DEAR BI CAREER CONSULTANTS:
I’ve been a tenured faculty member for five years and my goal is toeventually become a dean. What should I be doing to prepare for thatstep?
DR. LESLIE AGARD-JONES,
Dean, College of Education, William Paterson University Wayne, NJ.
The usual requirements of a tenured faculty are essential, that is:scholarship and research, service, and teaching. Beyond the scholarlyexpectations, you must begin to acquire administrative experience inhigher education as a way of demonstrating organizational leadership.The leadership position will provide opportunities for others beyondyour department to see and appreciate your abilities. I would suggestthat you also take some courses in higher education administration toprovide a historical context, a theoretical framework, and an overviewof the role of dean.
Department chairpersons often move on to become deans. Aschairperson, you are placed in a position where you would not only leadthe department in developing and implementing goals, but you would bethe person empowered to preserve and further the academic program.Among other duties, you will be in a position to resolve faculty andstudent issues and or disputes, and manage a departmental budget. Thisexperience will be magnified in the role of dean as you will become thechief officer for many departments and programs, with oversight overbudgetary and personnel matters. You will need a responsibleadministrative service while focusing on implementation of youruniversity’s or college’s goals.
DR. ROLAND SMITH,
