Faculty invited to apply for associate dean of academic affairs

The College of Educational and Human Ecology (EHE) is seeking applicants for the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA). The EHE Office of Academic Affairs supports EHE faculty, staff and students in a variety of capacities by serving as the chief administrator responsible for all aspects of the EHE curriculum, graduate and undergraduate programs, student recruiting and advising, and student outcomes throughout the college. We seek applicants with bold and innovative ideas for leading all aspects of the EHE Office of Academic Affairs. Some goals for the new ADAA will be to increase the number of EHE student majors overall, prioritize improving diversity among the new students recruited to EHE majors, improving the college climate and academic experiences for all EHE students, and increasing the overall credit hours generated through EHE course offerings. Another goal for the new ADAA will be to effectively manage the approximately 28 staff who work in the four areas within the office, with an emphasis on building collaboration and cooperation within the unit that is consistent with the goal of enhancing student’s experiences in EHE. The EHE Office of Academic Affairs oversees four sub-areas related to the EHE curriculum and student services. The undergraduate student services area (16 staff) focuses on undergraduate academic advising and student success. The undergraduate student recruitment area (3 staff) works to bring students who express an interest in EHE programs into one of the approximately 30 undergraduate majors in EHE. The career services area (3 staff) provides personalized career development opportunities to prepare undergraduate students for a successful job search by linking students to potential employers, helping arrange internship opportunities, hosting career events, reviewing resumes, conducting workshops and providing class presentations. The assessment and curriculum area (4 staff) provides support for the development, management, assessment and evaluation of EHE’s graduate and undergraduate curriculum. This area oversees the curriculum approval process in coordination with the EHE Curriculum Committee; helps coordinate assessments, external reviews and accreditation visits; and provides information, reports and analyses to support strategic planning and decision-making. In addition, the EHE Office of Academic Affairs oversees the annual scholarship selection process that typically awards over $1 million in scholarships to existing graduate and undergraduate students in EHE.

Detailed job description

The top priorities for the ADAA are to increase credit hour generation through enrollment in EHE courses, improve student retention, increase the diversity of students entering EHE majors, and improve accessibility to the growing population of non-traditional students in EHE. This involves developing a broad vision and strategic plan for the EHE Office of Academic Affairs that appreciates the wide variety of graduate and undergraduate majors in EHE, increases on-line and hybrid course offerings that are in demand, and collaborates with EHE partners to increase the effective use of technology in the classroom. The ADAA directly supervises the directors of the four sub areas in the EHE Office of Academic Affairs and others (Director of Undergraduate Student Services, Director of Undergraduate Student Recruitment, Director of Career Services, Director of Assessment and Curriculum, Senior Academic Affairs Administrative Assistant), and assists these direct reports with overall personnel management in the office. The ADAA assists the EHE faculty in developing, managing and supervising the curriculum approval process; attends the EHE Curriculum Committee meetings; oversees the preparation of Office of Academic Affairs reports for college and university-level review, and represents the college at university curriculum meetings. The ADAA maintains an awareness of the student experiences in EHE, manages the process of student grievances and complaints, and meets with prospective students at EHE student recruitment events. The ADAA develops and administers the EHE Office of Academic Affairs budget. The ADAA provides academic leadership by serving on the EHE Executive Committee, attending all official college functions, representing the dean at meetings and functions when requested, and supporting the dean’s initiatives and strategic planning. The ADAA supervises the four direct reports who lead the four sub-areas in the EHE OAA, plus the Senior Administrative Assistant. Provides overall personnel management support for all 28 staff in the OAA. This position is 100% administration.

The College of Education and Human Ecology

Since its founding in 1895, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology has purposefully leveraged its unique combination of strengths to address social, educational, health and consumer needs in a comprehensive and transformational approach. EHE prepares professionals and leaders for action in the lab, the classroom, in business, and the community. EHE’s mission is to resolve pressing educational, health and wellness, and social needs locally, statewide, and beyond. EHE’s core and most fundamental values include holistic and systemic thinking, a commitment to diversity, and integrity and accountability.

