Associate Dean for Admissions & Strategic Engagement, School of Pharmacy

Mission or Goal of Unit:

Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a premier urban, public research university with a genuine commitment to student success and community service. One of just a handful of universities to receive both a "Very High Research Activity" status and a "Community Engaged" designation from the Carnegie Foundation, VCU also boasts nine programs in the U.S. News and World Report's top 10, as well as the region's top-rated medical center.

VCU's character, however, extends far beyond just our rankings. One of the most diverse campuses in the country, the unique backgrounds of our faculty, staff and students create a vibrant, supportive atmosphere both in and out of the classroom.

At VCU, we pride ourselves on having knowledgeable, approachable faculty, who put students first. Much like our students, our faculty think beyond disciplinary boundaries, and work together to explore ideas, create questions and seek solutions.

Finally, the lively and welcoming city of Richmond provides the ideal backdrop for VCU's academic work. Rich in culture and history, the city becomes a living laboratory, where our faculty, staff and students can tackle problems directly affecting our local communities and see the impact of their work first-hand.


About the School of Pharmacy:

The School of Pharmacy has a 125-year tradition beginning with the Medical College of Virginia and continuing to the present. Ranked in the top 20 of Schools of Pharmacy nationwide, the school is dedicated to graduating outstanding future pharmacists and scientists who will improve human health, foster exemplary research, and provide sustaining contributions to inter professional patient care. The University recognized the School of Pharmacy as the highest-ranking academic unit for Excellence in Inclusive Excellence.

About the Office of Admissions:

The organizational objective of the Office of Admissions is to identify, recruit, and admit a diverse student body of outstanding intellectual ability to the School of Pharmacy through a comprehensive admissions process. The School of Pharmacy invites you to apply for our Associate Dean for Admissions & Strategic Engagement position.

Chief Purpose of this position:

Reporting to the Dean, the Associate Dean for Admissions and Strategic Engagement is responsible for all prospective student engagement opportunities and admissions processes across degree programs (i.e., Pharm.D., Ph.D., dual degree, and masters). The Associate Dean serves as a member of the School’s Executive Committee and participates in planning, budgeting and policy making for the School.

Position Responsibilities:

1. Recruitment: The Associate Dean is responsible for developing and implementing annual and long-range enrollment management strategies that will complement and support the School's strategic plan. This includes designing, coordinating and implementing the School’s recruitment plan for Doctor of Pharmacy, dual degree (Doctor of Pharmacy/ Master of Science; Doctor of Pharmacy/ Doctor of Philosophy; Doctor of Pharmacy/ Master of Business Administration; Doctor of Pharmacy/ Certificate in Aging Studies), and graduate (Master’s and Ph.D. programs for students seeking to become pharmacists or pharmaceutical scientists.) This includes coordinating campus visits; representation at college fairs programs; establishing positive relationships with referral institutions; and, communicating with prospective students, parents and other external groups about admissions practices and procedures to attract a diverse student body of outstanding intellectual ability. This position will coordinate programs for middle and high school students associated with the VCU Diversity P.A.T.H.S. program. Additionally, the Associate Dean is responsible for the development and revision of recruitment publications and related materials including the School’s Professional and Graduate Program Bulletin.
2. Admissions: Serving as an ex-officio member of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree Admissions Committee, Graduate Admissions Committee, and a member of the Dual Degree Programs Steering Committee, the Associate Dean is responsible for the oversight of the admissions process for professional, dual degree, and graduate students. The Associate Dean is responsible for the initial review of applications, the coordination of on-campus interviews, and the review process for applicants being considered for admission, and all follow-up communications with accepted applicants. The Associate Dean coordinates enrollment management planning with the Dean and collaborates with members of the Admissions Committee to monitor and evaluate admission applications according to predetermined criteria.
3. Marketing & Strategy: Collaborating with Senior Director for Communications, Associate Dean for Student Success, and the School of Pharmacy's Technology team, the Associate Dean will develop and implement a comprehensive marketing plan that supports achievement of enrollment and student success goals. This work can be accomplished by working closely with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and the VCU offices of institutional research and decision support (IRSD) and Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success (SEMMS) to identify enrollment trends and develop projections and effective yield strategies for recruitment, admission and financial aid decisions by interpreting statistical models and generating comprehensive enrollment reports. The Associate Dean will also serve as a public spokesperson and advocate for student access and success. The Associate Dean will need to build strong and supportive relationships across campus, with prospective and current students and parents, as well as our feeder institutions with CRM optimization serving as the basis for this work.
4. Staff Supervision: The Associate Dean oversees the Office Admissions through the direct and indirect supervision of support staff. Routine tasks and duties are delegated in accord with University policy and guidelines. Annual written performance evaluations of personnel are conducted in timely fashion.
5. Student Services: The Associate Dean serves as an ex officio member and provides all the administrative support for the Scholarship and Awards Committee. This position will also serve as a steering committee member of the VCU Summer Academic Enrichment Program and facilitate the coordination of the pharmacy portion of 6-week program.
6. Faculty Responsibilities: The Associate Dean maintains the traditional responsibilities of a faculty member by participating in teaching, scholarship, and service activities. These activities are coordinated with the appropriate department chair. This position serves as course coordinator for PHAR-201 (Introduction to Pharmacy) offered to undergraduate students on the Monroe Park campus each spring semester.
7. Other Duties Assigned: The Associate Dean works collaboratively with the Dean and other Associate Deans, department chairs, student leaders, School of Pharmacy faculty and other members of the University community. The Associate Dean assumes all other administrative duties as assigned by the Dean, which may relate to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Associate Dean represents the School on various university committees. Travel within Virginia and to national and regional meetings will be required.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
• Advanced degree in related field
• Consistent work experience related to pharmacy education
• Student mentor experience
• Collegial management style
• Strong organizational abilities and time management skills
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to serve as a student advocate to faculty and administration
• Effectively create community relationships
• Demonstrated experience with use of innovative electronic technology (data management, CRM, communication technology, web-site and social media)

Preferred Qualifications:

• While not required, completion Doctor of Pharmacy degree will be considered valuable credential

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100%
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Associate Professor
Months: 12
Department: Dean's Office

Salary: $150,000 - $170,000

ORP Eligible: Yes

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Ben Van Tassell
Contact Email: bvantassell@vcu.edu