Dean of the Keystone Honors Academy

Position Summary

Proudly standing as the nation’s oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has been a stalwart and highly respected institution of higher education since our founding in 1837.For over 185 years our alumni have emerged as leaders and left their mark on the social, economic, and political history of Philadelphia, the surrounding region, the nation, and the world. Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney University is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility.

Here at Cheyney, we value scholarship, diversity, integrity, respect, and service. We are committed to maintaining a vibrant educational community that is dedicated to promoting scholarship and lifelong learning for its students, offering wide student access to resources to ensure an opportunity for all to acquire an education, encouraging freedom of thought and freedom from discrimination by ensuring a respectful environment, and provide outreach and service to external and constituent communities, demonstrating their understanding of the importance and value of service.

We’re looking for exceptional individuals who share our values, embrace our mission, recognize our potential, and covet the opportunity to continue to move our historic University forward.CU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; generous retirement plans; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.

TheDean of the Keystone Honors Academy (KHA) at Cheyney University furthers the mission and reinforces the strength of the Academy by providing operational oversight to the department. The Academy takes a holistic approach to student development, and seeks to graduate students who are academically accomplished, visionary leaders and responsible citizens.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean manages the daily administrative and programmatic functions of the Academy to provide an environment that is academically and professionally enriching for students. TheDean oversees and responds to emerging needs of the honors students, plans and executes university programming focused on professional development, student leadership, and enrichment, liaise with the Enrollment Management Office, Division of Student Affairs and First-Year Experience (FYE)department of Academic Affairs.

The Dean's core responsibilities are:

• Ensure the integrity and progress of students' academic, professional and personal development experiences
• Provide executive leadership for the day-to-day operations of the department as it relates to issues impacting students' recruitment, retention and preparation for post-grad experiences.
• Manage and implement all policies associated with the operation of the Keystone Honors Academy, recommend policy changes when necessary.
• Coordinate with other on-campus departments to design, plan and deliver campus-wide initiatives that facilitate a seamless service delivery to students
• Provide supervision to the Honors Director who will support student development through special projects designed to help students expand intellectual interests and foster lifelong learning
• Collaborate with the Honors Director to prepare budgets associated with the honors program and develop and procure new resources to support the program
• Oversee the scholarship programs associated with the honors program
• Other duties as assigned

• Work with the Provost to facilitate and implement articulation agreements with high schools, colleges and universities. Participate in the University-wide registration planning committee and support enrollment management activities and initiatives.
• Assist Honors Director with Recruitment, as needed
• Provide direction on all matters related to enrollment management and retention of high achieving students. Develop marketing concepts, "brand" image, marketing materials and website.
• Collaborate with the Office of Enrollment Management to manage marketing materials, address issues surrounding student outreach and acceptance and examine processes, procedures and emerging trends to create effective remediation. Direct the planning, logistics and execution of Honors Days and other special recruitment activities
• Collaborate with Residence Life staff to identify and adopt models for retention programs designed for learning communities within an Honors environment
• Liaise with the office of admissions and Honors Director to develop recruitment strategies, evaluate new applicants, and provide guidance to current honors students
• Work in collaboration with university faculty and develop and direct the flow of work of programs that assist in attracting and retaining students of high academic achievement.

• Collaborate with the Honors Director to prepare and manage budgets/grants
• Oversee the University Honors Scholarship program (approximately $1.8 million), and work with the university's advancement efforts to procure new funding sources for the honors program
• Serve as the administrator of the Bond Hill Scholarship program
• Provide updated progress reports, requests for new student funding to external funders; Serve on campus-wide steering committees to develop and execute innovative fundraising ideas to bring external funds to campus
• Monitor project or event budget and ensure compliance with university operating and procurement procedures. May include follow-up with AR and related business units to ensure the timely processing of budgetary items
• Approve the budget, forum and content of scholarly events such as invited speakers and cultural events

• Provide executive leadership to the daily operations of the Honors Living/Learning Center and management of honors student requirements, satisfaction and maintenance of high-achieving academics and civic engagement.
• Craft vision and provide strategic direction to the Honors Director in the successful coordination of a student peer-mentoring program to undergird new and current students as they proceed to embark upon new scholastic enterprises.
• Oversee the development, facilitation and assessment of student programs designed for learning communities focused on academic enrichment and retention.

• Provide direction to Honors Director in supporting students in effectively resolving issues related to the requirements necessary to maintain high academic achievement.
• Participate in the "Service Learning Consortium," a group of faculty, staff and students dedicated to bringing service learning resources to the campus community. Service Learning Coursework is incorporated into the General Education requirements.

• Work with the Provost to facilitate articulation agreements with graduate and professional schools. Host activities and events designed to assist students in preparing for post baccalaureate work. Activities include graduate school visitations, graduate school fairs, support for preparatory courses for entrance examinations, and ongoing advising to assist in graduate school selection and application.

• Provide outcomes-based leadership for the Honors Program events including but not limited to the Honda Campus All-Star program and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (for the campus)
• Develop the Pre-Law advising program and serve as the Pre-Law Advisor in collaboration with faculty, provide oversight for the academic and pre professional legal program for undergraduate students. Serve as liaison with the Law School Admissions Council.
• Serve on the Faculty and Staff Honors Council

• Initiate, coordinate and direct the appointment of new talent management searches
• Supervise, evaluate and provide continual feedback on the work performed by the Honors Director and/or Administrative Assistant
• Manage data on student progress and alumni and prepare reports

• Coordinate and plan academic events such as Honors Convocation and Commencement exercises.
• Engage in contributive representation in university-wide committees:
  • New Student Orientation and related activities
  • Academic Affairs -Culture and Arts Committee
  • FYE (First Year Experience) Steering Committee

Requirements

• The preferred candidate will have a master’s degree and at least five years of experience in an academic setting as a faculty, manager or administrator within an Honors department or program.
• Experience teaching in a college environment is required.
• Prior experience working in an HBCU Honors environment with high-achieving students required.
• Must have strong project management skills, college teaching and presentation skills, familiarity with overcoming barriers to student success/retention and strong written and oral communication skills.

Instructions for Applying

A complete online application will include the following attachments. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

• Cover Letter
Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Diversity Statement

Cheyney University an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.