DEAN OF THE UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE

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1 DEAN OF THE UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE Bryn Mawr College is one of the world's most distinguished and distinctive institutions of higher education. Every year 1,300 undergraduate women and 400 coeducational graduate students from around the world gather on the College's historic campus to study with leading scholars, conduct advanced research, expand the boundaries of academic inquiry, and prepare for lives of purposeful action. Against this stimulating and inspiring backdrop, Bryn Mawr seeks nominations and invites applications for its chief student affairs officer, the position of Dean of the Undergraduate College. The role of the Dean includes leadership for creating a vibrant intellectual and joyous co- curricular campus life for students, spearheading efforts to improve the student experience, and managing a complex array of offices related to student affairs. Bryn Mawr's History Bryn Mawr was founded in 1885 with an ambitious vision: to create a college for women offering rigorous academic programs that were then available only to men at a few elite institutions. From the beginning, this new college would include both undergraduate and graduate programs to allow women to pursue doctoral degrees and to become scholars who would in turn expand academic opportunity for other women. The College was founded with a strong commitment to shared governance between the faculty, the Board, students, and senior administration. Decision-making remains highly collaborative and includes representation from all stakeholder constituent groups. Respect for students capacity to direct their own lives is an integral part of Bryn Mawr's history, as it was the first college in the country to approve a student selfgovernment association (1891). Students take a large measure of responsibility for managing residential life and upholding standards of academic integrity through the College s Honor Code. Bryn Mawr s early graduates were pioneers in many fields. Emily Green Balch (1889 the College s first graduating class) was the first U.S. woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Ume Tsuda (1894) returned to Japan to found Tsuda Women s College. Archaeologist Hetty Goldman (1903) was the first woman named to the faculty at the Institute for Advanced Study. Katharine Burr Blodgett (1917) was the first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in physics at Cambridge University. Isabel Benham (1931) became the first woman partner in a Wall Street investment firm. Hanna Holborn Gray (1950) was the first woman named to lead a major research university (University of Chicago). And Drew Faust (1968) is the first woman president of Harvard University. 1

2 Bryn Mawr Today Located near Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr's undergraduate college attracts women who share an intense commitment to intellectual inquiry, an independent and purposeful vision of their lives, and a desire to make a meaningful contribution to the world. Bryn Mawr is distinguished among American liberal arts colleges by its historic commitment to graduate education, currently manifest in its Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, and graduate programs in key humanities and science disciplines. The College promotes faculty excellence in both research and teaching, and has strong consortial relationships with Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. The College has a rich and longstanding collaborative relationship with Haverford College that further extends course enrollment, extracurricular, and administrative synergies. Bryn Mawr College enrolls 1,700 students and is a place where teaching is valued, each student is known, and students and faculty members form close bonds. Superb opportunities for independent and faculty-sponsored research, core seminars, interdisciplinary courses, and access to 36 majors and 41 minors enable each undergraduate student to create her own academic pathway. Undergraduate and graduate students are taught by 212 faculty, of whom 149 are full-time and 63 are parttime; the student faculty ratio is 8:1. Bryn Mawr undergraduates also take advantage of combined bachelor's and master's degree opportunities in several departments, as well as a variety of dual degree programs with the University of Pennsylvania. Bryn Mawr has taken a leadership role in finding constructive ways to incorporate new technology to achieve the goals of a liberal arts education, particularly in its use of blended learning. Bryn Mawr is leading the way in curricular innovation with the 360 Program, which offers the opportunity for faculty and students to engage in multidisciplinary, multi-course investigation of a common problem or issue. 360 clusters integrate fieldwork with traditional coursework and require students to share their research with the college community by way of a digital exhibit or public symposium, for example. The Bryn Mawr experience is marked by enduring traditions and fresh possibilities that balance intellectual curiosity with meaningful social engagement and fun. Bryn Mawr s reach extends far beyond the classroom. Each year, the community comes together to celebrate distinctive traditions such as Lantern Night and May Day that make the Bryn Mawr student experience unique and memorable. Division III intercollegiate athletes participate in the Centennial Conference, performing and studio art programs are offered collaboratively by Bryn Mawr and Haverford, and a majority of students are active in community service. Bryn Mawr s location also offers students access to the cultural resources of the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the broad diversity of Bryn 2

