The Academic Deanship Individual Careers and Institutional Roles

by Bright, David F.; Richards, Mary P.

• ISBN13: 9780470907504
• ISBN10: 0470907509
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-21
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

A deanship is now seen as more of a phase in an overall academic career than as a permanent shift from teaching to administration. In fact, the nature of the job itself has changed, as has the range of likely options at the end of a dean's tenure. This book serves as a guide for the aspiring or new dean, offering practical advice on how to approach the interview process and the new job, as well as providing a thoughtful assessment of the deanship in its wider context. The authors--both experienced academic deans at a variety of institutions--encourage the new or experienced dean to reflect on the larger issues, and address the realities of deaning from several perspectives in efforts to illuminate both the challenges and rewards of the job.

Author Biography

David F. Bright is professor of classics and comparative literature at Emory University. He has held a variety of administrative positions ranging from department chair to vice president to dean of arts and sciences. He has held deanships at three institutions.

Mary P. Richards is professor of English at the University of Delaware. She has held six deanships or associate deanships at various institutions, most recently as dean of arts and science at the University of Delaware.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

The Authors

Becoming A Dean

The Map and the Crossword: Ways to Think about Being a Dean

The Map

The Crossword Puzzle

Deaning as Part of an Ongoing Academic Career

What It Takes to Be a Dean

Relevant Credentials and Experience

Necessary Skills and Expected Duties

How Do I Match Up?

Do I Want a Deanship?

Finding the Right Position

Dean of What?

What Is Available?

Application and Nomination

Resumes and References

Letter

Interviews

Offer

Administering the College

The Shift to the Dean's Office

Setting Up and Settling In

Needing Immediate Attention

The First Full Round

Balances of Power

The Office Staff

Faculty Governance

Faculty Unions

Departments, Programs, and Their Leaders

Dealing with the Multiple Identities of Departments

Working with Departments and DEOs

Selecting DEOs

Supporting the DEOs

The Work of the Dean

Planning

Preliminaries

Where and How to Begin: Top-Down or Bottom-Up?

The Planning Committee

Developing the Plan

Refining the Plan

Implementing the Plan

Pitfalls

Budgets and Resources

Budget Assistant

When There's Month Left at the End of the Money

Budget Proposals

Grants and Contracts

Outcomes

Personnel

Physical Facilities

Technology

Faculty Development

Recruiting Faculty

Mentoring

Developing Teaching

Encouraging Research

Academic Citizenship

Evaluation

Reward and Support System

Dealing with External Offers

Retooling and Retirement

The Dean's Role in Academic Programs

Types of Programs

The Dean's Role

Reviewing Programs

Special Problems

Maintaining the Curriculum

Working with Students

The Dean's Responsibility to Students

The Dean's Office and Students

Student Problems

Learning from Students

Legal Issues and Other Special Challenges

Legal Issues

Grievances

Sexual Harassment

Special Challenges for Women and Minority Deans

Beyond the College

The Provost

The Provost's Role

Reporting to the Provost

Establishing a Relationship with the Provost

The Importance of Communication and Candor

Performance Reviews

Other Deans and Directors

Deans as a Natural Cohort

Directors

Working with the Other Deans

Cooperating on the Academic Agenda

The Wider Community of Deans

External Relations

Alumni

Parents

College Publications and Publicity

Advisory Councils

Media Relations

Development

Beyond Deaning: Building a Balanced Career

Maintaining an Academic Identity

Endgame

The Decanal Afterlife

References

Index

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