Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Hillyer College

University of Hartford

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Hillyer College

Job Description
The University of Hartford (UHart) invites nominations and applications for the position of dean overseeing two distinctive liberal arts colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences and Hillyer College. The successful candidate will be skilled at striking the optimal balance in this shared leadership model of guiding two proudly independent units while, at the same time, developing exciting new collaborations and efficiencies between the two colleges.
ROLE OF THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (A&S) AND HILLYER COLLEGE
The dean of A&S and Hillyer College must support efforts to sustain the significant advantages of both academic units at the University of Hartford. A&S is the largest college at the University, with 25 majors, 29 minors, and six graduate programs, and emphasizes experiential learning and career readiness. Hillyer College offers the first two years of an undergraduate degree, and provides students with the tools to reach their full academic potential through small class sizes, stimulating curriculum, and academic strategies support. A good percentage of students who begin in Hillyer continue at the University of Hartford to earn their baccalaureate degree. Both colleges serve a large population of BIPOC and first-generation students. Both colleges have outstanding faculty who mentor and advise as earnestly as they teach; actively engage in scholarly, creative, and professional pursuits; and serve as dedicated collegiate and university citizens supporting enrollment and retention efforts. For more information about the two colleges, please visit About the College of Arts and Sciences - University of Hartford and About Hillyer - University of Hartford.The dean reports to Provost Katherine Black, works closely with the president (a search for a new president is currently underway), and serves as a collaborative colleague on the provost's Council of Deans. In A&S, the dean oversees a college composed of 101 full-time and 93 part-time faculty, 20 staff, 848 undergraduate students, and 334 graduate students. In Hillyer College, the dean oversees a college composed of 25 full-time and 18 part-time faculty, two staff members, and 275 undergraduate students.A full profile may be accessed on the University of Hartford web site.

Essential Job Duties
Job Duties

This job description of the job is for identification and administrative purposes only. It is not intended to be a complete statement of all duties, which may be assigned by the supervisor according to varying needs.

Description of Key Responsibility: DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential for the role are:
A distinguished record of academic and administrative leadership and achievement
A terminal degree related to one of the disciplines of the colleges, and the qualifications commensurate with tenure and the rank of full professor
An ability to generate strategic visions and motivate others to help achieve them
A professional and personal acumen that can bring effective leadership to two colleges
The distinctiveness of Hillyer College as a launching pad for a superlative college experience, and of A&S as offering a breadth of majors and graduate programs, requires a dean who is distinguished in character and creativity. The reputation and day-to-day productivity of both colleges is dependent on a leader who works exceedingly well with faculty, students, staff, and University administration.

The following attributes are of the highest importance:
An entrepreneurial and visionary disposition that promptly and assertively capitalizes on all opportunities to realize the strategic visions
The expertise to tap into the strengths and proficiencies of all faculty and staff to enhance the colleges
The ability to build consensus among a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders
A proactive and practical approach to the growth and allocation of resources, as well as the means to identify efficiencies and apply a pragmatic approach to all budget and expenditure responsibilities
An aptitude to effectively convey to all internal and external audiences the value to society of a liberal arts education
An understanding of the need for a unifying vision between A&S and Hillyer College, as well as the value of the vital distinctions between them
A commitment to promote and support diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging at all levels of the institution
The motivation and ability to convey the A&S story and the Hillyer story in a compelling and persuasive manner that can attract students, donors, and partners
Superb written, oral, and one-on-one communication skills, and a high comfort level with public speaking
An objective to be transparent with issues, resolutions, ideas, and new projects in an ongoing quest to keep the colleges constituents well informed
An interest in and ability to listen well to all questions, concerns, comments, and suggestions from any individual who requests an audience with the Office of the Dean
A desire to be visible, approachable, empathetic, sincere, and fair
A commitment to engage with faculty in support of their continued professional development, and to promote teamwork among various groups and departments throughout both colleges
A personal presence rooted in confidence and achievement that embodies the best characteristics of what the University of Hartford seeks in its students, faculty, staff, and partners.

Description of Key Responsibility: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES There are many ways the dean can leverage the strengths of A&S and Hillyer College, and build upon them, to achieve even greater levels of student success within the colleges and across the University. To that end, the dean must embrace the following opportunities and challenges: 1. Defining and delivering the liberal arts in the 21st century. The next dean will continue to position the University of Hartfords liberal arts programs to be robust and competitive options for prospective students and their families. The dean will work with faculty and staff to maintain a premier and multifaceted student experience balancing between exploration of all the liberal arts have to offer and growth in career-ready skills. This will include enhancing and expanding student experiences in high-impact practices, such as experiential learning, internships, research, and service learning, as well as the space to reflect on this learning and apply it toward career goals. The dean will work closely with both the Office of Admission and the Office of Marketing and Communication to develop and participate in recruitment strategies and activities. 2. Developing an enriching core educational experience for all students at the University of Hartford. In addition to supporting the majors and programs within the two colleges, the dean will be a collaborative partner with the other schools/colleges on campus to articulate the value of the liberal arts and to serve their general education needs. The dean will support faculty in being innovative educators in both general education and major courses. 3. Developing new programs and refining existing programs to enhance enrollment and retention, and serve students needs. The dean will lead efforts to modernize the curriculum and attract students, and will develop effective retention initiatives to foster student success and persistence. 4. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging ( DEIJB ). The dean will work to enhance the diversity of faculty and staff in A&S and Hillyer College to better reflect the diversity of our student body, and to help support student growth in their skills of intercultural knowledge and competence-regardless of their major. In addition, the dean will work to support faculty and staff in their own journey of growth in DEIJB , in creating welcoming spaces on campus, and in implementing inclusive pedagogies and incorporating diverse perspectives in the classroom. 5. Advocating and supporting high-quality teaching and scholarship/creative activity/professional productivity. The dean will recognize and enhance the teaching-focused mission of the colleges and the University, while at the same time valuing and supporting the importance of scholarship/creative activity/professional productivity in delivering that mission. 6. Fostering opportunities to identify collaborations between the College of Arts and Sciences and Hillyer College, while maintaining the distinctiveness of the two colleges and their individual academic missions and unique populations. The dean will be a highly visible presence in both colleges; value and celebrate their unique missions; and work with faculty and staff to develop strategic visions, build upon shared priorities, and identify efficiencies between the colleges. 7. Work to elevate the two colleges academic reputation through the hiring, development, and retention of outstanding faculty and staff members. The dean will endeavor to address issues of faculty and staff compensation in an equitable and conscientious manner, and enhance morale by recognizing achievements and supporting continued professional development.

Formal Education:
Knowledge of a highly advanced professional discipline (eg., MD, PhD, JD or equivalent doctoral degree) required.

Work Experience:
Normal office situation. Requires travel, including overnight stays.

Impact of Actions:
Complexity:
Decision Making:
Internal Communication:
External Communication:
Customer Relations

Managerial Skills

Knowledge and Skills

Special Skills
The ability to work effectively with diverse groups.