Position Summary | N/A
Unit/Department Summary |
https://www.uidaho.edu/calsAdministrative Summary | The Associate Dean, Director of Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs is open to all tenured Associate or Full Professors within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
The Associate Dean, Director of Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs provides executive leadership for the academic mission of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and serves as a senior member of the college’s leadership team. This position is responsible for advancing excellence in academic programs, faculty affairs, student success, and global engagement, ensuring alignment with the University of Idaho’s land-grant mission and CALS strategic priorities.
The Associate Dean holds primary responsibility for academic program quality, faculty systems, and student success,
including oversight of academic resources, faculty personnel processes, and program effectiveness across the college.
The Associate Dean provides leadership in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of undergraduate and graduate academic programs, faculty development systems, and student success initiatives. The position works in close partnership with the Dean and Associate Deans of Research and Extension to ensure integration across teaching, research, Extension, and global engagement.
The Associate Dean provides primary leadership for academic programs, including graduate education, and works in close partnership with the Associate Dean for Research to ensure alignment between graduate programs and the research enterprise.
The Associate Dean serves as the chief academic and faculty affairs officer for CALS, with responsibility for academic quality, faculty success, student outcomes, and coordination across academic units.
The scope of this role is focused on strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight, with operational responsibilities distributed across unit leads, program leaders, and university support offices.
Key Responsibilities1. Academic Program Leadership and Innovation Provide strategic leadership for the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of CALS academic programs. Ensure academic offerings are: High quality Relevant to workforce and industry needs Efficient and sustainable Lead program development, review, and revision processes, including coordination with college and university curriculum committees. Advance innovative teaching models, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary programming. Lead implementation of CALS strategic priorities related to academic programs. Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration across departments, colleges, and programs to enhance academic innovation and student opportunities. Advance the internationalization of academic programs, integrating global perspectives into curriculum and degree pathways.
2. Student Success, Recruitment, and Retention Lead college-wide strategies to enhance student recruitment, retention, and completion. Collaborate with Extension, research units, and external partners to strengthen student pipeline development and career pathways. Oversee student services within CALS, including: Advising systems Career readiness and placement initiatives Experiential learning opportunities (internships, undergraduate research, clubs, and leadership programs) Support and enhance programs such as CALS Ambassadors and student organizations. Ensure a high-quality, student-centered academic experience across all programs. Support recruitment, retention, and success of international students in collaboration with university partners. Co-lead, in partnership with the Associate Dean for Research, strategies to enhance graduate student recruitment, retention, mentoring quality, and overall student success.
3. Faculty Affairs and Academic Governance Provide leadership and oversight for faculty affairs processes, including: Recruitment and hiring Appointments, promotion, and tenure Annual performance evaluations Workload planning and policy implementation Provide leadership for academic governance, including: College bylaws and policies Promotion and tenure processes Faculty evaluation systems Serve as the primary liaison with the Provost’s Office on faculty-related matters. Develop and support faculty onboarding, mentoring, and professional development initiatives. Lead and coordinate the CALS new faculty orientation program, ensuring effective onboarding that supports faculty success in teaching, research, Extension, and service roles. Provide leadership for ongoing faculty professional development, including programming related to teaching excellence, mentorship, leadership development, promotion and tenure readiness, and career advancement. Design and lead a comprehensive faculty development framework that supports faculty success across the career lifecycle, including onboarding, mentoring, leadership development, and advancement. Promote faculty recognition, awards, and career advancement. Support and promote faculty engagement in international teaching, research, and scholarly activities. Provide leadership in faculty conflict resolution and support a positive, high-performing academic culture. Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Research to ensure alignment of faculty expectations, mentoring capacity, and graduate education responsibilities.
4. Organizational and Administrative Leadership Provide administrative oversight and strategic direction for the Academic Programs Office, including staffing, operations, and service delivery. Provide coordination and alignment across CALS academic units, unit leads, and academic leadership. Manage and allocate resources to support academic initiatives in collaboration with the Dean and fiscal leadership. Lead development and implementation of academic, faculty, and global initiatives Lead continuous improvement efforts in academic program delivery, faculty processes, and student services. Support data-informed decision-making through assessment, evaluation, and reporting Serve as liaison to coordinate CALS global engagement efforts with university-level international programs. Ensure effective delegation of operational responsibilities to department heads, program leaders, and administrative staff to support efficient and sustainable delivery of academic programs.
5. Accreditation, Assessment, and Institutional Effectiveness Oversee accreditation processes, academic program assessment, and institutional effectiveness initiatives. Ensure compliance with university policies, academic regulations, and accreditation standards. Lead efforts to evaluate program effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with strategic priorities. Develop and monitor metrics related to student success, program quality, faculty performance, and global engagement.
6. Strategic Planning and Institutional Alignment Collaborate with CALS leadership to develop and implement the college’s strategic plan. Ensure alignment of academic programs and faculty initiatives with: University priorities Workforce and industry needs State and national higher education trends Identify and advance strategic opportunities that enhance academic quality, enrollment growth, program impact, and global engagement.
7. External Relations and Stakeholder Engagement Serve as the primary ambassador and advocate for CALS academic programs. Build and sustain partnerships with: Industry and employers Alumni and donors State and regional stakeholders Educational partners and transfer institutions Strengthen pathways for student placement, internships, and career opportunities. Promote CALS academic programs to prospective students and stakeholders.
8. Global Engagement and International Programs Provide leadership in advancing the globalization of CALS academic programs. Facilitate development and maintenance of international partnerships that support student learning and faculty scholarship. Collaborate with university offices to support: Study abroad programs International exchanges Global academic initiatives Promote international opportunities that benefit students, faculty, and Idaho industries. Support efforts to secure external funding and partnerships that enhance international programming and access.
9. Institutional Leadership and Representation Serve as a key member of the CALS leadership team. Contribute to coordination and collaboration across CALS leadership to ensure alignment and effective implementation of college priorities. Represent the college in university committees, initiatives, and external engagements as assigned by the Dean. Collaborate with university leadership, including: Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives Enrollment Management College of Graduate Studies Career Services As assigned by the Dean, represent the Dean in institutional and external settings.
Leadership Expectations
The Associate Dean is expected to: Effectively prioritize and delegate responsibilities 75% of time in service, leadership, administrative appointment, maintaining high-impact leadership and outcomes Demonstrate effective stewardship of financial and human resources across a complex, distributed academic enterprise Lead with a student-centered, faculty-supportive, and mission-driven approach Demonstrate strategic, systems-level thinking across academic programs, faculty affairs, and global engagement Provide effective coordination across academic units and leadership structures Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement Promote collaboration across disciplines, units, and stakeholders Ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness in academic and faculty processes Align academic programs with workforce needs, experiential learning, and global competencies Demonstrate effective co-leadership with the Associate Dean for Research to ensure strong, competitive, and well-aligned graduate programs.
Contingency Description | This administrative appointment or the administrative portion of the faculty appointment is temporary. Employee acknowledges and agrees that in the event there is no longer a need for the administrative assignment, as determined by University in its sole discretion, University may change this Agreement and remove the administrative salary and/or course release during the contract year and employee may return to their faculty appointment, upon 60 days written notice.
Teaching & Advising | TBD
Scholarship & Creative Activity | TBD
Outreach & Extension | TBD
University Service & Leadership | 75%
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