Ensures full use of Patriot Connect advising system across
program units; and
Directs policy-oriented projects for the Graduate Academic
Affairs team, including working with the Associate Dean to
facilitate actions between the Graduate Council and align policies
as needed within the college.
Academic Planning
- Conducts college-level review, renders decisions for student
and program academic actions, and implements actions using the
designated academic systems for advising and communication;
and
- Ensures academic integrity of the degree process from
matriculation to conferral and advises the Associate Dean, graduate
program directors/coordinators, graduate faculty, and students on
university and college policies and procedures.
Communication
- Communicates adjustments to degree requirements and
matriculation progress to appropriate university and department
units and continuously reviews, monitors, and updates policies and
regulations to ensure fair and consistent treatment of
students.
Management and Leadership
- Supervises and coordinates Graduate Success Fellows with
Graduate Division. Facilitates interactions with partners of CHSS
Graduate Academic Affairs, including Office of the Provost, Office
of the Registrar, the Graduate Division, Office of the Registrar,
and Fenwick Library;
- Coordinates with the admissions and enrollment team on
transition campaigns and to provide positive student experience
from inquiry through degree conferral;
- Communicates adjustments to degree requirements and
matriculation progress to appropriate university and department
units; and
- Advises non-degree graduate students within CHSS and track
student success metrics.
Academic Standards
- Implements data-informed decision by fully leveraging Patriot
Connect to manage college processes that ensure effective business
practices;
- Serves as Banner Liaison for CHSS;
- Manages office academic communications and supervises staff to
ensure routine semester deadlines are met;
- Ensures that adjustments to degree requirements and
matriculation progress are communicated to university and
department units, students, and graduate advisers;
- Serves as provisional/conditional contact reviewer with Office
of Graduate Admissions and college liaison for any termination
exceptions requested by students;
- Ensures accuracy of the doctoral student portion of the college
degree celebration and university commencement programs and
maintains the graduate portion of CHSS website; and
- Represents CHSS on Graduate Advising/Graduate Academic Affairs
Committee.
Program Management Support
- Advises programs with annual assessment practices and student
success initiatives and works directly with and advises the CHSS
Associate Dean on appeals and requests for exception;
- Stands in as a proxy vote on academic committees when
necessary;
- Supports programs with annual assessment practices and student
success initiatives; and
- Ensures that all office business is communicated effectively to
all constituents in a timely fashion using Patriot Connect and
other designated academic systems for advising and
communication.
Academic Affairs Communication and Leadership
- Directs the Graduate Academic Affairs team on projects that
support graduate academic processes;
- Communicates key policy shifts to program directors and
coordinators;
- Manages the scheduling of program directors/coordinators
meetings throughout the year to communicate policy changes and
procedures;
- Coordinates with Graduate Stakeholders to use scheduled
meetings as an ongoing training opportunity for graduate
directors/coordinators;
- Collaborates with the admissions and enrollment team on student
enrollment and transition campaigns; and
- Consults with the Associate Dean as needed on matters of policy
exception, appeals, and student success.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in related field;
- Experience directing and composing reports supportive of
program growth and goals;
- Experience developing plans and materials to support
recruitment efforts;
- Experience mentoring others to work as a team and to utilize a
growth mindset;
- Experience in making independent decisions related to graduate
admission policy and process;
- Experience in providing independent advice to constituents
regarding the appropriate interpretation and implementation of
policies, regulations, processes, and procedures;
- Experience in identifying potential obstacles to the effective
support of graduate education;
- Experience with Microsoft Office and web maintenance;
- Knowledge of and experience with implementation of graduate
academic policy issues.
- Executive Support and Organizational Alignment:
- Ability to interpret complex policies and make independent
judgments concerning resolution of policy questions;
- Ability to multi-task multiple competing assignments while
meeting deadlines and maintaining high quality standards;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality;
- Ability to meet deadlines calmly under pressure;
- Communication and Leadership:
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication
skills;
- Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders throughout the
college and university;
- Program Management and Academic Planning:
- Ability to manage and maintain academic information in systems
like Salesforce/Patriot;
- Connect and other electronic reporting/recording systems;
- Knowledge of best practices in mentorship; and
- Ability to mentor colleagues and provide professional training
to graduate program coordinators, graduate assistants, and staff as
needed.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Terminal degree in a related field;
- Significant experience in graduate student academic affairs and
student success. Previous experience in higher education student
academic affairs highly desirable;
- Knowledge of and experience with graduate academic policy best
practices and advising systems;
- Experience in making independent decisions related to policy
implementation and regulations;
- Experience in providing independent advice to stakeholders
regarding the appropriate interpretation and implementation of
policies and regulations;
- Knowledge of and experience with emerging strategies in support
of graduate education best practices for student success,
retention, and research productivity;
- Leadership and Academic Planning:
- Knowledge of national and international trends in graduate
academic policy, assessment, curriculum, and student success;
and
- Knowledge of best practices in graduate student wellness, FERPA
regulations, and the ability to handle confidential information and
sensitive situations appropriately.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Assistant
Dean of Graduate Academic Affairs at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online
application to include three professional references with contact
information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with CV
for review.
Posting Open Date: August 19, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 2, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
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employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
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