Vassar is pleased to accept applications from highly talented individuals to serve as their next Dean of the Faculty.
Located in Poughkeepsie, NY, Vassar is a coeducational liberal arts college with about 2,450 undergraduate students, that values academic excellence and inclusion. Vassar is at the forefront of liberal arts institutions and has positioned itself as a leading force in higher education in the 21st century. The College is furthering its commitment to need-blind admission through a comprehensive campaign, Fearlessly Consequential: A Campaign for our Collective Future. This initiative supports academic excellence, financial aid, engaged pluralism and restorative practices, multidisciplinary programs, health, and athletics. A new Institute for the Liberal Arts will provide the Vassar Community with a public classroom to convene on important topics of the day and remain in conversation with the broader world.
The Vassar faculty is an accomplished and multifaceted community of scholars, educators, artists, scientists, and thinkers, comprising approximately 300 full-time and 60 part-time educators. The College features an open and dynamic curriculum with small classes and a robust shared governance approach to decision-making. This approach provides an institutionalized mechanism for faculty input to educational policy, leading to more consistent and transparent policy implementation.
The Dean of the Faculty is the College’s chief academic officer, responsible for the educational program and for cultivating the academic vision of the College. As a senior officer, the Dean reports to the President and works collaboratively on the senior team. Essential to the role of Dean is fostering a vibrant academic community and being a strong advocate for the faculty while supporting their teaching, scholarly work, service, and professional development. The Dean of the Faculty oversees educational offerings at the College and works with the faculty to initiate changes in curriculum and educational policy. The next Dean of the Faculty will have the opportunity to review and shape the position to ensure that it is optimally effective and sustainable for the future.
As chief academic officer, the Dean of the Faculty regularly supervises a broad portfolio that includes: two Associate Deans; three Assistant Deans; the chairs of 30 departments and directors of 17 multidisciplinary and interdepartmental programs; the Faculty Director of the Institute for the Liberal Arts; five directors; and the Registrar. The Dean is responsible for the hiring, review, and support of the faculty. The DoF office oversees an annual operating budget of $50 million for faculty, related support staff, and curricular programming, as well as various endowed and gift funds supporting a range of academic programs and initiatives. The Dean chairs the Committee on Curricular Policies, the Grants Group, and the Advisory Group for the Allocation of Tenure-track Lines. In the absence of the President, the Dean chairs faculty meetings and is the senior officer in charge. In addition, the Dean of the Faculty oversees the following key offices: the Office of Academic Administration, Registrar, Grants Office, Office of International Programs, and the Office of Community-Engaged Learning.
Strong candidates for this position will demonstrate passion for and commitment to the liberal arts. An earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree and a record of distinguished scholarship and teaching, requisite for an appointment as a tenured full professor, are required.
The salary range for this position is $265,000-$305,000. Vassar College has provided a compensation range representing its good faith estimate of what the College may pay for the position at the time of posting. The College may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. Benefits include a house within walking distance of campus; medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 403(b) retirement plan; and a health savings account.