"Dean for the College of Business & Aviation"

Dean for the College of Business & Aviation

Company: Fairmont State University

Job Location: Fairmont

Category: Business Deans

Type: Full-Time

Type of Position: Faculty

Department: College of Business & Aviation

Appointment Length: July - June (12 mo)

Tenure Status: 2 - Tenure Track

Academic Rank: 2 - Associate Professor

Is this considered a "term" position? No

Benefits Eligible?: Yes

F.T.E.: 1.00

Grant Funded Position?: No

Description of Job Duties and Responsibilities

Fairmont State University, a public university located in Marion County, West Virginia, is seeking a Dean of the College of Business and Aviation.

The College consists of three departments including Accounting, Finance and Economics; Marketing and Management Studies; and Aviation. There are twenty-one full-time faculty, five full-time flight instructor personnel, and eight support personnel across all divisions serving approximately five hundred undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the College employs an average of 8-12 adjunct faculty and 5-7 part-time flight instructors per term. In addition to the Chairs, direct reports include an Academic Business and Operations Manager, Academic Success Coordinator, and Academic Program Coordinator.

The College offers six baccalaureate programs in accounting, aviation, business administration, healthcare management, information systems management, and strategic leadership - an online adult degree completion program. The College also offers master's degrees in business administration, healthcare administration, and, cybersecurity and risk management, The College is a member of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) with all eligible programs currently accredited.

Position Summary:

The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College, reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Dean provides leadership that fosters an environment of excellence in teaching, research, and service, acting as an intellectual leader for both the College and the University, while representing the academic programs within their oversight. Additionally, the Dean is responsible for all aspects of the College's external engagement, including development, fundraising, alumni relations, partnerships with external organizations, and enhancing the College's image and reputation within the state and region. This role requires strategic vision to identify and pursue new opportunities and the intellectual strength to guide the College's growth and development within the framework of shared academic governance and the University's mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing effective academic leadership and strategic planning, alongside budgetary and administrative management of the College's educational, academic support, and ancillary programs.
• Recruiting, evaluating, and retaining professionally and academically qualified faculty and staff to support teaching, professional development, advising, service, and scholarship, aligning with institutional expectations and outcomes.
• Developing and leading initiatives that foster an environment supporting student learning, career readiness, and engagement through innovative programs and resources.
• Developing and leading initiatives related to enrollment management, including student recruitment, admission, progression, retention, and completion, while collaborating with other university divisions as needed.
• Administering academic programs, which include supervising administrative and supporting staff, overseeing department chairs, managing resources, conducting department- and institution-wide assessments, promoting faculty development, and supporting student advising, recruitment, and retention.
• Fostering a culture of collaboration among faculty members and department chairs, advocating for new teaching and learning methods-especially those facilitated by current and future technologies-and maximizing opportunities for contextualized learning, internships, and work-based experiences supported through linkages with business and industry relevant to disciplines within the College.
• Optimizing programs through data-informed decision-making and program evaluation, ensuring rigorous assessment of curricula and operations to meet and maintain the standards and expectations of institutional, state, regional, and/or specialized accrediting bodies.
• Demonstrating collaborative leadership through consultative and participatory decision-making, information-sharing, and consensus-building with college stakeholders, other Deans, the Office of the Provost staff, and senior university leadership. This includes active participation in various administrative groups and/or committees, as necessary.
• Strategizing and seeking external grants and private funding opportunities to initiate new projects or support ongoing initiatives within the College, and/or supporting faculty in securing external funding for research and scholarly activities.
• Performing other duties as necessary and as assigned.

Leadership Priorities:

• Lead the faculty in developing a strategic plan aligned with the Academic Implementation Plan and Fairmont State University's Strategic Vision.
• Guide the COBA leadership team and faculty in establishing a sustainable process for reporting progress toward achieving strategic objectives and key performance indicators.
• In collaboration with the College's Director of Assessment and the University's Assurance of Learning Director, evaluate and strengthen assessment practices, student learning outcomes, and reporting processes to meet accreditation and institutional expectations.
• Reestablish a student advisory council to provide meaningful input on College priorities, curricula, co-curricular programming, and student experience.
• Expand the integration of industry-recognized certifications and microcredentials for both faculty and students beyond current use.
• Review budget priorities to ensure effective resource allocation of resources supporting teaching, learning, and student engagement.

Minimum Required Education

An earned doctorate and professional background in a relevant discipline within the college.

Required Licenses and/or Certifications NA

Required Licenses Certs Summary NA

Minimum Required Qualifications

Candidates for the position should exhibit a strong dedication to teaching excellence and service, aligning with the mission of both the College and Fairmont State University. Applicants must show evidence of creative and effective teaching in accredited higher education institutions, alongside experience in online course development and distance education. Required qualifications include:

• Experience: A minimum of five years of progressive academic leadership experience, preferably at the level of department chair or higher.
• Academic Record: A distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service that merits a tenured appointment at the rank of associate or full professor.
• Accreditation: Demonstrated experience with collegiate business school accreditation processes (ACBSP, AACSB).

Required Quals Summary

Candidates for the position should exhibit a strong dedication to teaching excellence and service, aligning with the mission of both the College and Fairmont State University. Applicants must show evidence of creative and effective teaching in accredited higher education institutions, alongside experience in online course development and distance education. Required qualifications include:

• Experience: A minimum of five years of progressive academic leadership experience, preferably at the level of department chair or higher.
• Academic Record: A distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service that merits a tenured appointment at the rank of associate or full professor.
• Accreditation: Demonstrated experience with collegiate business school accreditation processes (ACBSP, AACSB).

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in inspiring others toward shared goals within an ethical framework characterized by integrity and fairness.
• Familiarity with current policies and trends in higher education, particularly those pertaining to regional and specialized accreditation standards.
• Management of complex budgets and personnel supervision.
• Strategic planning and resource management.
• Fostering a culture of opportunity and equity that values diverse views, cultures, and perspectives enabling students, faculty, and staff to succeed.
• Faculty appointments, fund-raising, grantsmanship, and successful community outreach initiatives.

Requisition Number: 2026023FP

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Hire Date: July 2026

Job Close Date: 02/23/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Quicklink for Posting: https://www.fairmontstatejobs.com/postings/10160