The College of Education and Human Ecology has aligned its programs into three areas: the Department of Educational Studies, the Department of Human Sciences, and the Department of Teaching and Learning, and through its more than 150 faculty, EHE offers 18 undergraduate degree programs, 19 graduate degree programs, and 19 endorsements and license-only programs. The college serves more than 4,200 undergraduate and 1,050 graduate and professional students each year, of whom nearly 300 attend from outside of the US. Six of EHE’s graduate education programs are ranked among the top 10 in the country according to U.S. News and World Report, with another two in the top 20, and the college as a whole ranked 16th. Other standout programs include nationally-ranked nutrition programs, including recognition as among the top doctoral programs at OSU.

EHE has achieved national prominence in numerous fields and presents a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial and collaborative leader to leverage its distinctive components. The next ADAA will benefit from the exceptional resources of Ohio State, as well as the vibrant city of Columbus, Ohio, to contribute to a singular academic enterprise that serves the needs of the entire state of Ohio and beyond. With more than 66,000 students on six campuses, Ohio State is situated in the center of the country and is a national exemplar of how a university can enact positive change in its community locally, nationally, and globally.

Opportunities for the next ADAA

• Build and strengthen a diverse and inclusive community
  • The ADAA will be a key figure in the Dean’s mission to further diversify the EHE community and assure the success of students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds. The ADAA will prioritize improving diversity among the new students recruited to EHE majors, improving the college climate and academic experiences for all EHE students. It is expected that the ADAA will embrace students, staff, faculty, and community partners from diverse backgrounds and will clearly demonstrate a personal commitment to equity, community, and inclusiveness. The ADAA will publicly encourage an atmosphere that welcomes and celebrates diversity, including differences in social and economic backgrounds, lifestyle, gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, and in the promulgation of varying approaches to, and views on, intellectual issues.
• Increase community partnerships and impact
  • The EHE programs are vitally linked with professional practitioners in the broader community. The EHE Office of Academic Affairs helps leverage existing partnerships and create new ones. Examples include the Columbus City Schools, OSU Extension and OSU regional campuses to connect the college with the greater Columbus and broader Ohio communities and civic agencies.
• Identify Opportunities and Methods for Increasing Enrollment
  • The ADAA will work to identify alternative practices and methods to drive program, certificate and course creation and enrollment. In the past 3 years EHE overall has experienced some challenges, including a small but steady decline in undergraduate majors and course enrollments on the Columbus campus, a smaller market share of students overall at the Columbus campus, and a decline in minority student enrollment. Some goals for the new Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) will be to increase the number of EHE student majors overall and the overall credit hours generated through EHE course offerings.

Qualifications and experience

This position is open to applicants within Ohio State. Successful candidates will have experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Full Professor for either a tenure-track or clinical-track faculty appointment in EHE. Required: demonstrated excellence in teaching, extensive experience with curriculum development, evidence of excellent student mentoring and advising, and leadership in graduate and/or undergraduate programs. In addition, successful candidates will have demonstrated leadership experience with an appreciation for the changing landscape of higher education, outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, a demonstrated track record of promoting and supporting an inclusive and open environment, a commitment to creating a positive work environment for everyone, and the ability to navigate various administrative contexts.

How to apply

Please submit the following materials to snyder.893@osu.edu by Friday May 31, 2019:

• Updated CV
• Cover letter outlining your experience, vision and interest in the position
• The names of two professional references

Questions?

Please contact Search Committee Chair, Anastasia Snyder, PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in EHE, at snyder.893@osu.edu or 614-688-4169

EEO: The Ohio State University is committed to building and maintaining a diverse community to reflect human diversity and improve opportunities for all. The university embraces human diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and eliminating discrimination. Ohio State does not discriminate against any individual based upon age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment and admission.