Scope

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Procedures

Associate Dean

The duties of an academic appointee as associate dean may be part-time, and the title can be used only in conjunction with a full-time faculty appointment. This is a title used within a school or other academic unit, which is the “appointing unit.” It is not itself a classification.

Associate dean positions are associated with oversight for administrative work such as teaching, research, civic engagement, student services, financial management, development and so forth. Specific duties are identified for each area of responsibility, such as associate dean for research, for undergraduate studies, for academic affairs, for financial affairs, for external affairs, for development, for technology services, for clinical programs, for civic engagement, and so forth.

Classification

In general, the appointment may be a full-time academic appointee as lecturer, professor (any rank), clinical professor (any rank), or research professor (any rank).  

In the special case of an associate dean for academic affairs, the rank of tenured associate or full professor is required. Academic Affairs includes full or partial responsibility for academic appointments, promotion, tenure, or annual review of other academic appointees, new course or degree approval, program review, or other functions that directly impact the academic mission of the unit.

Qualifications

A tenured faculty appointment is required for an associate dean for academic affairs (or other associate dean position with responsibility for academic affairs as defined above). The master’s degree is the minimum academic credential for all associate dean titles. Other requirements appropriate to the particular responsibilities of the associate dean may be added by the school.

Appointment Procedures

Associate deans may be recruited from within the school or external to IU Indianapolis. A formal search process must be used, and a recommendation to offer appointment must be approved by the executive vice chancellor.

Term

The term of an associate dean appointment will be stipulated at the time the appointment is made, but the title may be discontinued at any time, without a required notice period, at the discretion of the appointing officer. Non-reappointment or termination of the faculty appointment is made in accord with the policies applicable to the academic appointment. In each instance, the notice requirements will be observed as stipulated for each academic classification. Tenured faculty may have the administrative title reviewed at the discretion of the appointing officer but may be terminated from the faculty appointment only in accord with applicable policies.

Responsibilities, Rights and Privileges

Appointment as associate dean will not alter, increase or diminish the responsibilities, rights and privileges already inherent in being an academic employee of IU Indianapolis and Indiana University. The title of associate dean is awarded by the appointing officer after approval by the executive vice chancellor and may be removed by the appointing officer by the same process at any time; in those cases the individual would revert to their original non-administrative faculty position.

Assistant Dean

Specific duties are identified for each area of responsibility, such as assistant dean for development, for resource management, for facilities, for advising, or for student services. This position/title may be used for administrative duties associated with the coordinating and management functions of the school.

Classification

The assistant dean position may be posted as either an academic position or a professional staff position (Exempt-Individual Contributor or People Leader). If a position is to be Exempt (Individual Contributor or People Leader), it must be at the appropriate rank. If it is an academic appointment, the appointee must qualify for an academic classification. In the instance of academic appointments, the appointee must have a full-time appointment in an academic classification; duties as assistant dean may be part-time in combination with other academic responsibilities.

Qualifications

If position is to be Exempt (Individual Contributor or People Leader), then consultation with Human Resources must be held in order to create the position at the appropriate level. If position is to be academic, the expected academic credential associated with the position is minimally a master’s degree. (If the academic specialist classification is used for the position, a master’s degree is required.) However, in some cases, exceptions will be made for candidates holding only a baccalaureate, based on the duties of the position and relevant past experience of the candidate; in these instances, the appointment will be as an Exempt (Individual Contributor or People Leader).

Appointment Procedures

Assistant deans may be recruited from within the school, or external to IU Indianapolis. In either case, if the appointment is to be academic, normal academic search procedures must be followed, and the recommendation to offer must be approved by the provost and executive vice chancellor. If the position is to be a professional administrative staff appointment, the appointing unit must follow the guidelines set by Human Resources and also submit the proposed candidate’s documentation to the provost and executive vice chancellor for approval. If a search is open to either staff or faculty, or if an external candidate might be hired as either staff or faculty, the position must be searched via both academic and staff procedures. 

Term

If the appointment is a professional administrative staff appointment, there is no stipulated term definition required. Notice of non-reappointment or termination is made in accord with established HR policies. In the case of an academic appointment, the title may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the appointing officer. Non-reappointment or termination of the underlying academic appointment is made in accord with the policies applicable to that academic appointment. Tenured faculty may have the administrative title reviewed at the discretion of the appointing officer but may be terminated from the faculty appointment only in accord with applicable policies.

Responsibilities, Rights and Privileges

Appointment as assistant dean will not alter, increase, or diminish the responsibilities, rights and privileges already inherent in being either an academic or professional administrative staff employee, as applicable, of IU Indianapolis and Indiana University. The title of assistant dean is awarded by the appointing officer after approval by the provost and executive vice chancellor and may be removed by the appointing officer by the same process at any time without affecting the right to notice or a grievance procedure as appropriate to the academic appointment or the professional staff appointment.

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History

Dean of the Faculties: 12-01-2009

Revised to reflect current professional staff appointment titles under the Job Framework redesign: 05-01-2021

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