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Dean of Academic Affairs

Employer
Columbia University
Location
New York, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Date posted
May 6, 2022

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Position Summary

The Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) is the finest liberal arts college in the United States dedicated to making Ivy League education accessible to nontraditional students. GS was founded in 1947 on the mission of expanding access to elite higher education, and it remains the most diverse college in the Ivy League, with many transfer, first-generation, and international students. GS students are fully integrated with Columbia’s broader undergraduate population and are taught by Columbia’s celebrated faculty.

The Dean of Academic Affairs provides strategic leadership on all questions of academic policy and curriculum and manages Academic Affairs for GS.  Serves as primary academic liaison to the faculty of the Arts and Sciences on behalf of the Dean and guides the faculty in providing academic programs to the students of GS.  Collaborates in the development and maintenance of dual degree programs.  Advises the Vice Dean, Dean of Students and Dean of the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, ensuring the accuracy of all communications regarding academic policy for undergraduates and postbac students.  Staffs the Columbia College (CC) – General Studies Committee on Instruction and serves on academic committees in the Arts and Sciences. Manages relationships between GS and the graduate schools.  Collaborates on the development of foundation and federal grants to support students. Manages the GS fellowship program. Collaborates with the CC Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Office on undergraduate research and fellowships. Manages the GS Graduate School Coaching Program. Manages all aspects of the selection and induction processes of students into the General Studies Honor Society; Phi Beta Kappa; and annual prize selection.

 

Responsibilities

Strategic planning and leadership of GS Academic Affairs.  In consultation with the Dean, develops and implements strategic plans to strengthen and  enhance the academic lives of all GS students by ensuring that full inclusion of GS students in the undergraduate program. The dean of academic affairs is the lead officer for academic administration at GS and works closely with the dean and senior team at GS to represent GS on academic issues with faculty and senior University leadership,

Curriculum management.  Under the direction of the Dean, the Dean of Academic Affairs develops and implements the School curriculum and is the main point of contact for the Dean of Academic Affairs at CC. In partnership with CC, the dean of academic affairs staffs the Joint Committee on Instruction (COI): and manages the process by which new undergraduate courses, majors, and programs are developed and implemented; researches and reports on a range of academic topics and develops and implements policy as directed by the COI faculty. Develops and implements guidelines for the review of all educational programs on behalf of the COI.  Provides support to the faculty to ensure the best educational opportunities for GS students; provides support to the DOS office and postbac program by keeping the office informed about new programs and assisting with the implementation of policy through training.

Academic policy management and administration.  Responsible for all academic policies at GS for both undergraduate and postbac premed students; takes the lead on annual review of current policies and the development and implementation of new policy.  Manages the process by which information about the GS academic programs and the range of academic opportunities available to GS students is made available to all GS constituents (faculty, staff, and students). Collaborates with the Dean of Students, Postbac Dean and staff on issues related to academic policies, programs and departmental advising.  Collaborates with the Office of the Registrar on the design and implementation of policy that affects GS students.

Liaison to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Office of the Provost, and the graduate schools.  Collaborates with the Provost’s Office of Educational Programs on all matters related to program registration and accreditation. Partners with Columbia’s graduate schools on pipeline programs for GS students. Serves on the EPPC, Education Deans’ Committee, and all other education committees. 

Undergraduate research, fellowships, and graduate school advising. Manages GS student participation in research opportunities at Columbia, including identifying opportunities, enabling GS student access, holding research fairs and symposia, and building fellows’ programs. Manages the process by which potential fellowships candidates are identified, advised, and supported through the fellowships application cycle, partnering with the CC Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Office as appropriate. Manages the Graduate School Coaching Program, through which students are guided through the process of applying to graduate school and supported in preparing successful applications.

International programs. In collaboration with the Vice Dean and the International Programs team, researches and develops curricular planning in support of GS’s joint and dual degree programs with international institutions. Works with faculty to develop guidelines for transfer credit in majors; advises the Vice Dean on international curricula; builds academic policies for each program. Collaborates with the Office of Global Programs on the development and review of global educational programs for GS students.

Honors, awards and prizes. Is responsible for the processes by which academically successful students are selected and recognized (Honor Society, PBK, academic prizes, senior thesis programming). 

Foundation relations. In collaboration with the Development and the School’s senior leaders, helps to maintain and steward the School’s relationships with foundations, including reports, correspondence, and issues relating to foundations that support students and academic programming. Works with the GS Development team to identify other foundations that might support GS and GS students; works with the office of Foundation Relations to prepare and submit proposals to select foundations; works with the Dean on development issues, meets with donors, attends development related functions, etc.  Serves ex officio on the GS Scholarship Committee and assists the Director of Educational Financing and other members of the Scholarship Committee in the review of scholarship applications and the awarding of named scholarships.

Minimum Qualifications

Advanced degree preferred. A minimum of eight to ten years of successful college teaching and/or academic administration desirable.  Knowledge of liberal arts essential.  Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and conversational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, students, and department administrators. 

 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

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