Associate Vice President Academic Affairs and Dean of Academic Programs

Overview

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of Academic Programs – California State University, Bakersfield invites applications for this position. The person selected reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and provides strategic and operational leadership for academic program quality, curriculum and assessment, accreditation, and academic planning. The successful candidate will collaborate with administrators, faculty, staff, and students to advance student success, inclusive excellence, and alignment with CSU and accreditation requirements.

About CSUB

Centrally located on a 375-acre site in the southern San Joaquin Valley, CSUB is home to the Roadrunners and champions intellectual progress. CSUB emphasizes student success and diversity. The university serves more than 10,000 students on campus and CSUB Antelope Valley, with approximately 67,000 alumni across four colleges:
Arts and Humanities;
Business and Public Administration;
Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering;
Social Sciences and Education. CSUB offers 57 undergraduate and graduate programs. CSUB Extended Education provides professional development opportunities, certificates, and degree programs to the community. As part of NCAA Division I, CSUB competes in the Big West Conference. CSUB is fully accredited by WSCUC and is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, committed to diversity, social justice, and equity. Many students are first-generation college attendees.

About the Position

The Office of Academic Programs serves as the central coordinating unit for university-wide academic initiatives, policies, and compliance functions. The office manages the full lifecycle of academic programs, shepherding new program proposals through the approval process, coordinating periodic reviews of existing programs, and maintaining institutional alignment with CSU and accreditation standards. Academic Programs oversees general education, graduate programs, and distinctive initiatives such as the Helen Louise Hawk Honors Program, and collaborates with the Division of Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment/Academic Advising to support student success programming.

The office also manages institutional accreditation efforts and communicates with the CSU Chancellor’s Office on academic matters, as well as coordinating the First-Year Experience, early and dual enrollment partnerships, and student academic petitions and grievances. Through this portfolio, Academic Programs supports academic quality, innovation, and student success across all colleges and disciplines.

The AVP/Dean provides strategic and operational leadership for these functions, ensuring that academic programs and policies advance institutional goals, promote inclusive excellence, and align with CSU system priorities. The position collaborates with deans, faculty, and shared governance bodies to strengthen curriculum, assessment, accreditation, and student learning outcomes while serving as the principal advisor to the Provost on academic program matters.

Duties and Responsibilities

Academic Program Leadership & Strategic Planning

• In partnership with the Provost, provide vision and strategic direction for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of all academic programs across undergraduate, graduate, and credential levels.
• Collaborate with college deans, department chairs, faculty governance, and other senior administrators to ensure programs align with institutional mission, CSU system priorities, and regional workforce needs.
• Serve as a primary advisor to the Provost on academic priorities, academic operations, and systemwide initiatives, providing analysis and recommendations on policies impacting faculty, curriculum, and students.
• Execute the Academic Master Plan in concert with university strategic and enrollment plans, ensuring data-driven decision-making and measurable outcomes.
• Champion academic innovation through new program development, interdisciplinary initiatives, and expansion of online, hybrid, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Coordinate, review, and monitor academic planning processes, including…