Job Summary:

Dean, Arts and Sciences

Peru State, the first college in Nebraska, was founded in 1867 to educate men and women who wanted to become teachers. In the 156 years since, the College has always kept the education of teacher candidates close to its heart.

Now a vibrant and well-rounded liberal-arts college, Peru State’s School of Arts and Sciences offers programs in Fine Arts, Literature and English, Mathematics, and Natural and Social Sciences. We prepare our students for a variety of careers in their field of study and provide opportunities for continuing post baccalaureate education. Our wide range of online and on-campus courses offer students many options to engage, inquire, discover, and innovate.

The Dean for the School of Arts and Sciences will continue its legacy of vision, energy, passion, and dedication to student success. This is an exciting time for Peru State College and its School of Arts and Sciences, and the next Dean will shape the school’s future in bold and creative ways.

Responsibilities:

The Dean provides leadership for a strong School of Arts and Sciences with a rich tradition of preparing students in the Art, English, Mathematics, Music, Natural Science, Social Science, and Pre-professional programs. The Dean will also supervise the Rural Health Opportunities Program, a partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. 

The Dean assumes primary responsibility for the assignment, supervision, and coordination of instruction, instructional services, and program quality within each school; the evaluation of personnel and recommendation of personnel actions with each school; the development and evaluation of curricula with each school; the coordination of screening, selection, and recommendation for appointment to positions in each school; the preparation, allocation, and monitoring of budget requests and assigned budgets with each school; the development and operation of the student advising program with each school.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Execution of institutional policy and the development of school policy and procedures with the school.
• Prepare, allocate and monitor budgets assigned within the school, including monitoring facilities and equipment within the school.
• Recommend, supervise, mentor, evaluate, and formally develop faculty and staff.
• Develop and evaluate curriculum with the school.
• Actively participate in college recruiting efforts, campus events, meet with and advise existing and prospective students.
• Establish a vision for the school that embraces innovation, high quality educational outcomes, enrollment growth, and student retention.
• Draw on assessment and program-evaluation strategies to make data-driven decisions and create proposals for program enhancement.
• Develop strong working relationships and formal partnerships with a wide variety of internal and external constituencies.
• Maintain expertise in institutional and program-specific accreditation and lead relevant review and reporting processes.
• Other duties assigned by the VPAA.

Required Qualifications:

Requirements: 

A key leader on campus, the Dean will be known for professionalism and a collaborative/accessible style. The successful candidate will articulate a genuine commitment to Peru State’s open-enrollment mission and engaged teaching and learning. The position requires advanced project management, formal communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as the capacity for leadership at this level. 

Also Required:

• Relevant doctorate.
• Progressive supervisory experience in higher education, such as program liaison, department chair, or dean.
• Experience as a budget controller.
• Significant teaching experience in higher education.
• Experience and/or interest in increasing student success and engagement, particularly of underrepresented students. 

Preferred Qualifications:

Strongly Preferred:

• Significant leadership experience in higher education.
• Significant alternative course format and/or online teaching experience in a higher education setting.
• Experience generating and accommodating enrollment growth.
• Deep understanding of technology trends and applications.
• Prior experience with HLC standards and accrediting processes, or similar experience.

About Us:

PSC’s “Campus of a Thousand Oaks,” an arboretum campus, is nestled in historic southeast Nebraska. The state’s first college, Peru State provides students of all backgrounds access to engaging educational experiences to strengthen and enrich communities, Nebraska and the world. PSC is a member institution of the Nebraska State College System. For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.

Additional Information:

This position is subject to veterans preference. Offers of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory results of a background check.