Associate Dean of Graduate Studies

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (ADGS) provides strategic leadership and oversight for all graduate programs at Columbia College. This role is designed to unify graduate education under a single point of leadership, with the primary goal of growing graduate enrollment, enhancing program quality, and improving the overall graduate student experience.

The ADGS oversees existing graduate programs—including the M.B.A., M.A. in Organizational Leadership, M.A. in Criminal Justice, M.A. in Health Care Administration, and multiple M.Ed. programs—and leads the development of new graduate programs aligned with the College’s mission and strategic vision. The College has established a goal of doubling graduate enrollment within four years, supported by the launch of at least one new program each academic year.

The ADGS reports directly to the Provost, supervises graduate student advisors and recruiters, and collaborates closely with academic deans, faculty, enrollment management, and marketing teams. Academic oversight of all graduate programs will transition fully to this role in the 2026–2027 academic year.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Enrollment Growth

• Lead and execute a comprehensive strategy to double graduate enrollment within four years.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Enrollment Management to design and implement effective recruitment campaigns.
• Develop partnerships with employers, community organizations, and educational institutions to strengthen student pipelines.
• Expand recruitment and retention strategies for non-traditional, online, and working-adult students.
• Support seamless pathways from undergraduate to graduate programs.
• Work with the Provost and academic leadership to launch at least one new graduate program annually.

Academic Program Leadership

• Partner with deans and program directors to ensure program quality, compliance, and accreditation during the 2025–2026 transition period.
• Assume full academic oversight of all graduate programs beginning in 2026–2027.
• Oversee curriculum review, program assessment, faculty support, and accreditation reporting.
• Ensure programs remain innovative, market-responsive, and aligned with the College’s mission and goals.

Student Success and Advising

• Supervise graduate student advisors and ensure high-quality advising, onboarding, retention, and degree completion support.
• Develop strategies to improve student persistence and graduation rates.
• Collaborate with faculty and support units to enhance the graduate student experience.

Leadership and Administration

• Serve as the primary advocate for graduate education in institutional planning and decision-making.
• Develop and manage budgets related to graduate studies, recruitment, and advising.
• Collaborate with academic leadership on cross-college and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Teach one course per academic year, with additional teaching opportunities compensated at the prevailing rate.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution in a discipline aligned with Columbia College’s graduate programs.
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience at the program director or equivalent level.
• Experience in graduate education, enrollment growth, or program development.
• Strong understanding of online education and the needs of adult learners.
• Demonstrated success in collaborative leadership.

Preferred:

• Leadership experience at the dean or associate dean level.
• Proven success in budget management and enrollment planning.
• Experience designing and executing marketing campaigns that result in enrollment growth.

EOE M/F/D/V