Redefining the Roles of Deans at UIndy

Academic Deans occupy a unique place in the continuum of academic administrators, as the facilitating link among Department Chairpersons/Program Directors, faculty members, staff, students, and University administration. All activities and roles of the Deans are undertaken in light of furthering the best interests of the students of the University of Indianapolis.

The Deans report to and are responsible through the Executive Vice President and Provost.

Five Essential Roles

Deans hold five essential roles:

Chief planning officer and academic leader of college or school

The Dean is primarily responsible for ensuring academic quality of programs within their units. Deans connect the academic vision/strategic plan laid out by the university administration to specific program and course offerings for students.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

To lead strategic visioning and goal setting at University and college/school levels
To lead the development and implementation of unit goals
To set the climate and culture of the unit
To maintain the integrity of the unit
To lead and coordinate governance of the college/school
To oversee the process of faculty/staff recruitment, development and retention
To oversee the process of student recruitment, development, retention, and graduation, the promotion of student success

Liaison between college or school and the University and Administration

As members of the Provost Council and the administration of the university, Deans are the primary liaison between the Provost, President and Cabinet, and the academic unit.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

To lead college/school in the assessment and evaluation of programs for accreditation and internal purposes
To participate in the development of University policies and procedures as members of the university administration
To advocate for the college/school as part of the University’s strategic planning

Representative of the college and University to external constituents

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

To represent the unit and programs to the external community
To lead unit outreach and public service efforts
To strategize new and innovative ways to engage the community with the university
To track professional trends and activities that affect curriculum and university life
To address societal changes

Steward of resources

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

To provide stewardship for all resources in the college/school
To develop and maintain a college/school budget, including entrepreneurial and innovative approaches to financing
To generate new resources and ensure the financial success of college/school
To manage the fiscal affairs of the college/school
To lead development of new programming and the elimination of programs deemed nonproductive
To evaluate overall college/school productivity in teaching, scholarship and service

Overseer of curricula

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Develop, implement and evaluate the program curricula in collaboration with the college/school curriculum committee in accordance with national and state regulations, accreditation standards and university policy
Encouraging the development of unique and innovative programs that have the potential to attract new students
Managing the institutional academic quality assurance process and providing leadership in other initiatives to maintain and improve academic standards and the quality of academic programming
Recommends and implements methods for measuring student attainment of program competencies and outcomes to the university accreditation department

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