CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Position Description
TITLE:
Dean
DEPARTMENT:
College of Arts and Humanities
DIVISION:
Academic Affairs
APPOINTMENT:
Full-time, 12-month appointment
JOB SUMMARY: As the chief academic and fiscal officer of the College of Arts and Humanities, the dean
provides vision, leadership and support for continuous improvement in all matters affecting the college.
Responsibilities include academic program planning, budget development and oversight, curriculum development
and delivery, hiring and personnel actions, faculty/staff development, planning and development for facilities and
equipment, departmental operations, and responsiveness to students. Eight departments report to the Dean of
the College of Arts and Humanities: Art, Communication, English, Foreign Languages, History, Music,
Philosophy, and Theater Arts. There are 120 full-time faculty, and staff in the College of Arts and Humanities.
Some departments deliver off-site courses at university centers. In addition the dean oversees interdisciplinary
programs in Asia/Pacific Studies, Latin American Studies, and the Humanities Program; affiliated interdisciplinary
programs include the Douglas Honors College, Ethnic Studies, and Women Studies. The dean plays an integral
role in the leadership of the Center for Teaching and Learning, which oversees the preparation of teachers and
other professional school personnel.
The dean works within a participatory faculty governance structure, and fosters close working relationships with
and among all constituents of the College, the university, as well as public agencies and the general public. The
dean provides innovative leadership in fund-raising and in positioning the college to respond successfully to the
challenges and opportunities facing contemporary higher education.
The dean works under the guidance of state and federal regulations, university policies and procedures, collegelevel policies and procedures, and the mission-linked accreditation standards of the Northwest Council of
Colleges and Universities.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS: The dean reports to the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The dean supervises one full-time associate dean and an administrative assistant in the office of the dean, and
works closely with a half-time Development Officer who reports to University Relations. In addition, the dean
supervises the activities of the eight department chairs and acts as appointing authority for college faculty and
staff.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: In support of the missions of the College of Arts and Humanities and Central
Washington University, the dean holds responsibilities in the following areas:
Planning and Policy Development
• Leads in the development, delivery, and evaluation of high-quality academic programs in departments and
affiliated degree programs of the college.
• Leads the college's academic, strategic, and development planning efforts.
• Develops, in consultation with department chairs, policies and procedures to guide the functions of the
college.
• Establishes and oversees committees to facilitate the affairs of the college.
Budget Management
• Administers budget allocations in support of departments and programs within the college.
• Develops/presents, in collaboration with department chairs, budget recommendations to the provost.
• Plans and controls college expenditures within established budgetary constraints.
Resource Development
• Leads college efforts to raise funds from sources external to the university.
• Supports faculty efforts to secure extramural funding.
Human Resource Management
• Recommends appointments, reappointments, promotion, and tenure, and compensation changes for
faculty.
• Reviews faculty teaching and advising loads, committee assignments, and professional activities.
• Serves as appointing authority for the College of Arts and Humanities, with responsibility for recruitment,
selection, and evaluation of college faculty and staff.
• Encourages and implements plans for faculty and staff development.
• Mediates and resolves conflicts involving faculty, staff, and students within the college.
• Supports and promotes the principles of equal opportunity and diversity throughout the college and its
programs and activities.
Student Development
• Works with college departments to enhance academic experiences of students enrolled in college courses
and programs.
• Promotes and facilitates faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative activity.
Curriculum Development and Management
• Encourages and supports:
o planning, developing, assessing, and improving college curricula,
o preparing effective catalog descriptions, and
o compiling, reviewing, and acting on information gathered for assessment and accreditation.
• Reviews and approves exceptions to college requirements, academic standards, and policies.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
• Participates in ceremonial and professional functions representing the college and the university.
• Participates in instructional activities within his or her discipline, as appropriate.
• Participates in scholarship or creative activity within his or her discipline, as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Education and Experience
• Terminal degree earned from an accredited institution in a discipline appropriate to tenure in the college.
• Evidence of effective teaching and a strong record of research, scholarship or creative activity appropriate
to appointment as a full professor.
• Demonstrated successful leadership experience in an administrative position at a level equivalent to
department chair or above.
• Successful experience in budget management, human resource management, and strategic planning.
• Strong interpersonal communication, writing, and speaking skills.
Preferred Education and Experience
• Demonstrated success in recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and diverse faculty, staff and student
body.
• Experience in managing multi-site environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to and support of undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship and
creative activity.
• Success in raising funds from sources external to the university.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and programs.
• Demonstrated ability to set and maintain high expectations for teaching, service, research, scholarship, and
creative activity.
• Experience in and commitment to leadership in the preparation of K-12 teachers in Arts and Humanities
disciplines.
Resource Development
• Leads college efforts to raise funds from sources external to the university.
• Supports faculty efforts to secure extramural funding.
Human Resource Management
• Recommends appointments, reappointments, promotion, and tenure, and compensation changes for
faculty.
• Reviews faculty teaching and advising loads, committee assignments, and professional activities.
• Serves as appointing authority for the College of Arts and Humanities, with responsibility for recruitment,
selection, and evaluation of college faculty and staff.
• Encourages and implements plans for faculty and staff development.
• Mediates and resolves conflicts involving faculty, staff, and students within the college.
• Supports and promotes the principles of equal opportunity and diversity throughout the college and its
programs and activities.
Student Development
• Works with college departments to enhance academic experiences of students enrolled in college courses
and programs.
• Promotes and facilitates faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative activity .
Curriculum Development and Management
• Encourages and supports:
o planning, developing, assessing, and improving college curricula,
o preparing effective catalog descriptions, and
o compiling, reviewing, and acting on information gathered for assessment and accreditation.
• Reviews and approves exceptions to college requirements, academic standards, and policies.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
• Participates in ceremonial and professional functions representing the college and the university .
• Participates in instructional activities within his or her discipline, as appropriate.
• Participates in scholarship or creative activity within his or her discipline, as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Education and Experience
• Terminal degree earned from an accredited institution in a discipline appropriate to tenure in the college.
• Evidence of effective teaching and a strong record of research, scholarship or creative activity appropriate
to appointment as a full professor.
• Demonstrated successful leadership experience in an administrative position at a level equivalent to
department chair or above.
• Successful experience in budget management, human resource management, and strategic planning.
• Strong interpersonal communication, writing, and speaking skills.
Preferred Education and Experience
• Demonstrated success in recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and diverse faculty, staff and student
body.
• Experience in managing multi-site environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to and support of undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship and
creative activity.
• Success in raising funds from sources external to the university.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and programs.
• Demonstrated ability to set and maintain high expectations for teaching, service, research, scholarship, and
creative activity.
• Experience in and commitment to leadership in the preparation of K-12 teachers in Arts and Humanities
disciplines.