3 Mawr students, faculty, and alumnae/i creates a global community that fosters international experiences, friendships, and networks. Bryn Mawr also prides itself on connecting graduates to promising career and civic engagement opportunities through LILAC, the Leadership, Innovation, and Liberal Arts Center. Some 22,000 alumnae/i, leaders in fields too numerous to mention, form a powerful, lifelong network for Bryn Mawr graduates. The College is known for its outstanding record in placing students in graduate and professional schools. Within five years of graduation, over sixty percent of alumnae/i plan to attend graduate or professional school. The majority of Bryn Mawr alumnae/i in graduate or professional school study arts and sciences, law, medicine, education, and business. As it always has, Bryn Mawr builds both independence of mind and respect for the power of collective endeavors. The College attracts smart, independent, spirited students who seek the challenge and satisfaction of working with peers who share a passion for learning and for making a difference in the world. They come to Bryn Mawr from a remarkable array of national, socioeconomic, ethnic/racial, and personal backgrounds and have high expectations for achievement, friendship, and meaningful engagement. The Role of the Dean The Dean of the Undergraduate College provides oversight and leadership for academic, social, and co-curricular campus life for students to support the mission of Bryn Mawr College. As one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, Bryn Mawr seeks a Dean who will enhance and advance the College's national reputation and capacity to affirm difference as central to the fabric of its institutional culture and excellence. The Dean of the Undergraduate College serves as a member of the President s senior staff and plays a critical, front-facing role in support of undergraduate students. The Dean reports to the President. The Dean is often called upon to represent the President in key student-related matters. The Dean supervises the personnel and budgets of a wide array of interrelated offices and programmatic areas, and the position thus entails significant management responsibility and leadership. The Dean s office is comprised of approximately 30 staff members, who play a central and visible role in the advancement of student affairs to support Bryn Mawr students. The Dean heads the Undergraduate Dean's Office, which promotes the academic and personal growth of undergraduates at the College, working with students from matriculation to graduation. The Dean s Office embraces the College s commitment to a holistic, rigorous liberal arts education as preparation for life and work, providing both individual advising and broader academic and co-curricular programming. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their lives, a responsibility that includes consulting with their deans and other appropriate resources, and operating within a structure of 3

4 strong student self-governance, a social and academic honor code, and Quaker-inspired shared governance of the College. The new Dean will not only be a skilled student-affairs professional, but also a colleague to the Provost, the Registrar, and the faculty in working on issues relating to academics, students, and the curriculum. For example, the Dean serves as ex officio on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and the Committee on Academic Standing and co-chairs Academic Honor Board hearings. This dual expectation reflects the Dean s responsibilities, which include: Participation in institutional leadership: The Dean meets regularly with the President, the President's senior staff, the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, and the Dean of Haverford College, and participates fully in the ongoing institutional planning process. Management and oversight of the Dean s Office: The Dean supervises the staff of the Undergraduate Dean s office and oversees and manages the budgets of the departments that report to the Undergraduate Dean. Support for student development and the student experience: The Dean is responsible for sustaining the focus on the development of the whole student and invigorating campus life. In collaboration with offices across the campus, the Dean is also responsible for actively monitoring and improving retention. Leadership for student programs: The Dean provides leadership for the programs of the Undergraduate College and supervises the following offices, activities, and programs: o Academic Advising o Academic Support and Learning Resources o Access Services (support for students, staff, and guests with disabilities) o Alcohol and Drug Education Program o Comprehensive Wellness Program (under revision) o Hanna Holborn Gray Fellows Program o Health and Counseling Services o Health Professions Advising o International Student Support o McBride Scholars and C3 Student Support 4

5 o Pensby Center for Community Development and Inclusion o Nomination of undergraduates for national and international fellowships o Religious Life o Residential Life o Student Activities o Student retention and transition to college programs o Study away programs for undergraduates Support for curriculum and academic standards: The Dean works with the Provost and faculty to coordinate undergraduate curriculum development, serves ex officio as a member of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, and reviews academic programs and policies in the Undergraduate College. The Curriculum Committee, which is fundamentally a faculty committee, especially values the Dean s ability to provide insight into how different curricular requirements and policies will influence the undergraduate student experience. Coordination of Student Advising: The Dean's Office advises undergraduate students about their academic programs outside the major and progress toward the degree, and coordinates many of the non-academic programs for undergraduates. The role of the Dean's Office and Dean's staff in advising (advisors are assigned to individual students based on the first letter of students last names) is significant; the Dean provides mentoring and direction for the other deans in order to enhance their effectiveness and to build consistency in their approaches. The Dean's Office also provides a linkage to faculty that facilitates collaboration between the deans and faculty in addressing student problems. Committee leadership and participation: The Dean has a variety of significant committee roles including: o Chair of the Undergraduate Council, which reviews the records of students who are failing to meet the academic standards of the College o Chair of the Academic Honor Board (co-chaired with a student head), which is responsible for the administration and facilitation of the Honor Code o Convener of the Dean s Panels. Although the Honor Code provides the guiding principles of the Bryn Mawr community, the College also has in place a set of administrative policies to deal with circumstances which are 5

6 inappropriate for the Honor Board to address (e.g., issues of safety and property damage) o Member of the Diversity Leadership Group, which provides strategic advice to the President on encouraging a supportive campus climate for diversity and inclusion and monitors the effectiveness of the College's diversity initiatives o Mentor to the President of the Self-Government Association and other student leaders External funding: Works with the Development Office to develop grant proposals and oversees a number of grants affecting the academic and extracurricular programs of the Undergraduate College. External activities: Represents the College at alumnae/i events and academic conferences, and with prospective students and the general public. Bi-Co and Tri-Co activities: The Dean works in close partnership with counterparts at Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges to strengthen Bi-Co and Tri- Co relationships. The three Deans work closely together. Strengthening Bi-Co and Tri-Co relationships offers potential advantages for all three institutions and for students in academic activities, student life, and administrative functions. Other responsibilities: Assumes other responsibilities as designated by the President of the College. Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership The new Dean will be asked to address the following leadership opportunities and challenges: Campus life: The Dean will provide leadership for the continued development of a healthy, joyful campus life for Bryn Mawr undergraduates, significantly strengthening the co-curricular activities and programs of the Undergraduate College within the framework of an intensely intellectual environment. The Dean will bring leadership to the difficult issues of social citizenship in a small residential community, and will help to develop opportunities for faculty and others to engage with students outside the classroom. The Dean is also expected to be a central voice in a continuous and nuanced College-wide conversation about difference and diversity on campus, promoting the College's advancement as a welcoming, affirming, and vibrantly diverse community. 6

