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 (CSUB) invites applications for this leadership 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.

Centrally located on a 375-acre site in the southern San Joaquin Valley, CSUB serves more than 10,000 students at the main campus or Antelope Valley, and counts approximately 67,000 alumni from its four colleges. The university 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 has 16 athletics teams and competes in the Big West Conference.

CSUB is the only public university within nearly 100 miles and is fully accredited by WSCUC. It is a designated Hispanic Serving Institution committed to diversity, social justice and equity. Many students are first-generation, known as trailblazers achieving new heights of success.

The Office of Academic Programs serves as the central coordinating unit for university-wide academic initiatives, policies, and compliance functions. It manages the full lifecycle of academic programs, shepherds new program proposals through the approval process, coordinates periodic program reviews, and maintains institutional alignment with CSU and accreditation standards. Academic Programs oversees general education, graduate programs, and 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, communications with the CSU Chancellor’s Office on academic matters, and coordination of 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.

• 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 enrollment targets, academic scheduling, and program capacity management to optimize student access and degree progress.
• Represent Academic…