Summary
The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is the largest of the University of Michigan's 19 schools and colleges, enrolling more than 18,000 students. Within LSA, the Division of Undergraduate Education (UGED) is a large and complex organization that serves every one of these students in a wide variety of ways. To meet these goals, the division employs more than 200 staff members, 80 faculty, and 1500 student employees in more than two dozen units. The division provides advising, recruiting, scholarships, engaged learning opportunities, bridge programs, and specialized support to thousands of students annually. The Division also has oversight of college-wide curriculum, and a collective annual budget of more than $50 million.
The Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education is a 12-month non-instructional, administrative position located within the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. The Assistant Dean reports to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team of the Division of Undergraduate Education.
Responsibilities*
Supervision: 20%
The Assistant Dean supervises the Directors of a portfolio of the Division's units, and provides leadership, guidance and oversight for the units in order to align their work with Division & College priorities. The Assistant Dean provides guidance to these units and the Associate Dean on strategic direction, plans for budgetary expansion or contraction, and staff oversight and development, working closely with the Division's Executive Director. The supervision of unit Directors includes ongoing coaching and development and conducting annual performance evaluations. Units within the portfolio are expected to evolve over time based on the needs of the Division. Units currently within this portfolio include the Museum of Natural History, MSci, several Michigan Learning Communities, and the LSA Curriculum Office.
College-Wide Curriculum Management and Leadership: 30%
The Assistant Dean supervises the work of the LSA Curriculum Office and is expected to help shape and advance the agenda of the LSA Curriculum Committee. As part of this work, the Assistant Dean is expected to chair one or more subcommittees of the LSA Curriculum Committee. Currently this position chairs the Race & Ethnicity Requirement Subcommittee, which oversees the approval process for courses that serve this degree requirement. In addition, the Assistant Dean serves as a college-wide advocate for inclusive teaching throughout the curriculum, contributes to the development and implementation of strategic curricular reforms, and participates in an array of planning and coordination activities relevant to cross-campus curricular offerings. The Assistant Dean also provides leadership for the Division's participation in accreditation activities for the college.
Oversight of Applied Liberal Arts & University Courses Offerings: 25%
Applied Liberal Arts (ALA) and University Courses (UC) are non-departmental curricular units within LSA that are administered through the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education. The Assistant Dean will provide service and strategic leadership in the further development of the ALA curriculum, working with the Associate Dean, instructional faculty, and program directors on new approaches and offerings. They oversee the scheduling of UC and ALA courses each term.
The Assistant Dean oversees the hiring and appointing of instructors in the ALA and UC. They are also responsible for the coordination of LEO Lecturer reviews for lecturers appointed in the ALA and UC, and assists in managing the ALA/UC instructional budget. Involvement with curricular offerings linked to Divisional units is an important component of this role - current curricular offerings within the Division address areas such as entrepreneurship and social innovation, career development and internships, and various areas of focus for Michigan Learning Communities. In addition, the Assistant Dean helps to guide and support the College's First Year Seminar Program, on behalf of the Associate Dean.
Undergraduate Education Divisional Initiatives: 25%
The Assistant Dean works collaboratively with the other members of the Senior Management Team to provide leadership and oversight to the Division of Undergraduate Education. This includes strategic projects to address both curricular and operational initiatives within the college. The Senior Management Team also advises the LSA Dean and the Deans' Cabinet on issues related to the undergraduate education mission of the College; team members contribute to the high level strategic thinking and planning around implementation of the College's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan; collaborate with counterparts across the university on strategic activities and projects; and collectively troubleshoot and problem-solve on a range of issues and questions.
Required Qualifications*
- PhD or terminal Master's Degree
- A demonstrated commitment to liberal arts education
- At least 5 years' leadership experience in undergraduate education or higher education more broadly
- Proven leadership in curricular administration, including a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and knowledge of inclusive pedagogies and active learning techniques. Experience in implementing curricular innovations.
- Experience in direct supervision and management of budgets
- Exemplary oral and written communication skills; strong relationship management and organizational diplomacy skills.
- Demonstrated competencies necessary to achieve the goals of the University's and College's inclusiveness, equity and diversity plans.
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience with defining learning goals and assessing learning outcomes for academic and co-curricular programs
- Experience with implementing diversity, equity and inclusion plans
- Experience with Student Success initiatives
Additional Information
As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.