What does a Dean do?
Published 3 min read
A dean is a high-ranking administrator at a college or university. Deans typically have oversight of a particular academic unit, such as the College of Arts and Sciences, or a specific area, such as student affairs.
Dean job duties include:
- Providing academic and administrative leadership for a school or college within a university
- Working with faculty, staff, and students to ensure the quality of education and research
- Overseeing the budget and financial planning for the school or college
- Hiring and supervising faculty and staff
- Planning and coordinating curriculum development
- Developing long-range plans for the growth of the school or college
- Serving as a liaison between the school or college and other parts of the university
- Representing the school or college to external constituencies
- Fundraising for the school or college
Dean Job Requirements
The job requirements for a Dean vary depending on the educational institution. However, most Deans have a Doctorate degree in their field of expertise, along with several years of experience working in education. In addition, many Deans are certified teachers or administrators.
Dean Skills
- Fundraising
- Marketing
- Event Planning
- Public Speaking
- Budgeting
- Strategic Planning
- Fundamentals of Law
- Human Resources Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Student Affairs
- Leadership
Related: Top Dean Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Dean
The role of a Dean is to provide academic and administrative leadership for a school or college within a university. Deans are responsible for ensuring the quality of teaching and research, and for promoting the interests of their faculty and students. They also have budgetary responsibilities and are often involved in fundraising.
To become a Dean, you will need to have extensive experience as a professor and administrator within a university setting. You will also need to demonstrate strong leadership qualities and be able to effectively manage budgets and personnel. In addition, you will need to be an effective communicator and have excellent interpersonal skills.
Related: Dean Resume Example