Faculty are essential to Liberty University’s mission of Training
Champions for Christ. It is expected that a faculty member
model a personal commitment to the goals and values of Liberty
University, engage in an active commitment to, and experience
of, personal spiritual formation within a biblically informed
Christian worldview. Faculty should view their teaching,
engagement with students, and scholarship as a means to a
significant educational end. They should strive to employ a
variety of techniques for the development of good learning
conditions, view each student as a unique individual, and insofar
as it is possible, provide for individual differences,
abilities, and interests.
The Dean is a full time, 12-month contracted position within the
designated college or school. This position is a senior academic
administrator, as well as a member of the faculty, whose primary
role is to provide exceptional leadership and overall direction to
the College/School. The Dean meets regularly with the Provost,
Vice Provosts, Associate Vice Provosts, and Registrar regarding
the administration of academic programs offered through the
College/School, the development of new curricula and programs to
be offered, the development of goals and objectives, the
initiation or response to necessary curriculum changes, and the
implementation of the routine responsibilities of the
College/School faculty. In coordination with the Provost office,
the Dean also appoints departmental leadership, oversees
accreditation of the College/School, and strengthens external
partnerships.
The Dean is responsible for providing exceptional leadership and
overall direction for the College/School’s curricular initiatives,
strategic planning, program evaluation and development, market
planning, interdisciplinary initiatives in education, research and
scholarship, professional networking, alumni engagement,
enrollment, retention, student persistence, and student completion.
The Dean is also responsible for the College/School’s financial
and administrative affairs, including the creation of budget
proposals and assisting in the management of fiscal resources, as
well as the recruitment, evaluation, and retention of high-quality
faculty and staff. Other duties may be required as determined by
University leadership.
In addition to the academic and professional development of
faculty, the Dean is also responsible for spiritual leadership
within their College/School and should conduct themselves in a
manner that supports and fosters Liberty University’s doctrinal
commitments. The Dean leads the spiritual development of faculty,
staff, and students, ensuring that Christian values remain the
focus of our mission and purpose. The Dean should also actively
participate in a local church and live a life that leads people to
Jesus Christ as the Lord of the universe and as their own personal
Savior so their lives can be lived as testimonies to the Lordship
of Jesus Christ, per the Liberty University Faculty Handbook.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Faculty and
Curriculum
- In accordance with the mission and teaching philosophy of
Liberty University, promote excellence and continuous improvement
in all matters of College/School administration, delivery of
academic programs, and development of the faculty.
Recruit, evaluate, and retain high quality faculty and
staff.
Ensure faculty members possess proper credentials, develop
professionally, and contribute to University and College/School
academic operations.
Supervise, mentor, and coach Associate Dean(s) Assistant
Dean(s) Online Chair(s), Instructional Mentor(s), Program
Director(s), Subject Matter Expert(s), and curriculum developers in
academic matters.
Approve and endorse Program Director and Chair appointments,
ensuring that appointments are appropriately aligned with the
academic standards of accreditors.
Oversee scheduling of faculty teaching and evaluation;
recommend faculty promotions.
Oversee curricular program assessment and the development of
learning outcomes for new academic programs.
Ensure quality program content and delivery and facilitate the
sharing of best practices among faculty.
Report to internal and external stakeholders on matters related
to the curriculum, faculty development, and student success.
Lead annual reviews of curriculum changes, develop curricular
and policy revisions, and assist with textbook selection.
Ensure that faculty and staff provide academic support and
advising to students when relevant; connect students with
University services and support offices relevant to student
affairs.
Develop and expand workforce-aligned academic pathways,
including certificates, stackable credentials, and partnerships
with industry and dual enrollment programs
Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and integration across
the academic core, including general education, to support a
cohesive and mission-driven student learning experience.
Other duties as assigned.
Administrative and Financial Affairs
- Provide leadership and assist the Provost’s Office in
administering University academic programs.
- Execute and operationalize University strategic priorities
within the College, ensuring alignment with institutional goals,
key performance indicators, and accreditation requirements.
- Maintain professional accreditation of College/School
programs.
- Articulate and implement a vision/plan for strategic program
development, improvement, and expansion.
- Organize regular departmental meetings to develop goals and
objectives for the College/School, initiate necessary curriculum
changes, and facilitate the implementation of routine
College/School responsibilities.
- Lead the integration and continuous improvement of residential
and online academic delivery models, ensuring quality, consistency,
and innovation across modalities.
- Develop direct/indirect measures to assess and improve the
quality of all programs.
- Play an integral role in student recruitment and program
growth.
- Analyze, evaluate, and interpret institutional reporting, then
recommend data-driven decisions to staff, faculty, and
administration.
- Regularly monitor and respond to program enrollment, credit
hours delivered, student retention, program effectiveness, and
overall College/School growth.
