Dean for Teaching, Learning and Assessment

About Curry College:

Founded in 1879, Curry College is a private, four-year, liberal arts-based institution in Milton Massachusetts. In addition to the main campus classes for adult learners are also offered at our campus at Cordage Park in historic Plymouth. Curry College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Curry College offers 27 undergraduate majors, over 60 minors and concentrations, as well as five graduate programs.

The Curry College mission is to educate and graduate students prepared to engage in successful careers and active citizenship with a global perspective. They are an inclusive community of diverse learners and educators, committed to continuing their legacy of developing effective communicators with reflective and critical thinking skills. They mentor and empower their students, building meaningful relationships that inspire them to achieve their ambitions.

Curry College provides rigorous and relevant academic programs to undergraduate and graduate students, and their rich blend of liberal arts and career-directed programs is enhanced by practical field experiences and co-curricular activities. Learning at Curry extends beyond the classroom and is embedded in all that they do.

Diversity and a culture of equity and inclusion among students, faculty and staff are crucial to the mission statement of Curry College.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sex identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law, including Title IX.

Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Dean for Teaching, Learning and Assessment provides institutional leadership in supporting faculty in teaching, professional development, and scholarship. The Dean also works closely with all academic programs to improve student learning through systematic learning outcome assessments and program review.  The Dean also works with the Academic Affairs leadership team on NECHE accreditation and reporting.  Reporting to the Provost, the Dean is part of the senior leadership team in Academic Affairs and is a member of the Senior Staff.  

Essential Functions:

1. Provide leadership for and administration of the Faculty Center for Professional Development and Curriculum Innovation:

• Coordinate and supervise:
  • Budgets, plans, reports, assessment
  • Newsletters, blog, website, other communications
  • Calendars and events
  • Staff
• Lead and support curriculum innovation and programming, consistent with enhancing teaching effectiveness.
• Identify best practices and innovations in pedagogy, and design programs to advance their implementation. 
• Identify best practices and innovations in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and design programs to advance their implementation. 
• Facilitate the scholarship of teaching and learning.
• Promote a campus climate that fosters inclusiveness and diversity.
• Working in collaboration with the Faculty Center staff to maintain the Faculty page on portal, including the assessment effectiveness page.
• Facilitate the development of a team of motivated professionals through coaching, support and a commitment to staff development.

2. Advance and support the application and integration of academic technology:

• Work collaboratively with the Education Technology Committee and ITS to advance integration of technology in teaching and learning.
• Lead initiatives that advance hybrid, hyflex and on-line teaching development.
• Work closely with the Instructional Technologist and ITS to provide direction for academic technology adoption and planning including the Learning Management System and related academic technologies.
• Support ITS and Facilities in the deployment of classroom technology (e.g. training, needs assessment).

3. Lead Faculty Recruitment and On-Boarding Process:

• Serve as the liaison to all faculty search committees at the direction of the Provost.
• Promote effective faculty recruitment and hiring practices.
• Lead comprehensive faculty on-boarding - including New Faculty Orientation- and mentoring programs for both full and part-time faculty in coordination with Human Resources and the Provost.

4. Lead initiatives that support Faculty development, evaluation and achievement:

• Manage the Dean's Fund, for faculty professional development.
• Chair the Joint Committee on Release Time.
• Review and make recommendations to the Provost on proposed sabbaticals. 
• Plan, direct and oversee the annual Faculty Retreat.
• Work with various committees and task forces on issues related to faculty development and achievement.
• Prepare Chair, Director and Coordinator evaluations consistent with Collective Bargaining Agreement specifications.
• Prepare and conduct workshops to support faculty preparing their Departmental Evaluation Committee portfolios. 

5. Support Assessment, Accreditation, and Planning Efforts:

• Co-chair the Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee (LOAC).
• Serve as a member of Institutional Review Board and member of Institutional Research Steering Committee.
• Provide ongoing faculty development programming on best practices in learning outcomes assessment.
• Take leadership and provide support for NECHE and professional accreditation processes and reports including substantive change applications.
• Lead and support academic program review and professional accreditation/self-studies and maintain associated data toolkits.
• Support/lead Strategic Plan initiatives working directly at discretion of Provost.

6. Grantsmanship:

• Provide direct support for and leadership of grant proposal development, writing and stewardship.
• Serve as a member of the Grants Advisory Committee.

Additional Functions:

• Participate in planning and attendance at major academic functions (e.g. Convocation, Commencement, Accepted Student Days).
• Serve as grievance officer and investigator in faculty conduct matters.
• Serve on the Academic Leadership Team.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor consistent with executing tasks and responsibilities for the Academic Affairs Division.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate or terminal degree in the field.
• At least 5-7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education administration.
• Expected Knowledge and Skills:
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in administering these priorities: faculty development, learning outcomes assessment and program review.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience with developing college-wide academic assessment models to enhance teaching and learning.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience with overseeing faculty searches and hiring processes.
  • Experience in managing budgets and allocating resources.
  • Strong computer skills.
  • Demonstrated experience with planning and managing academic technology.
  • Experience with accreditation report and program review writing.
  • Demonstrated academic leadership and vision.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work within a collegial, team-based environment.
  • Demonstrated grantsmanship experience.
  • Experience in teaching - face-to-face, hybrid, hyflex and online.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in faculty development research and associated best practices.

Additional Information:

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Curry College will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

At the College's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be excepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the College, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Employment in this position is contingent upon the successful completion of all required pre-employment background checks.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be directed to the College's Title IX Coordinator, Rachel King at Rachel.king@curry.edu, (617) 979-3516, or King Academic Administration Building, 55 Atherton St, or US Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights ("OCR") - Boston Office, 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-3921, (617) 289-0111.

Application Instructions:

Please apply online at https://www.curry.edu/about-us/community-resources/employment/job-opportunities for consideration. Interested applicants must submit the following:

• a cover letter
• a resume; and
• a list of three professional references, one of which must be a former or current supervisor, including complete contact information and professional titles.