Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

The Assistant Dean provides administrative leadership for and management of all instructional programs and services within an academic division. This includes all aspects of the curricula, lead learning outcomes assessment activities, oversight of fiscal equipment and human resources of the division, as well as related activities. The Assistant Dean also contributes to the development and implementation of policies, programs, and activities related to specific institutional strategic initiatives. 

The Director of Nursing Programs is responsible for the administration of the Associate degree nursing program. The Director also plans, organizes, supervises and provides oversight for both the Practical and Associate degree nursing programs. This includes active participation in student advising, curricula management and development, clinical partnerships and accreditation. The Director of Nursing Programs establishes and maintains close working relationships with other academic and student support areas of the College for ease of student advisement and admission.

Assistant Dean Duties

1. Lead and coordinate the instructional programs for an assigned division:

•    Plan, implement, and monitor progress toward instructional program goals.
•    Supervise and manage the collaborative work of the faculty to define academic division goals.
•    Determine course schedules and recommending additions or deletions of programs or courses.
•    Lead program reviews.
•    Lead and coordinating faculty members’ efforts in assessing learning outcomes and other assessment activities.
•    Assist with the accreditation process for programs and / or courses.
•    Ensure that program advisory committees meet as required (at least annually), that appropriate membership lists are current, and minutes are kept up to date.
•    Provide input into articulation agreements, specialized marketing materials and college publications.
•    Oversee, research, and recommend the development of new courses / programs of study in response to College and community needs. 
•    Ensure Division goals are aligned with the Strategic Plan.
•    Prepare reports related to enrollment, assessment outcomes, as requested by the Dean of Instruction.
•    Lead and implement developmental redesign.

2. Supervise and Oversee the work of full-time faculty for an assigned division:

•    Hire and orient new full-time faculty.
•    Oversee the hiring and mentoring of adjunct faculty.
•    Assign full-time and adjunct faculty course assignments / loads as well as calculating overloads and adjunct remuneration working within the division’s budgetary parameters.
•    Determine parameters of Full-time faculty goals and ensure they are met annually.
•    Supervise and evaluate full–time and adjunct faculty, program coordinators and support staff assigned to an academic division as defined in the College’s Faculty Evaluation System and within the context of the appropriate collective bargaining agreements.
•    Evaluate faculty performance plans if necessary.
•    Act as the initial administrative representative in mediating and documenting complaints, issues and/or concerns regarding academic issues and/or issues between students and faculty.
•    Conduct division meetings for full-time and adjunct faculty as needed but not less than twice per semester. 

3. Participate in the budget development and overall management processes for a division:

•    Participate in budget development for the division as well as the overall academic affairs budget.
•    Monitor all division fiscal expenditures making adjustments as necessary.
•    Monitor the division’s inventory and maintenance needs of equipment; oversee the ordering process for supplies including instructional materials.
•    Assist with the planning and preparation of grant proposals.

4. Provide academic advising for division students as needed.

5. Represent academic affairs and where appropriate lead efforts on College-wide strategic initiatives as assigned.
 
6. Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean of Instruction.

Director of Nursing duties plus additional duties specific to the Division of Health Professions, which academic programs include Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technician, and Respiratory Care include:

7. Articulate policies and procedures of the College with the requirement of the State Board of Nurse Examiners of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for both the ADN and PN Programs.

8. Serve as contact person and coordinator for the department with regard to state, professional, and accrediting groups, the community, and other external contacts.

9. Maintain the integrity and academic quality for each Health Profession program through the planning, development, implementation, evaluation and improvement of programs, including review of curriculum and systematic evaluation plans as needed.

10. Direct the continuing evaluation and program development so that it is consistent with accreditation and approval requirements, responsive to the employment needs of the graduate, responsive to changing health care delivery patterns and health care practitioner roles, and provides a foundation for future educational mobility and practice mobility of graduates of the program.

11. Develop and provide for continuing evaluation of clinical agencies and the agreements and contracts necessary for the implementation of the program.

12. Articulate the activities of all Health Professions programs with the appropriate support areas of the College with regard to recruitment of students, retention of students, and the individualized development of students enrolled in the program.

13. Coordinate development of student clinical schedules in the ADN and PN Programs and to articulate these with nursing student schedules from other programs using the same facilities.

14. Maintain adequate professional development activities and any other requirements
   needed to meet the State Board of Nursing requirements.

15. Direct the development and evaluation of policies and standards for the recruitment, selection, admission, promotion, and graduation of nursing students.

16. Manage the day-to-day administration of the RN program, including maintaining RN student files, advising, curriculum management and development, clinical partnerships/scheduling, and hiring/training and direct supervision of RN faculty.

17. Develop, maintain, and participate in student advising activities. This includes advising prospective and current students enrolled in health professions programs as well as advising pre-clinical health science students.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises full-time and part-time employees in the assigned division. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of individuals within the division. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Reading Area Community College policies, collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; recommending corrective action; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and Experience

M.S.N. degree required. Experience in the areas of nursing practice, nursing education, and educational administration required. Experience in the process of NLN/ACEN accreditation, curriculum development and review required. Demonstrated administrative experience with program planning, evaluation and budget responsibilities also required. Must possess leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively represent the faculty, instructional support staff, and administrative staff within the academic division. 

Preferred Experience

1. A thorough understanding of and complete commitment to the community college mission.
2. Understanding of and sensitivity to diverse populations.
3. Educational background and at least 5 years of teaching experience at an institution of higher education in the health professions.
4. Demonstrated experience working with faculty in the development of curriculum and scheduling general education pattern of courses.
5. Demonstrated experience developing and assessing student learning outcomes.
6. Demonstrated experience managing projects, grants, and budgets.
7. Three or more years in academic leadership positions with increasing responsibility such as Director, Department Chair, Division Chair, and Dean.
8. Demonstrated experience collaborating campus wide to create an educational environment that supports student success, effectively leading to educational goal attainment. 
9. Demonstrated Ability to develop partnerships, expand programs and seize opportunities for growth. 

Language Skills    

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from students, staff, faculty, administration and members of the public.

Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills

 Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

Other Qualifications

Ability to work independently with minimum supervision. 
Tremendous initiative.  
Ability to motivate a diverse group of individuals. 
Excellent communication skills.
Commitment to the Community College mission.
Community College experience.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.