Academic Affairs

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Search: Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies

Position Description

The Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies is responsible for providing effective leadership for the Graduate School, including both doctoral and master's level programs. The Dean serves as the administrative member of the Graduate Board. Additional responsibilities include:

  • representing the Graduate School within the University and externally among federal and private agencies and academic groups;
  • representing the Graduate School in University planning efforts and in administrative deliberations on budget and personnel;
  • administering the Graduate School budget;
  • administering the awarding of degrees and monitoring academic standards in the graduate programs;
  • conducting formal reviews of graduate programs; and regularly reporting to the Graduate Board on the status of the Graduate School and its component departments and programs;
  • supporting graduate admissions in all programs.

The position also includes responsibilities for graduate student life and for professional development of graduate students. Finally, the Dean interacts with graduate students in a variety of capacities.

As Associate Provost and a member of the academic administration, the Dean of Graduate Studies participates in a broad range of activities and projects related to the academic affairs of the University. In working with faculty, staff and departments, the administration approaches academic affairs in an integrated manner that eschews any simple separation of graduate responsibilities. For example, the Dean participates in the planning and development of budgets for all academic programs. The Dean of Graduate Studies is centrally involved in planning, implementation and evaluation of academic priorities, and working with the rest of the academic administration and senior leadership, the Dean of Graduate Studies will play a leadership role in implementing LEEP.

Collectively the administration, including the Dean of Graduate Studies, is responsible for developing and implementing the Academic and Financial Plan of the University. Among the priorities of the Plan is the identification, development and implementation of graduate programs suitable for growth, realignment or initiation. In particular, we anticipate the need to develop effective ways to administer new or realigned multidisciplinary professional master's programs. Over the last five years the size of the graduate footprint at Clark has grown considerably, from 809 in 2005 to 1,143 in 2010. Further growth is anticipated, and an important role of the Dean is managing a change in Clark's culture with respect to graduate education. The Academic and Financial Plan also calls for more effective marketing of all of Clark's graduate programs, and the Dean of Graduate Studies will play a key role working with individual programs and Marketing and Communications in this effort.

Process for appointment

To begin June 1, 2012

  1. At its first meeting in September, the Provost and Faculty Steering will review the proposed search and hiring process. 9/7/11.
  2. On Wednesday 9/14/11 a memo will be sent to all faculty under the joint names of the Provost and the Chair of the Faculty announcing that both Walter Wright and Priscilla Elsass will step down from their Associate Provost positions (Dean of the College and Dean of Graduate Studies respectively) at the end of the 2011-12 academic year. The memo will describe the process by which a new Associate Provosts will be hired.
  3. In addition to the process memo noted above, on Wednesday 9/14/11 the Provost will send a call for nominations and expressions of interest to all faculty members. This call will include an updated job description for the Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies position. Nominations, including self-nominations, should be submitted to the Provost by Friday 12/16/11.
  4. Faculty members who have been nominated but who have not expressed an interest in the position will be contacted by the Provost to determine whether they are willing to be considered for the position. Faculty who are interested in the position will meet with the Provost to discuss the position and their own candidacy.
  5. Faculty willing to be considered for the position will be asked to submit letters of application to the Provost. Applications—including a letter of interest and an up-to-date CV—should be submitted to the Provost by Monday 1/13/12.
  6. The Provost will provide Steering a list of faculty who constitute the resulting pool of applicants at their meeting on 1/18/12. If, in the view of Steering, the pool does not include a sufficient number and diversity (sex, race, ethnicity, generation, disciplinary, etc.) of faculty members who, based on rank and experience, constitute reasonable candidates, the Provost and Steering will work together to identify additional candidates. If the number of candidates in the pool is greater than three, the Provost and Steering will reduce the pool to three.
  7. Faculty Steering will solicit the input of the faculty at large, will interview the candidates at the Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday 2/1/12, and will arrange a series of open forums for interested faculty to meet with each candidate before the 2/29/12 Steering Committee meeting. At that meeting, Steering will discuss the candidates and prepare a memo for the Provost that summarizes the views of the faculty on the strengths and weaknesses of each of the final applicants (to be submitted on Friday 3/16/12).
  8. The Provost will seek comments on the candidates from staff, students and administrators.
  9. The President, working with the Provost, will extend an offer to a candidate. If the search is not successful, the Provost and Faculty Steering will discuss alternatives including the possibility of an outside hire.