Dean of the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education

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About Westfield State University :

Founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, Westfield was the first co-educational college in America to offer an education without barrier to race, creed, or economic status. Westfield is an education leader committed to providing students of every generation with a learning experience built on its founding principles. This spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies that creates a vital community of engaged learners who become confident, capable individuals prepared for leadership and service to society.

Originally founded as a normal school, the institution transitioned into a state teacher's college in the 1930s and proudly emerged as Westfield State University in 2010. This transformative journey highlights our commitment to fostering broad intellectual development, professional preparation, and impactful community service.

Known as 'Whip City,' Westfield boasts a history steeped in innovation since the 19th century. Initially known for bricks, whips, and cigars, it emerged as a major hub for the buggy whip industry in the 1800s. Over time, Westfield diversified into industries like bicycles, paper products, textile machinery, and wood products. This transformation turned Westfield from an agricultural town into an industrial city.

Job Description :

General Statement of Duties :

Westfield State University seeks an innovative and collaborative leader who will bring scholarly and administrative skills to the role of Dean of the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education. The Dean will have the opportunity to lead a talented group of faculty and a Division that serves about 600 undergraduate continuing education students and about 800 graduate students. The successful candidate will supervise an Administrative Assistant and four staff members while working with staff in the Admissions Office to recruit continuing education and graduate students. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Division and articulates the goals of the Division both within the University and to the outside community, demonstrating strong support and advocacy for graduate and continuing education.

The Dean will work with the campus community to sustain a learning environment that recognizes the value of a transformative education for Westfield's diverse student body. The Dean will lead and support the faculty and others in developing and expanding graduate programs. The successful candidate will serve as the lead accreditation officer for all the accredited programs in the Division and also maintain a quality assurance system for continuous program improvements. The Dean must provide active leadership for the Division's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and promote an environment that advances inclusive excellence and actively opposes discrimination and intolerance.

Essential Duties :

• Provide innovative and creative leadership and work collaboratively with our University community to support student-centered programs (current and new) that respond to University-wide enrollment and retention goals and a diverse community of students, especially adult learners.
• Encourage and support quality teaching and scholarship, as well as graduate and continuing education faculty and staff member professional development.
• Provide leadership and support for program coordinators who oversee the development, coordination, organization, scheduling, and supervision of their respective programs in the Division.
• Communicate regularly with all graduate and continuing education stakeholders, including students.
• Promote appropriate interdisciplinary collaboration with programs in the Division and other academic colleges of the University.
• Effectively manage and oversee the budget for the Division.
• Work to acquire new resources and appropriately allocate resources for graduate and continuing education.
• Champion the University's anti-racist commitment in a manner consistent with the policies of the University.
• Support student success including graduate assistantships and showcasing student work.
• Coordinate planning at the strategic and operational levels in a manner that maintains and advances the overall effectiveness of the Division, including the implementation of strategic market analysis and the use of data to foster improvements in all areas of the Division (including student learning and success, and program growth and development). Initiate and oversee graduate and continuing education program reviews and ensure that individual programs within the Division achieve and maintain appropriate quality.
• Work collaboratively with students, faculty, advisors, program coordinators, department chairs, academic deans, and other administrators to achieve the mission of the University.
• Formulate and implement policies and practices which provide support for graduate and continuing education and maintain compliance with University, state, and federal regulations.
• Engage in outreach and establish and foster external partnerships in Western Massachusetts, including with relevant advisory boards.
• Collaborate on the development of programming to serve the needs of local, regional, and for- and not-for- profit businesses and organizations.
• Grow national recruitment strategies and enhance the reputation of the Division in collaboration with the Admissions and Marketing Offices.
• Assure that reports, course schedules, and other written materials are submitted in a timely manner.
• Supervise office staff.
• Adhere to the spirit of collective bargaining and participate in system-wide negotiations of contracts.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Salary $150,000.00-$165,000.00 (will commensurate with education and experience)

Requirements :

Required Qualifications :

Additional Information :

Salary :

Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage .

Employee Benefits :

Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.

Disability Accommodations

Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.

Background Check

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Application Instructions :

To apply, a candidate should upload the following in three separate documents (pdf preferred) :

The job posting will be open a minimum of ten days and, if needed, will remain open until finalists have been selected.

NOTE : If you need assistance completing your application please contact our online Help Desk . The link to the help desk can be found at the top of the page via Contact Us.

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Salary : $150,000 - $165,000