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The College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College), located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, invites applications for the position of Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Programs (SASPP).  The successful candidate is expected to assume the position on July 1, 2025. The School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Programs offers 33 undergraduate programs and 12 graduate programs.

As Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Programs, the position is responsible for the strength of all academic programs within the School. The Dean monitors the quality and assessment of its academic programs, faculty development, higher education trends, and ensures adherence to federal, and state and accreditation regulations. In addition, the Dean oversees the hiring and development of a qualified and diverse faculty, the assignment of faculty workloads, and the management of resources allocated to the School. The Dean reports directly to the vice president for academic affairs and works collaboratively with other deans and department heads under the VPAA’s leadership.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership and support for teaching and learning of the highest quality and excellence, and promoting a high-quality learning environment for diverse students.
• Maintains the academic quality of the School and provides visionary leadership in the development of new programs based on market analysis.
• Works with the VPAA, and other institutional leaders to set annual goals for the school, aligned with the institution’s goals and mission; implements the College’s strategic initiatives directly related to the School, integrating benchmarking and assessment into ongoing planning and vision.
• Under the supervision of the VPAA, oversees the work of the Division Chairs in running the academic affairs of the various divisions including: faculty workload assignments; faculty mentoring, promotion, and tenure; budget management; faculty searches and hires; academic program development and reviews.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies for Education, Business, and Social Work; Develops and maintains a systematic evaluation plan to ensure congruence with national standards, professional guidelines, or expected competencies and to evaluate program outcomes.
• Committed to the College’s Mission and Core Values, and to promoting, supporting, and extending the values of Elms College.
• Provide ongoing mentorship and advisement in developing and implementing evaluation and review systems for faculty, courses, and programs.
• Ability to oversee the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students.
• Promotes and supports faculty teaching effectiveness, scholarship and research, and service.
• Ensures that faculty and staff work to implement student recruiting and retention plans.
• Responsible for all aspects of the SASPP operating and capital budget, consistent with the College’s financial guidelines; recommends priorities to the vice president for academic affairs, and oversees expenditures during the budget year.
• Advocates to the VPAA and the senior administration and maintains an atmosphere within the School that promotes faculty equity and satisfaction.
• Plays a critical role in representing the College and the School to external constituents – regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate; and a record of academic achievement in the discipline meriting appointment as a tenured Associate or Full Professor in a division of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Programs.
• Progressive academic or administrative experience and leadership in a Division or School; teaching experience complemented by a scholarly record.
• Understanding of the instructional, research, and creative needs of undergraduate and graduate programs within the School.
• Demonstrated success in obtaining federal, state, or private grants.
• Experience with budget management, faculty and staff development, and promoting college and community relations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and the broader educational and professional communities, including community-based organizations.

Standards of Performance

• Leadership and management.
• Sound judgement and decision making.
• Collaboration with senior management, staff, faculty, division chairs, and students.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Appropriate stewardship of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Programs’ financial and administrative resources.
• Effective representation of Elms College.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Use of general office equipment in an office setting. Requires an equal amount of standing, sitting, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, and climbing multiple levels of stairs, light lifting, near vision and manual dexterity to perform essential job functions.  Requires ability to travel between buildings on campus with exposure to inclement weather conditions.
• May require driving or traveling to locations in the local and outside the local area on official college business.
• Background check will be conducted upon hire and on a routine basis thereafter. Valid driver’s license and good driving record required.

Elms College (also known as College of Our Lady of the Elms), a private, Catholic, co-educational liberal arts institution in Chicopee, Massachusetts, was founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. The institution offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Nursing practice degrees. Dedicated to non-discriminatory educational practices, the College aims to eliminate barriers to equal access and treatment for its community. Elms College provides rigorous academic challenges and fosters a supportive community for students to thrive. Graduates leave Elms College richer, rooted in faith, educated, compassionate, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle.

Elms College’s mission embodies the charism of the founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph, including embracing “the love of neighbor without distinction” and whose Catholic heritage guides our intellectual, social, educational, and community endeavors.

Elms College is being assisted by Hyatt – Fennell, Executive Search. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should be submitted via email to Elms@hyatt-fennell.com. Applications include a letter of interest demonstrating a commitment to non-discrimination, inclusion and the mission of the College, a current résumé/cv, and contact information for five professional references, submitted in separate documents. A review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by April 14 will be given fullest consideration. All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential.

Elms College is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.