Dean for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences

About

For more than 30 years, Colby-Sawyer’s nursing program has been recognized for its quality, integrity and high standards by state and national accreditation agencies. Colby-Sawyer has a longstanding and established partnership as a preferred partner with Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system. Colby-Sawyer is home to one of New Hampshire’s most distinctive, top-performing undergraduate nursing programs, as well as bachelor completion, accelerated bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. The Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences, newly opened in 2024, is a dynamic hub for academic and clinical training in nursing and health sciences. This next-generation center is equipped with the latest hospital-grade instruments and devices in a four-room simulation center, three clinical exam rooms, two skills laboratories, and two anatomy and physiology labs. The Schaefer Center reflects Colby-Sawyer’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and success by providing a leading-edge learning environment that prepares scholars to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.

Summary

The Dean for the School of Nursing & Health Sciences provides effective collegial leadership for the Nursing programs and the school’s faculty, staff, and students in order to achieve mission-aligned goals and expected program outcomes. The dean assumes responsibility for the overall administration of the BS in Nursing, Accelerated BS in Nursing (ABSN), AS in Health Science, AS to BS in Health Studies, RN to BS in Nursing, RT to BS in Respiratory Therapy, MS in Nursing (MSN), Post-Master’s Certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. Working closely with the Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty for academic and strategic planning for the school, the dean is charged with leading new program development and program changes that align with the institution’s strategic plan and our commitments to the health sciences, liberal education, professional preparation, student success, retention, and workforce development. The dean develops and effectively manages the human, physical, and financial resources of the school, managing the recruitment, hiring, and evaluation processes for school faculty and staff as well as annual reports and program evaluation and assessment.  The dean fosters and contributes to institutional leadership and collaboration across the academic area, admissions, and student development. As Chief Nurse Administrator, the dean leads program-specific accreditation activities (CCNE and NH Board of Nursing) and assures that the nursing program meets all requirements of state and national accrediting bodies and complies with the legal and professional requirements of the State of New Hampshire.  

The Dean establishes and maintains effective professional partnerships and clinical partnership affiliations with regional organizations, especially the College's longstanding and established partnership with Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire's only academic health system.  The Dean maintains a close working relationship with Dartmouth Health's System Chief Nurse Executive (SCNE), and has a seat on the system's Chief Nursing Officer Executive Committee.   This academic-practice partnership seeks to leverage the mutuality in the relationship given that Colby-Sawyer is Dartmouth Health's top producer of newly licensed nurses, and Dartmouth Health provides the high quality clinical education sites and clinical faculty for the College's nursing students.

All Colby-Sawyer employees are expected to evaluate decisions, actions, communications and service delivery from the perspective of advancing the college’s mission, philosophy, values and strategic themes, most notably in maximizing student recruitment, retention and success.

Essential Job Functions

General Administrative Responsibilities

•  Develop and implement the school’s mission, goals, and objectives as they relate to the college’s mission and strategic plan
• Is vested with the administrative authority to accomplish the mission, goals, and expected program outcomes
• Provides effective leadership to the nursing unit in achieving its mission, goals, and expected program outcomes
• Participate in college governance, including Academic Council and strategic, policy and personnel deliberations and decisions
• Report accomplishments, concerns, and results of assessment activities to the Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty
• Serve as liaison with various divisions and offices of the college, e.g., admissions, advancement, career development, marketing and communication
• Plan and conduct school/program meetings at least once a month and make minutes of such meetings available to the AVP Office
• Prepare and submit to the AVP Office an annual school report
• Oversee and organize the nursing pinning ceremonies
• Participate in the life of the college, actively engaging with members of the community

Accreditation Responsibilities

• Ensure New Hampshire Board of Nursing approval and compliance with national accreditation requirements (CCNE)
• Oversee accreditation processes for Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Prepare and submit program evaluation and assessment annual reports (E-1 Form, BON Annual Report, CCNE reporting)
• Oversee student compliance with agency rules/regs/requirements for students (clinical sites)

Business and Financial Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage the budget
• Analyze, project, and propose personnel lines, capital needs, revenue and expenses for proposed new programs, and operating efficiency 
• Offer general oversight for specialized teaching equipment and other departmental supplies and equipment
• Work with the Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty and the Advancement Office in seeking outside funding associated with programs and initiatives within the school
• Monitor and approve all school expenditures

 Recruitment and Retention Responsibilities

• In colloboration with the Vice President for Enrollment Management, determine approriate student profiles for current and new academic program admissions, which will meet enrollment metrics and ensure student success
• Oversee and organize faculty participation in recruitment events such as Fall Open House, Nursing Tour and Explore, Nursing Admissions Tours and Informational Sessions, and Admitted Students Day
• Monitor program retention and implement initiatives to improve retention through collaboration with the Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty, the Director of Student Success & Retention, and others as appropriate
• Anticipate future recruiting needs at all faculty levels to support curriculum changes, program expansion, and increases in student enrollment in order to ensure successful recruitment and retention of highly qualified faculty

Personnel-Oriented Responsibilities

•  Assign faculty to teaching schedules in collaboration with the program coordinators, coordinating such schedules within the school and across the college, and within the   guidelines established by the Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty and Academic Dean
•  Assist in determining course cancellations and course limits
•  Support the professional development of the department faculty to continuously improve their teaching, service, and scholarship and creative work
•  Evaluate faculty members for re-appointment, promotion, tenure, post-tenure review, and sabbatical leaves
•  Oversee selection, supervision, and evaluation of the school’s clinical and adjunct faculty
• Review the proposals of school faculty for grants, faculty development fund requests, and sabbatical requests
• Manage faculty workload in consultation with the Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty
• Share with administrators and school members the responsibility for faculty recruitment and ongoing orientation
• Support collaboration within the school, within the academic area, and across the college
• Supervise and evaluate the academic staff in the school
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate the program coordinators within the school

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Responsibilities

• Ensure the academic quality of the school and its degree programs in collaboration with faculty colleagues through a regular and systematic assessment process
• Propose and support the development of new programs, academic initiatives, and/or formation of articulation or affiliation agreements with other institutions
• Initiate, plan, and develop new courses and programs to meet changing needs and opportunities
• Engage in regular program review and evaluation for academic quality, institutional need, and resource requirements, and, if needed and in consultation with the members of the school, propose the modification or elimination of programs
• Prepare and submit material for the college catalog with the assistance of school members
• Review and supervise instructional practices and course syllabi
• In collaboration with advisors, program coordinators and director(s), and the Registrar, monitor students’ progress through classroom work, clinical work, and programs
• Oversee the clinical placement process 
• Evaluate emerging technologies, championing effective and appropriate application and integration in the curriculum

Partnership Responsibilities

• Maintain, build, and strengthen clinical and community partnerships with Dartmouth Health (including Dartmouth Health Career Institute, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital, and other member sites) as well as other strategic partners
• Represent the School of Nursing & Health Sciences as a liaison to engage with external councils and communities of interest in the region