Dean, Facundo Valdez School of Social Work

Position Details

Position Information

Position Dean, Facundo Valdez School of Social Work Full Time/Part Time Full Time Job Type Regular Position Summary
New Mexico Highlands University, an Hispanic Serving Institution and an aspiring Native American Non-Tribal Serving Institution in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Northern New Mexico, seeks a student-centered, visionary leader with an innovative spirit for the position of Dean of the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work ( FVSSW ). The FVSSW has a primary commitment to Hispanic and Native American population of the Southwest. The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the school, leading faculty, staff, and students at the Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Farmington campuses and online. The Dean also oversees the Native American Social Work Studies Institute and a proposed state Center of Excellence for Social Work and Behavioral Health. In 2020, the School of Social Work awarded degrees to 132 graduate and 81 undergraduate students.

New Mexico Highlands University is a 130 year-old university with an enrollment of nearly 2,700. The University is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, one-hour drive from Santa Fe (State Capital). Las Vegas is an historic city of 13,000 residents with more than 900 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. It lies on the edge of the 1.5 million-acre Santa Fe National Forest with opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, shopping, and dining. Situated at an elevation of 6,800 feet, Las Vegas gets an average sunshine of 275 days a year.

The Dean ensures the integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement of new and current academic programs and services, builds and maintains relationships with the many culturally diverse communities of New Mexico, promotes student success and satisfaction, engages in fund/friend-raising, works to increase enrollment and retention of students, and manages fiscal and other resources. The position also leads development of new academic programs and the enhancement of current ones. The Dean also promotes professional development, faculty research, and other scholarly activities. Other responsibilities include leading the development, evaluation, and administration of the school curriculum for all campuses including online. The successful candidate will have the experience and skills to advance the FVSSW in the state of New Mexico and regionally. The position will be located in Albuquerque with weekly trips to the Las Vegas campus.

The Dean reports directly to the Provost/ Vice President of Academic Affairs and is a member of the Provost Council and Deans Council. Duties and Responsibilities
• Be a champion of NMHU and the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work;
• Provide leadership to the FVSSW by developing, implementing, and evaluating the strategic plan specific to the School;
• Provide leadership in faculty recruitment;
• Oversee personnel matters involving academic and non-academic employees within the School including recruiting qualified candidates, and conducting of personnel evaluations in accordance with university standards;
• Make recommendations to the Provost regarding personnel appointments and re-appointments, promotions and tenure decisions and post-tenure review, annual staff evaluations, and dismissal, if necessary;
• Oversee faculty workload plans to ensure School operational efficiency;
• Articulate budgetary needs of the School and manage the allocation and expenditure of resources;
• Responsible for enrollment growth in the School including recruiting efforts, student retention, and attending various academic and social functions both on and off campus, including the Centers;
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration, cooperation, and scholarly activity;
• In collaboration with faculty and staff, guide the activities of the school and develop annual goals and objectives;
• Support the departments through involvement in relevant professional associations as well as state and national regulatory or accrediting agencies;
• In collaboration with the Provost, serve to support the Higher Learning Commission ( HLC ) accreditation efforts to include compiling data and preparing accreditation documents;
• Coordinate and oversee the assessment of academic programs, including student learning outcomes and assessment of the learning environment and learning opportunities, as per CSWE standards;
• Support university-wide assessment of key general education outcomes;
• Support departments in submission of grant applications and/or prepare proposals for outside funding of projects includeing oversight of the Title IV-E and SWEEP federal grants;
• Chairs or participates in academic or campus-wide committees as appointed by the Provost or voted on by faculty;
• Collaborate with program coordinators on the development of course schedules and student registration processes;
• Work with tribal leaders to ensure success of the Native American Social Work Studies Institute;
• Lead the Center of Excellence for Social Work, Mental and Behavioral health to ensure quality of programming across New Mexico;
• Lead the continued growth and development of in person and online program offerings within the FVSSW ;
• Maintain good working relationships with faculty and administration in all academic and non-academic sectors;
• Communicate effectively with constituents within the University, school districts, mental health agencies, surrounding communities, and state and national entities regarding the University;
• Attend conferences and seminars to inform the campus community of trends in social work;
• In collaboration with the Office of Advancement, develop a fundraising plan that supports the FVSSW’s goals;
• Work with and outside advisory board consisting of employers and alumni to keep the curriculum current to better prepare students for professional employment;
• Maintain regular attendance including visits to extended campus centers;
• Teach one class a year;
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Provost.

Minimum Job Requirements
EDUCATION :
An earned doctorate (Ph.D., DSW, Ed.D.) and a Master of Social Work degree from a regionally accredited institution.
EXPERIENCE :
• Possess a record of academic achievement in teaching, scholarship, service and/or experience
• Progressive leadership in higher education over a six-year period. Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with shared governance.
• Outstanding record of academic leadership;
• Executive level of social work professional experience;
• Experience with learning, teaching, quality, and oversight of asynchronous online programs;
• Demonstrated success with strategic planning and budget management;
• Demonstrated success with community engagement, professional organizations, legislators and fundraising;
• Demonstrated record of commitment to excellence in teaching and research;
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with faculty to develop and strengthen programs;
• Evidence of instituting programs that improve retention / graduation / enrollment;
• Evidence of promoting an environment of shared governance and fostering a sense of community;
• Experience with professional and regional accreditation bodies including CSWE ;
• Demonstrated achievement in the promotion of diversity, affirmative action, ADA and Equal Opportunity;
• Experience working in a collective bargaining environment.

Special Conditions for Eligibility
The Dean is expected to work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, and other campus and external state and local constituents. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, employers, and the professional community;
• Skill in supervising and mentoring faculty and staff;
• Ability to maintain currency in the social work field;
• Knowledge of the goals, objectives, structure and operations of a public university;
• Strong listening skills and mediation experience;
• Program evaluation, planning, and implementation skills;
• Knowledge of customer service standards and procedures;
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities;
• Ability to analyze budgetary expenditures for compliance with approved budget;
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals;
• Ability to plan and evaluate programs;
• Skill in establishing, directing and enforcing policies and regulations;
• Effective teambuilding skills and experience;
• Familiarity with and commitment to accreditation and assessment of student learning outcomes;
• Ability to teach graduate-level courses;
• Ability to supervise graduate student research and internships. Physical Demands
• Minimal physical requirements.
• Regular travel between campus locations. Working Environment
• Work is performed in an office/classroom setting. Pay Rate Commensurate with experience Work Location/Campus Center Albuquerque/SW Campus EEO Statement
New Mexico Highlands University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to the University values of diversity, accessibility, excellence, and responsiveness.

For disabled access or services call 505-454-3242 or email hr@nmhu.edu

Visit the link below for more information regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity:
Equal Employment Opportunity is THE LAW

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number AS661P Open Date 10/03/2022 Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicant Quick Link https://nmhu.peopleadmin.com/postings/7976 Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents

1. Cover Letter/ Letter of Interest
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Unofficial Transcripts Conferring Required Degree
4. Letter(s) of Recommendation
5. License/Certificate
6. Statement of Research Plans
7. Evidence of Teaching and Research Excellence
8. List of Three Professional References with Name, Address and E-Mail

Optional Documents

1. Statement of Philosophy
2. Teaching Philosophy