Dean, School of Social and Natural Sciences

Dean, School of Social and Natural Sciences

At Roger Williams University, students are prepared to be thinkers and doers ready to solve challenging problems with innovative solutions. RWU offers 50 majors and robust offerings of graduate and professional programs across eight schools of study including Rhode Island's only law school, with campuses on the coast of Bristol and in the heart of Providence, R.I. With small classrooms and a focus on undergraduate and graduate research and community engagement, a Roger Williams education blends the strength of liberal arts and professional studies, providing all students with the depth and breadth of interdisciplinary thinking and well-rounded knowledge necessary to succeed in our interconnected, global world.

RWU is committed to strengthening society through engaged scholarship so that students graduate with the ability to think critically and apply the practical skills that today's employers demand.

Roger Williams University seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value all races, genders, identities, and abilities. RWU is committed to creating a thriving community that encourages lifelong learning, professional development, and academic innovation.

Under the direction of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean is the principal academic of the School of Social and Natural Sciences. The Dean advances the mission of the University, contributes both academic and administrative leadership, and provides the first level of review for matters with the School. The Dean provides and manages effective support mechanisms for faculty and students and assists in the development and implementation of the School's long-rage strategic plan and diversity initiatives.

The Dean provides leadership and management for the School in the areas of the quality and content of the curriculum, successful student outcomes, budgeting, faculty and staff recruitment, and development. The Dean provides leadership in hiring, retaining, mentoring, managing, and evaluating faculty and non-faculty staff and ensures the school's compliance with all program and institutional accreditation standards and external regulatory and accreditation standards/bodies, where applicable, including oversight and support of program assessment and evaluation.

The Dean administrates accurate records for students, faculty, and staff, such as advising reports, professional development plans, annual evaluations, and other personnel records as appropriate for specific program needs and responsibilities of the school.

• Provide leadership for and oversee the development, coordination, organization, scheduling, and supervision of instructional programs in the school, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration with programs in other academic units of the university.
• Provide leadership for school strategic planning efforts and participate in university strategic planning as part of the academic leadership team.
• Articulate the annual and longer-term goals of the school.
• Oversee the development of curriculum initiatives, including graduate program development, with faculty, and shepherd those initiatives through the appropriate approval process.
• Develop, maintain, and manage budgets according to the timeline of the university, review proposed budgets, and make recommendations to the provost.
• Allocate resources to the programs within the school, including faculty, support staff, budgets, and space.
• Plan, develop, and manage the school's day-to-day operations.
• Ensure that reports, course schedules, and other written material are submitted in a timely manner.
• Support faculty in teaching, scholarship, and grant writing.
• Ensure the school's compliance with all program and institutional accreditation standards and external regulatory and accreditation standards/bodies, where applicable, including oversight and support of program assessment and evaluation.
• Proactively pursue and participate in fundraising and grant proposals either personally or through faculty and/or staff members of the school.
• Administer and maintain accurate records for students, faculty, and staff, such as advising reports, professional development plans, annual evaluations, and other personnel records as appropriate for specific program needs and responsibilities of the school.
• Provide oversight for the promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review process and recommend faculty reappointments, promotions, tenure, sabbatical leaves, committee appointments, and other teaching program assignments to the provost within the parameters of the faculty contract.
• Participate in admissions activities, including orientation sessions, open houses, admissions days and other programs for prospective students.
• Resolve student or faculty concerns and complaints.
• Ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors within the school building.
• Maintain compliance with safety and health codes in…