Administrative positions
Path to administration
In order to prepare for administrative positions faculty members need to seek out and volunteer for administrative tasks. A track record of such successful experiences is one effective path to such positions. Administration is not for every faculty member, but some thoroughly enjoy this means of serving their institutions.
Assistant / Associate Dean
Depending upon the unit, associate deans have a variety of responsibilities. Most serve in a liaison role between campus administrators and faculty members, take the lead in day to day operation of the college, and assist the Dean.
Dean
Deans play five essential roles as leaders of colleges: as college representatives to the rest of the university and administration, as university representatives to the faculty members, as managers of college resources, and as college representatives to external bodies. Positions will vary with each institution, and new faculty members should become familiar with the role of their particular Dean.
Provost
The Provost serves as the chief academic officer for a campus, and is responsible for advancing the missions of the institution by enhancing the quality of programs, fostering recognition of faculty, ensuring a stable budget process, sustaining the academic infrastructure, and coordinating and overseeing major academic support functions toward academic excellence.
Associate / Assistant Dean Role
Assistant Dean
Northern Arizona University
This site outlines responsibilities of an assistant dean at NAU.
Associate Dean Departmental Assignments and Responsibilities
UCLA Graduate Division
This site outlines responsibilities at one campus for associate deans.
Associate Dean for Academic Advancement
School of Nursing, Emory University
This site describes the details of the position, including mentoring, faculty development, administrative tasks, and leadership.
Dean Role
Responsibilities of the Dean
College of Education, University of North Texas
This site contains bulleted responsibilities of the UNT Dean.
Academic Dean Responsibilities, Appointment, Compensation, Terms and Evaluations
Illinois State University Policy
This site outlines the details of the Dean position at ISU.
The Academic Dean
DiFronzo, N. (2002). Widener University
This article outlines the difficulties of describing the dean position due to the ever changing challenges that a college faces. Several views are explored and challenged.
UR Dean’s Office Roles and Responsibilities
Office of Research and Project Administration, University of Rochester
This site describes the UR expectations for Deans.
Provost
Responsibilities
Office of the Provost, Columbia University
The Provost is a chief academic officer, and has broad responsibilities, as outlined on this website.
Responsibilities of the Provost
Office of the Provost, Duke University
This site describes the role of the Provost at Duke.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Division of Academic Affairs, California State University Los Angeles
This site clearly describes the responsibilities of the Provost and the dual role of Vice President for Academic Affairs.
About the Provost
California State University Long Beach
This site introduces the current Provost on the CSULB campus, and offers links that describe the role, priorities, initiatives, and overall work of the provost.
