Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The J.Jeffrey and Anne Marie Fox Graduate School seeks applications for the position of Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs, who will provide strategic leadership in supporting graduate student success through student case management, mentoring initiatives, and academic advocacy.

This role serves as the primary point of contact for complex academic-related student cases, playing a key role in conflict resolution and graduate mentoring. Reporting directly to the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Fox Graduate School, this position collaborates closely with the school's Assistant and Associate Deans.

With increasing student engagement and evolving graduate student labor relations, this position ensures that students have the necessary resources to excel in their academic journey, address concerns related to academic progress, resolve advising conflicts, and effectively handle grievances.

The Associate Dean will lead the development of comprehensive mentoring programs to improve advising relationships and faculty-student engagement across graduate programs. By bridging the gap between academic policies, mentoring, and student advocacy, the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs will help create a more supportive and effective graduate education environment at Penn State.

Key Responsibilities:

Graduate Student Case Management and Academic Advocacy:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for graduate student cases related to academic progress, grievances, advising disputes, and academic integrity concerns.
• Work closely with faculty, department heads, and graduate program directors to mediate student-faculty conflicts, ensuring fair and constructive resolutions.
• Act as an ombuds-like resource for graduate students navigating academic and advising challenges, providing guidance and informal mediation.
• Lead the Graduate Ombudsperson Program, ensuring confidential support and fair conflict resolution for students navigating academic disputes.
• Oversee academic integrity enforcement, ensuring fairness and due process in adjudicating violations.
• Strengthen graduate student advocacy mechanisms, ensuring accessible and transparent academic appeals processes.
• Co-manage and track academic-related student cases, working with relevant university offices to provide proactive interventions before issues escalate.
• Collaborate with university legal counsel and labor relations experts to navigate graduate student unionization matters, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and institutional policies when applicable.
• Ensure that graduate students experiencing academic hardship have access to support structures, including advising resources, academic coaching, and student wellness services.

Graduate Mentoring and Faculty Development:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive mentoring initiative to support faculty in advising graduate students effectively.
• Establish structured mentorship programs that ensure all graduate students receive high-quality advising and guidance.
• Partner with faculty development offices and academic units to train faculty on best practices in mentoring, including fostering inclusive and effective advising relationships.
• Implement evidence-based approaches to enhance faculty-student relationships, reducing advising conflicts and improving graduate student satisfaction.

Graduate Student Success and Degree Completion Initiatives:

• Oversee academic progress monitoring systems, ensuring timely intervention for students at risk of delay or attrition.
• Partner with academic departments to analyze time-to-degree trends and develop strategies to enhance retention and graduation rates.
• Develop an early-warning system to proactively support students experiencing academic or research challenges.
• Ensure that adequate administrative and advising support structures are in place to effectively implement these initiatives.

Graduate Student Academic Support:

• Oversee a graduate student case management system to track and respond to student concerns efficiently and equitably.
• Collaborate with university-wide offices such as Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of Student Conduct to ensure graduate students have access to mental health and academic support services.
• Develop strategies to identify at-risk graduate students proactively and connect them with appropriate resources.

Strategic Leadership Collaboration:

• Serve as a key advocate for graduate students, bringing forward issues related to mentoring, academic concerns, and student well-being in institutional decision-making.
• Collaborate with faculty, graduate program directors, and department chairs to improve graduate student support structures.
• Represent the Fox Graduate School at national and regional conferences, ensuring that Penn State remains at the forefront of best practices in graduate mentoring and academic support.

Required Qualifications:

• A doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D, or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of 7–10 years of experience in graduate education, academic affairs, academic administration, or a related leadership role.
• A record of scholarship, teaching, and mentoring.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex student cases, including academic grievances, advising disputes, and conflict resolution.
• Experience designing and leading faculty mentoring and graduate student support programs.
• Strong knowledge of graduate student success strategies, including academic advising, mentoring, and student wellness initiatives.
• Experience working with graduate student governance structures.
• Exceptional interpersonal, mediation, and crisis management skills.
• Expertise in graduate academic policy development, student appeals, and academic integrity enforcement.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty, graduate students, and university leadership to implement academic policies and resolve student concerns.
• Excellent administrative, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to lead strategic initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a graduate school leadership role at a research-intensive university.
• Familiarity with collective bargaining agreements and graduate student labor relations.
• A background in student success initiatives aimed at supporting graduate student retention and well-being.

Application: Review of application will begin May 9, 2025, and continue until the position has been filled. Qualified individuals should submit a cover letter that includes a concise overview of their interest in and experience relevant to the position and to meeting the challenges and opportunities facing graduate education, particularly with respect to graduate academic affairs; curriculum vitae; and names and contact information (mailing address, daytime telephone and e-mail address) of four references addressed to: Chair of the Search Committee.

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Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

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