Academic Dean, Chicago Campus

Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Academic Dean of the Chicago Campus is responsible for the development and administration of academic policies, programs, and budgets for a growing portfolio of U.S.-based on-ground and online programs. 

The Dean has ultimate responsibility for faculty recruitment, hiring, and evaluation; programmatic accreditations; and academic operations such as course scheduling and curriculum management.  The Dean works in partnership with faculty and staff to support new student recruitment and admission as well as student retention, persistence, and completion.  The Dean is attentive to both the faculty experience and the student experience.  The Dean is called upon to represent the campus and university at public events and is expected to participate in external partnership development and fundraising.  The Dean functions as the connective tissue between the faculty/academic programs and Chicago campus facilities, finance, and operations. 

The Dean is a member of the VPAA’s Deans’ Council and the President’s senior leadership team; the Dean is a member of the President’s Cabinet and works in partnership with university stakeholders at all levels to develop academic programs, plans, and policies in accordance with the university’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values. 

To learn more about Adler University and our strategic plan, mission, vision, and values visit adler.edu

Education/Experience (Required):

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution in a behavioral sciences field.
• Experience with CACREP, COAMFTE, and/or APA accreditation.
• Minimum ten years professional experience in an academic setting with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Experience teaching in the classroom.

Education/Experience (Preferred):

• Experience teaching in or leading a program with CACREP, COAMFTE, or APA accreditation.
• Experience as a tenured faculty member.
• Evidence of progressive leadership experience in higher education
• Experience conducting academic research/scholarship.
• Clinical experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of and content expertise/competency in diversity, social justice, culture etc.
• Knowledge of best practices for developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures in a higher education setting.
• Knowledge of program accreditation standards and processes.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans, envisioning the future direction of the institution.
• Skilled in managing campus operations, including scheduling and resource allocation, to ensure smooth operations.
• Proficiency in budgeting and financial resource allocation to optimize institutional resources.
• Skill in designing, implementing, and evaluating academic curricula to meet educational objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to interact respectfully and compassionately with diverse populations, fostering positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and collaborate with campus stakeholders, leveraging influence to drive change and achieve institutional goals.
• Demonstration of emotional intelligence, professional maturity, and skill in mediating conflicts to maintain a positive work environment.

Supervision: Direct reports include faculty Program Directors/Chairs of U.S.-based programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership:

• Partner effectively with the faculty to facilitate academic governance.
• Support of all programmatic and university accreditation efforts including HLC and IBHE (U.S.-based).
• Promote competence to ensure compliance of all Adler academic and administrative policies and procedures.
• Provide leadership for growth which supports and empowers the development and effective implementation of new academic initiatives and their implementation.
• Provide leadership, determine activities required to achieve intended outcomes, and oversee execution of the Institutional Program Review process and annual program snapshot assessments.
• Ensure the creation, implementation, evaluation, and annual review of each academic program’s education outcomes including program outcomes, student learning outcomes and faculty outcomes. Ensure the implementation of programmatic changes identified by this annual review process.
• Integrate and align initiatives across programs within the unit to ensure timely development of Student Learning Outcome Assessment Program (SLOAP) reports and other assessment data. Works closely with department faculty to ensure assessment data is utilized to improve curriculum and student learning outcomes.
• Support the development of faculty leadership, pedagogy, and scholarship.
• Oversee departments and their selection and evaluation of qualified full-time and adjunct faculty members teaching in programs within the unit.

Campus Leadership:

• Create conditions that support innovative strategies for the regular review of courses and programs. Oversee final approval for new/revised courses, program revisions, and new programs and facilitate the process through appropriate committees.
• Communicates pertinent information back to the departments to ensure compliance with internal and external policies and procedures, provide input regarding recruitment and marketing activities with appropriate support staff.
• Ensure fiscal welfare of the campus through the integration of data-informed evaluation, monitoring and approval practices.
• Oversee innovative programmatic initiatives which support and monitor student recruitment, marketing, academic advising, and student development.
• Create conditions that support adherence to the principles of academic governance, especially the collaborative development of appropriate governance processes.

Strategic Planning to Support the University:

• Partner effectively with senior leadership.
• Integrate resources and develop innovative practices to facilitate the development, review, and implementation of strategic plans within the unit that are in alignment with the mission and strategic plan of the institution.
• Create and nurture collaborations across the school and community and provide leadership for growth by overseeing the cultivation of external community linkages to support programmatic goals and collaborate with other academic leaders.
• Serve as primary liaison between the programs and various faculty and governance bodies.
• Create strategic initiatives which serve to support institutional growth through the effective use of resources.
• Increase campus visibility by engaging with outside institutions to meet campus goals.
• Enact campus initiatives that support community engagement.

To Apply:

This position has a target start date of Fall 2024. Applications will be reviewed and considered as they are submitted. Please submit a PDF version of your CV/resume and letter of interest that addresses your related experience and qualifications, upon application. Please also include a diversity statement (maximum one page). That statement should describe how your values and leadership frame or center Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in your personal and professional life. Please highlight any specific EDI goals, issues, or initiatives that you have led which have resulted in transformation. 

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations contact Hannah Elgin

Universal Core Behaviors:

Communication:

• Effectively expresses oneself in all oral and written
• Exhibits good listening and comprehension
• Keeps others informed, as well as responds, in a timely
• Demonstrates match between words and
• Responds with tact, diplomacy, respect, and composure when dealing with
• Promotes the spirit and essence of the School’s Vision, Mission, Values, and Key Strategies through both verbal and written communication.

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Cooperates with others toward the achievement of common
• Seeks consensus and win-win solutions to problems and
• Contributes actively and participates fully in team
• Puts success of the team above own
• Builds and maintains constructive work

Responsive to Change:

• Supports changes in the work
• Displays a proactive, problem-solving approach toward
• Committed to life-long learning by continuously increasing skills, knowledge, and
• Actively seeks and initiates creative and innovative
• Exercises sound, accurate, and informed independent judgment when

Quality-Driven and Accountable:

• Results-oriented and committed to quality through continuous process
• Eliminates ineffective activities and closes performance
• Anticipates and responds to customer
• Monitors own performance, accept responsibility for actions, and actively seeks
• Meets deadlines and completes projects and activities in a professional, timely
• Seeks opportunities to increase productivity and/or reduce costs while maintaining the highest quality standards (fiscally responsible).

Support of Vision, Mission, Values, and Key Strategies:

• Supports and models the School’s Values of social interest, compassion, justice, respect for the individual, honors diversity and difference, intellectual rigor, optimism, and collaboration.
• Articulates the School’s Vision, Mission, and Key Strategies in a way to educate
• Demonstrates active commitment to advancing the School’s Vision, Mission, and Key
• Exhibits personal integrity, honesty, zeal, and
• Aligns work processes to advance the School’s strategic plan and key
• Exhibits personal integrity, honesty, zeal, and
• Aligns work processes to advance the School’s strategic plan and key

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Adler University that all persons are entitled to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) protection. The University does not discriminate against any individual for employment because of age, religion, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status (including unfavorable discharge from the military), or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of Adler's equal employment opportunity policy, Adler will also take affirmative action to ensure that minority groups of individuals, females, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, and qualified disabled persons are introduced into our workforce and considered for promotional opportunities.