Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences

DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences will provide leadership to and support for an academic division. In addition to program development and course support, the Dean is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of division personnel, programs, expenditures, and facilities, as well as serving as the divisions advocate to the senior administration.

The Social and Behavioral Sciences division includes the following: Anthropology, Business and Computer Applications, Economics, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, History, Administration of Justice, Early Child Education as well as oversight of the Child Development Center.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Provide leadership for program development. Work directly with faculty and department chairs to plan for curriculum and program additions, modifications, and deletions to maintain relevance of divisional programs to meet student and community needs; set priorities for resource needs, provide program analysis and multi-year instructional plans, and participate in strategic and long-range instructional planning for the district.
• Demonstrate commitment to fulfill the comprehensive mission of the community college.
• Promote the assessment of learning outcomes in order to determine the effectiveness of student learning within the division and throughout the college.
• Stay current regarding national trends and innovations applicable to assigned disciplines, community colleges, and higher education, including alternate modes of assessment, hiring practices, academic freedom, and the role of technology in the classroom, course design, and prerequisites. Promote the needs of the division to the campus and the community.
• Promote the needs of the division to on- and off-campus organizations, on committees, and at meetings.
• Encourage excellence in teaching and orient new staff. In conjunction with department chairs, orient new faculty.
• Create a positive working environment for all levels of division staff, and work cooperatively with other campus personnel to integrate and coordinate programs and services across the curriculum.
• Prepare budget requests with input from department chairs; allocate funds; and prioritize division financial needs, including new hires, program funding, technology and instructional equipment; and communicate those priorities clearly to the appropriate departments.
• Develop grants to provide additional funding sources for the division.
• Participate or lead in the accreditation process.
• Promote college programs beyond the campus community.
• Prepare the schedule of classes each term and provide for staffing of department courses in conjunction with department chairs.
• Supervise and evaluate full-time faculty, tenure-track faculty, and staff.
• Support staff development and professional growth among division members.
• Serve on campus organizations and committees and participate in meetings.
• Communicate with leaders in the private and public sectors and in educational agencies to determine needs for new courses and programs.
• Establish advisory committees in conjunction with department chairs.
• Serve as contact for articulation with local high schools, colleges, and universities.
• Determine and fulfill needs for all college sites and centers regarding instructional programs and services.
• Work cooperatively with department chairs and coordinators, other administrators, and supervisors to coordinate programs and services across the curriculum and at all locations with the goals of meeting student needs; and resolving conflicts and issues within the division and between divisions in the spirit of collegiality and due process.
• Collaborate with the VPAA and the Dean of Extended Learning in scheduling courses for various groups in dual enrollment, the prison program, contract and continuous education, among others.
• Analyze requests for staff to meet short-term and long-term needs, and make recommendations to the Vice President of Academic Affairs; assist in developing job descriptions for new positions.
• Maintain an effective working knowledge of computers and related technologies that affect office management including electronic spreadsheets, word processing, data collection, and internet/intranet capabilities.
• Evaluate and process student petitions in collaboration with division faculty.
• Coordinate the program review process within the assigned division.
• Organize and preside over divisional faculty and staff meetings.
• Host visiting professionals, sponsor division activities, and coordinate and manage co-curricular activities with division faculty and staff.
• Monitor compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Solicit grants, awards, or foundation funding.
• Be available for day, evening or weekend assignments.
• Coordinate online and face-to-face course offerings within the division.
• Other duties as assigned.