Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Shippensburg University invites applicants for the position of Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Shippensburg University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, with a mission “driven by purpose and truly collaborative engagement, our inclusive educational institution fosters belonging, honors proven practices, and celebrates achievements for the betterment of our community.” A comprehensive university offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, Shippensburg’s primary commitment is to student learning and personal development through proven approaches in the classroom as well as through a wide variety of high quality, out-of-class experiences. Experiential learning and student research are key components of a Shippensburg education, including hosting the Minds@Work student research conference, a celebration of undergraduate student research. Overall, our purpose is to help build a better world through people empowered with the knowledge, abilities, skills, and values to compete in a complex and evolving society.

Shippensburg University is a predominantly undergraduate institution, with roughly 5,000 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students. The borough of Shippensburg, while small itself (2021 population 5,598), is in an area with upwards of 30,000 residents within the local school district. The cost of living is just below the national average and it is close to many outdoor recreational opportunities. The Shippensburg University campus is situated on the border of Cumberland and Franklin Counties, comprising one of the fastest growing areas of the state. The campus is centrally located in the Cumberland Valley within the Mid-Atlantic region, with easy access to I-81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76). The major metropolitan centers of Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA are all within a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest of the three colleges at Shippensburg University and provides foundational education upon which students can prepare for success in any way they define it. The college encompasses the traditional liberal arts – Arts & Humanities, Mathematics, Natural & Physical Sciences and Social Sciences. It is also the home of the Milton and Doreen Morgan School of Engineering established in 2018. Shippensburg in the only State System University that houses six engineering disciplines: civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, software, and computer science. The College has multiple departments and offers a variety of majors, minors, and certificates including a Degree Completion Program, several interdisciplinary programs, and nine graduate programs. To promote outreach and collaboration with the community, the College of Arts and Sciences supports the Business Relations on Advanced Designs for Software Innovation, Development and Engineering Center [BROADSIDE], the Center for Applied Research and Policy Analysis [CARPA], the Center for Land Use and Sustainability [CLUS], and the Fashion Archives and Museum [FAM]. The College has approximately 160 faculty, the majority of whom hold the terminal degree in their field. In the Fall 2022, 2,023 students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences — 1,848 were undergraduates and 175 were graduate students.

The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is the chief academic officer of the College and reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Dean is a member of the President’s Cabinet and through roles on many University committees establishes a collaborative environment that engages faculty, staff, and students in promoting the mission and effectively carrying out the work of the university.

Expectations of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences include the following:

Provide Leadership to Fulfill the College’s Vision and Mission

· Serve as a strong internal and external advocate for the academic and public mission of the college, its faculty, and its students.

· Support collaborative decision-making processes with all stakeholders, particularly in faculty-driven decisions in the context of shared governance and collective bargaining.

· Coordinate the existing strong graduate and undergraduate curricula and facilitate program evolution, whether building on traditional strengths or developing cutting- edge specialties, within existing disciplines.

· Articulate vision and mission aligned with the University Strategic Plan and the Academic Master Plan, and work to advance strategic priorities.

· Develop, sustain, and enhance diverse and inclusive partnerships with community agencies, institutions of higher education and other potential stakeholders.

· Engage in advancement activities in collaboration with the SU Foundation.

· Preside over the College Council, College Advisory Board, co-chair the General Education Council, and serve as member of the President’s Cabinet, Provost/Deans Council, University Curriculum Committee and other university and college committees.

· Participate in formulation, evaluation, and administration of college policy.

· Maintain effective communication and employ appropriate techniques and strategies to resolve disputes between students and faculty.

· Ensure effective management of financial resources including budget planning and management and the ability to prioritize college resources.

· Perform duties as outlined in the Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement and in accordance with the State System and University policies.
 

Quality Assurance through Accreditation, Program Review, and Compliance Monitoring

· Facilitate the processes for quality assurance, compliance, and continuous improvement via external accreditation and internal programmatic/institutional assessment in cooperation with other campus leaders including the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

· Understand and provide guidance necessary to comply with specific accreditation and oversight procedures as directed by: Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC), American Chemical Society (ACS), Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), PASSHE Board of Governors, and Pennsylvania Department of Education.

· Exercise primary responsibility for student related matters such as graduation requirements, adherence to academic policies, and monitoring of academic standing.

· Share in responsibility for college’s contributions to meeting the University’s indicators for sustainability.
 

Support an Environment of Teaching/Learning, Scholarly Inquiry, and Service for Faculty & Students

· Recognize and encourage effective, creative, and innovative teaching methods with an emphasis on high-impact practices by providing appropriate professional development for faculty.

· Support resource advancement through research grant development, partnerships within and outside the college and via partnerships with the Shippensburg University Foundation.

· Foster faculty research and scholarly inquiry, including the scholarship of teaching and learning with an emphasis on the teacher-scholar model.

· Develop, sustain, and enhance recruitment strategies to attract and retain diverse faculty, staff and students who equitably represent a multicultural society.

· Advance the use of relevant and appropriate technology to optimize teaching and learning as well as assessment.

Other duties of the Dean include:

· Encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts and programs among the Colleges of the university.

· Coordinate secondary education certification requirements with the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.

· Collaborate with the Executive Director of Admissions and the Director of the Graduate School in the development and implementation of appropriate standards for admitting competent students into the programs of the College and participates in recruitment activities.

· Review class schedules as submitted by departments and programs, keeping the College within full-time equivalent faculty allocation limits.

· Evaluate the College faculty based on appropriate observations and evaluations in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

· Serve, in many instances, as the initial hearing officer in faculty grievances in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

· Is responsible, along with other University officials, for the supervision and use of existing physical facilities and the incorporation of new technological equipment and programs.

All Shippensburg University employees are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the University’s core values of teamwork and collaboration, dependability, initiative, problem solving, and clear communication. University employees are expected to demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills with all members of the campus community. They will strive to maintain integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency by upholding customer service throughout all levels of performance.

University employees may work closely with individuals of diverse backgrounds and race, as well as those of differing religious affiliations, sexual orientation, and gender. They are expected to treat individuals with respect and uphold an environment that is free of prejudicial, discriminatory, or harassing conduct.

Safeguarding confidential, personal data and/or records of employees, students, customers, and other related constituents is the responsibility of all University employees. It is the duty of all members of the University community to take part in the maintenance of a safe campus.