Residential Dean - College of Arts and Sciences

Liberty University • Lynchburg, VA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.
• 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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Program development experience
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Directly supervises two Associate Deans and provides indirect oversight of professional faculty, staff, and student employees across the College of Arts & Sciences.
• Provides oversight of the Honors College and ROTC faculty, staff, and student employees.

Benefits

• The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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