executive leadership of the university.
• Manage complex tasks and adapt to changing institutional priorities using a collaborative and collegial work style.
• Provide consultation for handling personnel problems, responding to employee complaints and grievances, and addressing unusual situations.
• Promote a culture focused on anti-racism, engagement, and inclusion.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in the college to better serve students and contribute to strategic college and university goals.
• In collaboration with departments, develop, review, and approve all program planning, college budgets and fiscal plans, and implement plans within the approved budget framework.
• Represent the university within the academic community and in professionally related activities of the local, state, regional, national, and international levels and build relationships with organizations to support the work of the College of Liberal Arts.
• Serve on the Provost’s Academic and Student Affairs Executive Council (ASAeC) and the President's Cabinet.
• Identify, cultivate, involve, and solicit the community, alums, and friends of the university in developing and sustaining an active external fundraising program.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A doctorate or equivalent terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution in a liberal arts field (not limited to the disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts).
• 5+ years of faculty experience in a regionally accredited higher education setting, the achievement of tenure and rank of Associate Professor, and 3+ years of substantial administrative experience as a dean, associate or assistant dean, coordinator, director, or department chair.
• Demonstrated record of academic or professional accomplishment and a record of scholarly work and publication and/or creative achievements.
• Demonstrated commitment to the success of culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a supervisor or a mentor supporting faculty or staff development.
• Evidence of excellent, culturally-responsive communication skills (written and verbal) with a variety of persons and groups.
• History of working collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, and administration in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A demonstrated commitment to the mission of an urban-focused university.
• Demonstrated experience with innovative academic programs, pedagogical approaches, and/or modes of delivery.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuing quality improvement and/or experience with organizational development.
• Experience seeking, developing and leading partnerships involving internal and external constituencies, such as across university units and with other system campuses, and/or with community, professional, or governmental organizations or agencies.
• Knowledge of academic advising, student-engagement and retention principles and practices, and successful leadership experience with professional and faculty advisors.
• Leadership experience working in a collective bargaining environment.
• Evidence of grant acquisition and/or fundraising success.

Salary:  This Administrator positon is assigned to a Range 10 as outlined in the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities (Minnesota State) Personnel Plan for Administrators (see link below), and is commensurate with education and experience. 

* Employment for this position is covered by the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Personnel Plan for Administrators.

https://www.minnstate.edu/system/working/docs/contracts/2017-2019%20Administrators%20Plan_Final.pdf

Application:  To apply, go to http://metrostate.peopleadmin.com/postings/1612

*To comply with privacy and data practices requirements, please refrain from including personal information or photographs in your application materials.

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Closing Date: January 19, 2021

Qualified applicants are required to attach the following documents to their online application:

• Cover letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position.
• Current curriculum vita or resume
• An equity and inclusion statement
• Names of four (4) references with addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers.
• Transcripts - Valid unofficial copies of your transcript showing conferred/awarded date, your name and the academic institution’s name/logo are required.  We do not accept copy/paste word documents with a list of courses/grades or DARS reports.  If selected for hire, official original transcripts will be required.

If you have other questions related to this job announcement, please contact Carla Ballard, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition Specialist at 651.793.1319 or email at hrrecruiting@metrostate.edu

For TTY, call Minnesota Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-627-3529.

Notice: In accordance with the Minnesota State Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to Minnesota State’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.

Metropolitan State University is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.