7 Retention: Enrollment at any institution is a function of both admissions and retention. A key focus for the College going forward will be to enroll students who will thrive in Bryn Mawr s challenging yet supportive environment and to provide experiences that will allow students to grow and flourish in all aspects of their intellectual, personal, and professional lives. The Dean will provide leadership for students, faculty, and administration as they address these issues. Advising and curriculum: The advising provided by the Dean s Office is essential to students academic experience and success. The new Dean will continue to provide leadership, direction, and supervision for all those involved in advising, and will lead the wider conversation about the links between students curricular and co-curricular experiences throughout the undergraduate years, continuing to make adjustments to an advising model for the College that balances high-touch, individual attention for students with consistent best practices in contemporary liberal arts advising. Management and coordination: The Dean will examine current arrangements and seek opportunities for enhancement in both structure and processes of the Dean's office functions, striving to develop an even more fully coherent and effective approach. Professional Qualifications and Personal Characteristics Qualifications of the ideal candidate include a full understanding and appreciation of the College s unique mission and character and substantial leadership and management experience in higher education, including experience in student affairs. Candidates should have extensive professional experience in working with students, particularly a broad set of experiences in the area of student affairs. An advanced degree in higher education/student affairs or any combination of education and experience related to student affairs is strongly preferred. Candidates should have teaching experience and/ or other experiences or qualifications that contribute to deepening the Dean s understanding of the academic experience of students and faculty, and the ability to establish relationships of mutual respect and understanding with faculty, staff, and students. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics: Leadership experience: Substantial leadership experience in higher education, including experience in student affairs; ability to contribute to the continuing conversation about providing support for Bryn Mawr students; ability to serve as 7

8 an external presence in representing the College; and commitment to working as part of a collaborative and mutually supportive senior leadership team. Management experience: Management experience and skill, including the ability to oversee effectively many and varied offices in a coherent model, experience with recruiting and appointing staff, and with supervision and evaluation, planning, resource development and fiscal management, within higher education or a comparable setting; ability to work collaboratively and to lead, organize, and prioritize in a complex and dynamic setting. Student affairs experience: Demonstrated success working with students and student affairs professionals, informed by knowledge of leading research and demonstrated best practices. Work with faculty: Experience collaborating with faculty; understanding and respect for the important role that academics plays in the mission of the College and for the faculty s role in student success; fluency in student development theory, and educational pedagogy/learning and development ideologies both in and outside the classroom setting, as well as experience creating interdisciplinary programs to enhance students educational experiences. Commitment t o t he College s mission and character : A full understanding and appreciation of the College s unique culture and history, and particularly a deep commitment to women s education and to the liberal arts; understanding of and appreciation for the small-college, residential, liberal-arts experience; passionate commitment to diversity and the ability to engage an increasingly diverse College community; ability to prepare the College for each new generation of students and their shifting worldviews and interests. Communication skills: Deep understanding of student needs and interests; ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to campus constituents in an effort to educate and involve the community in the administrative operations and policies of the College; ability to represent the College on undergraduate student-related issues; ability to educate and build trust across a wide variety of constituencies; ability to be a good listener who can learn from the broad range of constituencies and interact productively in the exchange of ideas; ability to approach governance in the Quaker-influenced way that includes careful listening to all voices, collaboration, and a non-hierarchical style. 8

9 Academic accomplishment: An advanced degree related to student affairs and/or higher education; teaching experience and/or other experiences that contribute to deepening the Dean s understanding of the academic experience of students and faculty. Personal qualities: The ability to articulate the goals and direction of the Office with an eloquence that inspires engagement and commitment; eagerness to work with students and alertness to the intellectual and personal issues that are important for Bryn Mawr students; a genuine sensitivity, approachability and warmth; the highest sense of integrity and ethics; energy, a sense of humor; willingness to occupy a highly visible, positive role at the College; genuine liking of and respect for young people; intellectual engagement and confidence; professional expertise coupled with a desire and ability to make a difference; and a collaborative working style that ensures effective partnership with colleagues within the Dean s office, senior staff, and key constituents across the College. Inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed Storbeck/Pimentel at: BrynMawrDean@storbeckpimentel.com. Applications and nominations will be held in strictest confidence. For best consideration, please forward CV and cover letter by Monday, December 7, Bryn Mawr College is an equal opportunity employer. 9