Dean of the Undergraduate College

Essential Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision/Goal Setting and Execution: Provide vision and leadership for the College. In partnership with the Provost and aligned with the University’s strategic plan, establish multi-year vision and priorities as well as annual action plans to scale college enrollment and strengthen student outcomes - informed by institutional data and external trends. Ensure efficient processes and procedures are implemented to drive outcomes of strategic initiatives undertaken by the College. Guide ongoing reflection based on performance relative to priority Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including student learning outcomes, persistence to graduation, employment, and student satisfaction. Collaborate closely with University Strategic Data Center to ensure relevant analytics inform and enhance College planning and execution.
• Talent Acquisition and Team Leadership: Attract, hire, develop, and retain faculty and staff talent. Provide direction, coaching, and supervision to the college’s leadership team, including two associate deans, executive director of undergraduate student success, assistant dean of operations, and additional directors of priority strategic initiatives. Maintain a regular presence on campus and work with all stakeholders to advance the organizational culture of the College, which is based on student-centeredness, service excellence, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement/innovation. Engage actively in shared governance dialogues, cultivating a culture of inclusion and ensuring ongoing feedback loops with faculty and staff regarding priority College matters. Manage personnel matters related to faculty and staff in the College.
• Instructional Quality, Student Support, and Career Success: In collaboration with associate deans, faculty, success coaches/advisors, and career staff, establish and execute priorities to grow student outcomes. Work with associate deans and faculty to advance the instructional model that is student-centered, strengths-based, industry-aligned, career-focused, culturally responsive, and data-informed. Collaborate with the Online Education unit to ensure high-quality experience and strong outcomes for UGC online students. Work with associate deans, chairs/directors, and Provost’s Office to complete annual program assessment and accreditation requirements. Work with executive director of undergraduate student success as well as Student Affairs, Academic Advising, and Learning Support teams to ensure robust academic advising, student engagement, and wraparound support services are provided. Partner closely with University Career Bridge department to advance integrated UGC career preparation and placement model, ensuring college-wide faculty and staff engagement in the career development and employment outcomes of UGC students. Engage actively with the UGC Dean’s Student Advisory Council to ensure student voice informs College plans.
• Fundraising and External Partnership Development: Work closely with the University’s Institutional Advancement team to raise external funding through philanthropy, partnerships, and grants, including annual fundraising goals to build capacity, invest in innovation, and grow student support resources. Forge and strengthen strategic partnerships locally and nationally between school districts, community colleges, community organizations, and employers to build college capacity, cultivate employment opportunities, and fuel enrollment. Represent the College at public events. Cultivate and lead engagements with the College’s Brain Trust – a strategic advisory council to the College and Dean.
• College Vitality and Strategic Growth: Work closely with the Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment to support student recruitment initiatives, and to foster the recognition and growth of the College. Collaborate with community partners including but not limited to the UGC external advisory council and multiple industry advisory councils to identify existing and emerging market needs for new programs and/or the transformation of existing programs. Explore opportunities for regional and national growth, e.g., via expansion to new campus locations and/or leveraging remote and online modalities.
• Financial Stewardship: Work with UGC Assistant Dean of Operations and University VP of Finance to develop and manage the budget, allocating resources appropriately to achieve strategic goals. Ensure lean operating model wherein the College remains financially self-sustaining at the UGC’s affordable tuition rate. Collaborate with Institutional Advancement to ensure that annual fundraising goals are stretching, reasonable, and aligned with strategic priorities and student support needs.
• Institutional Leadership: Serve as an active member of University leadership team including President’s Cabinet and Academic Cabinet. Contribute and model proactive and strategic thought leadership, student-centeredness, collaborative spirit, team leadership, and equity mindset to advance university planning and execution. Serve as a role model ambassador of NLU.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in educational leadership, business administration, human services, or a related field required. Minimum of five years in leadership capacity with record of increasing responsibility. Demonstrated capacity for strategic leadership; the ability to move an organization forward, including supervision of large, cross-functional, and senior teams. A record of academic achievements including teaching and/or research supervision preferred. Experience in business planning as well as financial and budget management. Experience in developing community partnerships and strong relationships required, especially with community and employer partners; demonstrated ability to raise money preferred. Familiarity with online education, technology, and its impact on pedagogy.