Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, School of Law

University of Baltimore • Baltimore, MD

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Dean, this position leads the School of Law in key areas pertaining to student affairs, including leading the UBalt Law Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and the OSA team. The Assistant Dean interfaces with students, faculty, staff, university administrative offices, and other constituents of the law school to support student wellness, student crisis management, student government, and other areas relating to the law student experience. This position works with the University Office of Student Success and Support Services, especially in connection with matters of student conduct and support. In addition to implementing and developing strategies to enhance the School of Law student experience, this individual must make independent judgments and decisions and act independently in the best interests of the University and the student body. This individual serves as a member of the law school’s senior leadership team, represents student interests on the School of Law exam team, and oversees the UBalt Law Director of Student Support’s implementation of accommodations and accommodated exams. This position requires a thorough understanding of the academic and student policies of the University and School of Law. The incumbent must possess a desire to serve law students and have the ability to establish an effective rapport with students, faculty, and staff.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in academic and student advising leadership roles in a higher education institution.
• Experience in higher education, in areas of academic policy, advising, academic integrity and student affairs or other similar experience.
• Ability to network and interact effectively with key groups and individuals to form effective partnerships.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and presentation skills; attention to detail.
• Experience in acting with the highest level of diplomacy, confidentiality and trust.
• Ability to project a professional and positive image of the School of Law and University.
• Sound understanding and sensitivity to student, faculty and staff issues related to: diversity and inclusion; communication and interaction; leadership and supervisory skills; knowledge of organization; creativity and innovation.
• Demonstrated skills and abilities to perform and achieve the following: planning and results; productivity and quality of work.

Responsibilities

• Manage team of two academic advisors for both full-time day and part-time/evening students on all academic matters, including academic policies and course selection in close coordination with the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Determine transfer course equivalencies for law coursework and determine student satisfaction of degree requirements.
• Support and advise students with disabilities seeking academic and exam accommodations at the law school and manage disability support services administrator.
• Advise students in crisis, including communicating with faculty, staff, and various law school resources as appropriate, making arrangements for getting course information to students when emergency circumstances cause them to miss class, and referring students to counseling or other support services as appropriate.
• Serve as the Title IX point of contact for students at the law school.
• Manage law school-specific mental health counselor embedded in building to serve needs of students.
• Create protocols and policies to address retention concerns within the School of Law for both potential transfers out and for academically at-risk students.
• Manage all health-related student issues within the law school.
• Manage graduation audits and degree progression.
• Oversee all aspects of student affairs and integrity, including, but not limited to, student issues related to degree completion, grievances, retention, and persistence.
• Manage all attendance-related policies and matters including determining when leaves of absence, administrative withdrawals, and failures due to absences are appropriate.
• Administer all matters under the Law School’s Honor Code, including recruitment, selection and training of Honor Board members, assigning investigators, selecting hearing panel members, scheduling hearings, and assisting in communicating decisions.
• Work with the Student Affairs staff and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs on student academic appeals and requests, including grade changes, program changes, grievances, etc.
• Recommend decisions on policy as needed.
• Work with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to coordinate updates and revisions to the law school student handbook and honor code, as well as professionalism principles.
• Coordinate and assure updates to degree audit as academic requirement change.
• Manage the graduation audit process and clear students for graduation.
• Disseminate information to law school students, faculty and staff.
• Manage Director of Student Support in coordinating all midterm and final exams for students receiving testing accommodations pursuant to ADA regulations and requirements.
• Manage student crises involving emergency deferral requests during final exam windows.
• Act as a Head Proctor for final exams and assist with recruiting student proctors for in-class oversight.
• Serve as a member of the Exam Team to ensure secure, timely, and professional delivery of midterm and final exams for all students.
• Work closely with the Registrar and Director of Student Support to incorporate student and faculty feedback into the planning of exam dates, testing procedures, and the in-classroom experience.
• Assist to ensure exam administration aligns with national best practices and ABA requirements for law school testing.
• Plan and administer new student orientation, including developing the schedule, communicating with incoming students, recruiting students, faculty, and outside speakers, and making all arrangements for catering and supplies both on and off campus.
• Plan and administer multi-week continuing orientation schedule during the fall semester.
• Oversee staff organizing awards, honor society recognition, and commencement activities including recruiting student and staff volunteers, planning schedule of events, and working with venue staff to execute all related activities.
• Create multiple student-centered events throughout the year to build community, resiliency, and wellness within student body.
• Advise the Student Government (SBA).
• Work with law school leadership to offer high-quality leadership development trainings for all student organization leaders and collaborate to help expand student leadership development opportunities in connection with the expansion of law school-wide leadership development initiatives.
• Manage staff dedicated to serving the 30+ student organizations and activities in the law school.
• Recruit, and manage an upper-level mentor program to serve incoming students.
• Manage a staff member who leads and supports the law school’s journals, moot court and mock trial team programs, which the staff member does in close coordination with the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Ensure student workers have contracts and help to manage assignments and process improvement.
• Serve on relevant faculty committees within the School of Law and represent the law school within the university.
• Other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Dean.

Benefits

• health plans
• life plans
• prescription plans
• dental plans
• tuition remission benefits
• paid leave ( 22 days of annual, 15 days of sick, 3 days of personal , and 14-15 holidays)
• retirement plans with employer contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree