Department The Graduate School
Responsibilities The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs serves as a member of the Graduate School's senior leadership team and provides strategic leadership for graduate academic affairs, policy development, academic quality, student success initiatives, and graduate program administration. The Associate Dean works collaboratively with the Dean, Graduate Program Directors, college leadership, faculty, students, and university stakeholders to advance the academic mission of the Graduate School and support excellence in graduate education.
The Associate Dean supervises one full-time professional staff member and serves as a primary resource for graduate academic policy interpretation, implementation, and assessment across the university.
Academic Policy Leadership - Provide leadership for the development, implementation, interpretation, and periodic review of graduate academic policies, procedures, and standards.
- Direct and advise Dean on graduate student appeals and exceptions processes including, admissions appeals, enrolled student appeals, time extensions, and other exception requests.
- Recommend policy revisions to support student success, academic excellence, and regulatory compliance.
- Collaborate with university leadership, colleges, and departments to ensure consistent application of graduate policies.
- Monitor emerging issues, best practices, and national trends in graduate education and recommend appropriate responses.
Graduate Academic Programs and Quality Assurance- Provide oversight for graduate academic program review processes and continuous improvement efforts.
- Support academic units in the development of new graduate degrees, certificates, concentrations, and program modifications.
- Coordinate review of graduate curriculum proposals and academic program changes.
- Promote innovation and excellence in graduate education through evidence-based practices and strategic initiatives.
Graduate Student Success and Academic Progress- Lead policy initiatives that promote graduate student retention, progression, completion, and professional development.
- Guide university-wide policy approaches to graduate academic support and student success.
- Review complex academic issues involving graduate students and recommend resolutions consistent with university policy.
- Collaborate with faculty, advisors, and administrative units to ensure student success.
Leadership and University Collaboration - Serve as a member of the Graduate School senior leadership team.
- Represent the Graduate School on university committees, work groups, task forces, and external organizations.
- Foster productive relationships with Graduate Program Directors, department chairs, deans, faculty, and student groups.
- Provide and maintain Graduate Program Director resources, including GPD Orientation, the GPD Handbook and the Graduate Student Handbook.
- Collaborate with other Graduate School leaders on strategic planning, assessment, accreditation, and institutional initiatives.
Supervision and Administrative Management - Supervise, mentor, and evaluate one full-time professional staff member.
- Establish goals, priorities, and performance expectations for supervised personnel.
- Support the efficient administration of academic affairs functions within the Graduate School.
- Monitor workflows and implement process improvements.
Other Duties as Assigned- Undertake special projects and initiatives assigned by the Dean.
- Serve on university committees or represent the Graduate School at institutional and professional events.
- Perform other duties consistent with the responsibilities of an Associate Dean.
Qualifications Academic master's degree or highest-level terminal degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate field of specialization or equivalent qualifications based on professional experience.
Preferred Qualifications - Earned doctorate or terminal degree in an appropriate discipline from an accredited institution.
- Tenured faculty member at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
- Record of scholarly achievement and professional accomplishment sufficient to maintain graduate faculty status.
- Demonstrated experience in graduate education administration, academic leadership, program leadership, or related responsibilities.
- Knowledge of graduate academic policies, curriculum development, and academic program administration.
- Experience working collaboratively with faculty, academic administrators, and students.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success and academic excellence.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and support professional staff.
- Ability to interpret and apply university policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Academic administrative experience as a department chair, associate chair, graduate program director, assistant/associate dean, or similar leadership role.
- Experience with graduate student success, admissions, retention, and completion strategies.
- Experience developing or revising academic policies and procedures.
- Experience working with faculty governance structures and university committees.
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across academic and administrative units.
- Record of leading major projects or managing complex organizational initiatives.
Contact Info Brian Barton , Search Committee Chair
How To Apply If qualified and interested in a specific Faculty job opening as advertised, apply through the FSU Faculty Careers site (jobs.fsu.edu). If you are a current FSU employee, apply through myFSU Self Service.
Applicants are required to complete the online application with all applicable information. Applications must include education details even if attaching a Vita.
Please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the position, leadership experience, and qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of the Associate Dean role.
This position requires that you have three confidential professional letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf. Follow the steps below to request these letters through our system:
After submitting your application, click the Careers link Click the My References link Click the Send/View Reference Request button next to the appropriate position Follow the steps on that page to send your references a system generated email requesting they submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. You may also return to the My References link and click on "Send/View Reference Request" to see if your references have responded, add additional references, or resend requests.
Considerations This is a Faculty position.
This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check .
Appropriate rank associated with the appointment will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.
The distribution of effort between the administrative assignment within the Graduate School and teaching, research, service, and/or other faculty responsibilities in an academic department will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.
Financial Disclosure may be required.
