Online application must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a list of three references with contact information, and transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate degrees and degrees in progress.
Position Summary:
The University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), in its 133rd year of existence, seeks an outstanding leader for the Jackson College of Graduate Studies. UCO's main campus is in the community of Edmond and just north of Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area is experiencing a period of unparalleled growth and development while UCO serves proudly as Oklahoma City's Metropolitan University with several facilities in downtown Oklahoma City. This includes the Academy of Contemporary Music and two downtown teaching facilities, including the newly renovated Santa Fe Plaza that houses the MBA program. The UCO campus is very diverse with most of its student population from the culturally and ethnically diverse Metropolitan Area and with one in sixteen students being international in origin. UCO’s Jackson College of Graduate Studies, founded in 1954, is an institutional member of the Council of Graduate Schools and offers over 70 graduate majors in over 40 graduate programs and offers nine different graduate degrees, including the Doctor of Science in Forensic Science. The College also offers doctoral study through a unique partnership with Swansea University in Wales, U.K., in which American students may seek a British Ph.D. through Swansea University with the co-supervision of UCO faculty. UCO’s Jackson College of Graduate Studies provides access to graduate education for all students locally, nationally, and internationally, while supporting UCO’s mission of transformative learning so that students may become productive, creative, ethical, and engaged citizens and leaders serving their local and global communities.
The Dean leads and oversees the Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS) and represents it in university planning and decision making. The Dean reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Associate and/or Assistant Deans of the College report to the Dean.
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
- Advises and supports the academic colleges and the Graduate Council in the maintenance and development of quality graduate programming, including the expansion of traditional, hybrid, and fully online graduate offerings, as well as doctoral programs.
- Supervises the Manager of Graduate Admissions and Manager of CRM Activities as well as all aspects of graduate student admissions, including the hiring, support, and evaluation of graduate admission specialists.
- Presides over the Graduate Council and associated Committees. Evaluates and makes recommendations on graduate curricular and course changes.
- Maintains the integrity of graduate faculty credentialing, graduate policies and processes and determines appropriate exceptions, including those involving overloads, substitutions, and waivers.
- Maintains graduate records, ensuring their accuracy, uniformity, and timeliness.
- Promotes graduate education through catalog, website, and other promotional materials and activities.
- Assists the academic colleges in solidifying and increasing graduate enrollment, including supporting departmental/school marketing recruitment and promotional strategies for UCO graduate programs; evaluates graduate enrollment patterns and advises the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs of trends and areas of concern.
- Works in conjunction with the academic departments, deans, the Office of Global Affairs and the Office of Global and Cultural Competencies to coordinate, develop, and support graduate programming for international students. Maintains the integrity of graduate programs, policies, and processes in international relationships and determines appropriate exceptions.
- Provides oversight for emergent international partnerships related to graduate studies, such as the Swansea @ UCO Ph.D. program including administering, directing, and marketing the program.
- In alignment with UCO’s metropolitan initiative, maintains a broad vision for the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area graduate programming. Works strategically and cooperatively with campus leadership, appropriate university units, and external entities to establish new graduate programming and other relevant offerings in the OKC Metropolitan Area and provides support to ensure progress. Works proactively and collaboratively with academic colleges and other appropriate university units to develop strategic partnerships in the OKC Metropolitan Area that promote graduate enrollment at the UCO downtown teaching facilities, including partnerships with other institutions or organizations.
- Oversees and manages the JCGS budget including fiscal expenditures, budgetary projections, and plans for increasing and diversifying revenue.
- Supports graduate faculty grantsmanship efforts, as needed, to support graduate programming or student transformative learning engagement.
- Administers and provides oversight of the administration of any JCGS faculty and graduate student awards and/or additional JCGS graduate assistantship opportunities, as well as the 3-Minute Thesis Competition.
- Supports, encourages, and advocates for high-impact educational practices, including UCO’s Central Six tenets of Transformative Learning.
- Maintains high visibility in the profession by maintaining personal scholarship and grantsmanship activities.
- Accepts leadership positions in the community and serves as a professional consultant.
- Serves as a role model academically, professionally, and personally.
- Comfortable and skilled in conflict resolution and decision-making.
- Maintains confidentiality.
- Encourages diversity and equity.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications/Experience:
Earned doctorate or other terminal degree and experience as a full-time faculty member. Progressively responsible academic administrative experience at department- and/or college-level. A distinguished record of graduate-level teaching, scholarship and service to qualify for tenure and the rank of Professor in a College department including recent evidence of publications and presentations. Demonstrated evidence for success in obtaining public and/or private funding in support of student-centered learning outcomes. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in strategic planning, program and personnel assessment, budget management, and technology applications. Recognizable vision of and commitment to higher education, especially at the graduate level. High energy level, dynamic leadership ability, and demonstrated outstanding facilitation, communication and interpersonal skills. Strong ethical, moral and professional values. A strong and well-documented commitment to diversity. An understanding of the unique needs of graduate students and graduate programs.
Preferred Qualifications/Experience:
Evidence for the development of policies that promote High-Impact Educational Practices, including student-centered research and/or other areas of Transformative Learning practices promoted at UCO. Strong evidence of leadership in this area, including at the national level.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures. Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management. Knowledge of human resource concepts, practices, policies, and procedures. Knowledge of applicable legislation, standards, policies and procedures within specialty area. Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures. Effective interpersonal and community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community and across university divisions. Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments. Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals. Ability to supervise and train employees to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments. Program planning and implementation skills. Employee development and performance management skills. Knowledge of graduate student development theory and graduate student personnel administration. Knowledge of graduate student support programs and services.
Physical Demands:
Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
