Associate Dean, Student Success - Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies

Job Details

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

TITLE: Associate Dean, Student Success

DIVISION: Academic

DEPARTMENT: Egan School

PRIMARY WORK LOCATION: Fairfield, CT campus, Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS: May be required to attend off-hour meetings and events. Travel to local health system and community partner organizations, in addition to the Austin campus, as necessary.

EMPLOYEE TYPE: Exempt, Supervisor

BASIC FUNCTION: Serves as the chief student affairs and experiential education officer for the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all aspects of the student experience across undergraduate and graduate programs, including academic advising, progression, student success initiatives, student well-being, and all experiential learning activities (clinical education, simulation, study abroad, interprofessional education, community-based placements, and other immersive field experiences).

EDUCATION: Doctorate in Nursing, Public Heath, or related health discipline; eligible for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor

EXPERIENCE: Progressive leadership experience in student affairs, advising, and experiential/clinical education within higher education. Demonstrated experience overseeing partner engagement and clinical/field placement systems. Experience leading organizational change initiatives.

REPORTS TO: Dean, Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

I. Student Experience and Academic Advising

• The Associate Dean ensures that advising systems are proactive, data-informed, and aligned with School strategic priorities, as well as accreditation and regulatory expectations.
• Works closely with Department Chairs and Program Director on academic probation and dismissal processes; leaves of absence (e.g., medical, personal, military), and credential tracking and graduation clearance
• Development, implementation, and continuous evaluation of comprehensive advising and peer support models
• Oversight of individualized program of study development
• Mediation of course substitutions, overrides, and academic exceptions
• Communication of policies via student handbooks, websites, academic bulletins, and other formal communications
• Monitoring of student performance metrics (retention, progression, licensure pass rates, academic risk indicators)

II. Student Success, Well-Being, and Co-Curricular Engagement

The Associate Dean serves as the primary advocate for student concerns within Egan School leadership and represents student interests in university forums, including:

• Coordination of orientation programs and transition initiatives
• Oversight of student leadership development and school-specific organizations
• Collaboration with University Counseling Services, Health Services, Student Life, and other student support offices
• Coordination of academic accommodations in partnership with the Office of Accommodations
• Support of belonging and inclusive excellence initiatives affecting the student experience
• Development of targeted support programs for at-risk students
• Oversight of co-curricular and professional formation activities aligned with professional standards

III. Experiential Learning and Clinical Education

• The Associate Dean ensures that experiential learning meets accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and workforce needs, and that placement systems and resources are robust, equitable, efficient, and scalable, including:
  • Clinical and field placements
  • Simulation and skills laboratories
  • Community-based partnerships
  • International experiential programs
  • Interprofessional learning experiences
• Development and maintenance of affiliation agreements
• Oversight of clinical compliance requirements (student, faculty, and site compliance)
• Collaboration with faculty to ensure alignment between didactic and clinical learning outcomes
• Oversight of simulation strategy, utilization, and integration across programs
• Coordination of site and preceptor quality monitoring and evaluation
• Engagement with health system and community partners to sustain and expand placement opportunities

IV. Collaboration and Governance

The Associate Dean:

• Serves as a member of the Egan School’s Leadership Team
• Collaborates with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to align curriculum, scheduling, student outcomes, and experiential capacity
• Works closely with Department Chairs and Program Directors to ensure consistency in progression policies and experiential learning opportunities
• Collaborates with Program Directors and faculty on targeted interprofessional learning experiences
• Oversees coordination between the Placement Team and the Clinical Course Coordinators on the evaluation of students, preceptors, and sites
• Collaborates with Institutional Research on student outcome reporting
• Works with School leadership on resource planning
• Contributes to accreditation reports related to student outcomes and experiential learning

V. Leadership and Supervision

The Associate Dean supervises personnel within Student Success and Experiential Learning, which may include:

• Assistant Deans or Directors for Student Experience and Experiential Learning
• Clinical Placement Team
• Simulation Team
• Advising Staff
• Compliance Coordinators
• Administrative Support Personnel

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.