- Ensures that all Institutional Effectiveness and Research
requirements that relate to the Strategic Plan and SACSCOC
Reaffirmation are completed in a thorough and timely manner.
- Identify opportunities for new program development or
modifications to existing programs in order to ensure that
Liberty’s academic offerings meet the changing needs of our student
population, industry, and society in general.
- Manage fiscal resources, prepare the annual department budget,
and submit budget proposals.
- Monitor monthly expenditures.
University Service
- Participate in special projects and assignments, as assigned by
the Provost or Vice Provosts.
- Complete benchmark comparisons and programmatic reviews.
- May periodically serve on one or more of the following types of
University, College/School, or departmental committees: Faculty
Senate, Faculty Senate Organizational Committees,
school/department, and/or special committees.
- Attend special University events, including faculty
orientation, baccalaureate and commencement exercises, team
building exercises, etc.
Spiritual Leadership
- Encourage a commitment to the Christian life, one of personal
integrity, sensitivity to the needs of others, social
responsibility, and active communication of the Christian faith,
and, as it is lived out, a life that leads people to Jesus Christ
as the Lord of the universe and their own personal Savior.
- Support and foster Liberty University’s doctrinal
commitments.
- Foster a mission-driven culture marked by clarity of
expectations, accountability, collaboration, and faculty
development.
- Support and foster the spiritual development of faculty, staff,
and students, ensuring that Christian values remain the focus of
our mission and purpose at Liberty University.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Dean directly supervises two Associate Deans and provides
indirect oversight of professional faculty, staff, and student
employees across the College of Arts & Sciences. This position
also provides oversight of the Honors College and ROTC faculty,
staff, and student employees.
QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS Minimum Qualifications
- Ph.D. or terminal degree in the area(s) of Mathematics,
English, Physics, History, Modern Languages, Family & Consumer
Sciences (FACS), Interdisciplinary Studies (INDS), or
relevant/related field.
- Ability to teach in one of the major disciplines within the
College of Arts & Sciences.
- Online and residential teaching experience, with program
development experience as a plus.
- Demonstrated servant leader with experience managing and
developing multifaceted teams.
- Demonstrated ability to use data, higher education trends, and
environmental analysis to inform strategic and operational
decisions that support institutional goals.
- Understanding of technologies associated with education.
- Experience with curricular development and planning.
- Passion for student and faculty development and
mentorship.
- Academic and research experience (conducting and disseminating)
in related field.
- Commitment to the vision, mission, and purpose of Liberty
University.
Preferred Qualifications
- History of outstanding teaching, student mentorship, and
University leadership (at varied levels).
- Established success in academic administration.
- Record of publishing
- Interest in emerging educational technologies.
- Administrative experience in higher education with assessment,
course outcomes, and/or accreditation.
ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE
JOB Communication and Comprehension
- Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
to convey clear, well-articulated information.
- Ability to understand, speak, and write English in order to
convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional
manner.
- Possess public communication skills that allow professional
representation of Liberty University to a variety of business and
community customers and associates.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Ability to contribute to a team environment and contribute
expertise at appropriate times while recognizing each team members
strengths and contributions.
- Listen first communication style to ensure that everyone is
heard so the best decision can be reached.
- Ability to show respect to their colleagues and to work in a
collegial manner.
Problem Solving
- Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and
apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and
complex nature.
Physical and Sensory Abilities
- Occasionally required to travel to local and campus
locations.
- Frequently required to sit for extended periods to perform
deskwork or type on a keyboard.
- Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively
communicate orally.
- Occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move
about the building.
- Regularly lift 10 or fewer pounds
WORKING CONDITIONS Work Environment
The working environment in which one will typically perform the
essential functions of this position is a climate-controlled office
setting. It is well lighted, and the noise level is moderate.
Driving Requirements
Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) is required for
travel in the performance of the essential functions of this
position. Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptable
DMV record, and liability insurance is required.
Time Type
Full time
Location
Onsite
Pay Range
Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary
range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate
may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may
include the successful candidate's rank, contract length, skills,
work experience, internal equity, market conditions,
education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by
the University.
The position may also be eligible for
comprehensive
benefits , including health insurance, retirement plans, and
tuition assistance.
$116,300.00 - $260,000.00
The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it
is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of
ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are
conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title
VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and
state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for
all job classifications will be administered without regard to
race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or
childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable
status protected by law, including state of employment protected
classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all
employees and prospective employees strictly according to the
requirements of the job. All personnel related activities such as
compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments,
working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs,
and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions and
privileges of employment will be administered without regard to
race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or
childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable
status protected by law, including all applicable state of
employment protected classes. The University is a Christian
religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to
religious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiring
practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance
with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception
to the “religion” component of the employment discrimination laws
for religious organizations (including educational institutions),
and permits them to give employment practice preference to members
of their own religious beliefs.
