Skip to main content

This job has expired

House Dean

Employer
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Location
Pennsylvania, United States
Closing date
29 Aug 2020

View more

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
House Dean

Job Profile Title
House Dean

Job Description Summary

A member of the College Houses & Academic Services staff the House Dean is the senior full-time administrative position within a College House and as a result is responsible for the daily programmatic operations of a House.  The House Dean, along with the House Faculty Director and House Fellows form the senior leadership of each House. The House Dean selects, trains, evaluates and supervises a full-time administrative assistant, the paraprofessional student staff composed of undergraduate and graduate students and paid student staff. The House Dean is responsible for development, implementation and evaluation of a diverse and cohesive array of programs designed to create community within the house, to provide academic support and enrichment opportunities and to meet the developmental needs of the residents. The House Dean collaborates with and provides support to the House Faculty Director and House Fellows to provide academic, intellectual, social, and community engagement opportunities for all house residents.  The House Dean serves as a pre-major advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences to students assigned by that office; collaborates with each of the four undergraduate schools in support of their educational objectives and priorities; provides academic support and personal counseling to College House residents.  The House Dean coordinates communications and events for the House; manages House finances; and implements numerous procedures and policies from across the university.  The House Dean role varies slightly across the twelve houses due to building type and population; however, the Dean is expected to support all College Houses & Academic Services goals for building and maintaining living environments that are supportive, engaging and assist student success.

Job Description

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Collaborate with the House Faculty Director and Fellows to design, implement and evaluate academic and cultural programs that support the collective vision for the House as a scholarly community. Develop, manage and evaluate other co-curricular, educational, cultural, and social programming in collaboration with campus partners academic departments and other offices that fosters engagement with the House and assists students with their own personal growth and development. 
  • Select, train, supervise and evaluate the administrative assistant, paraprofessional student staff and paid student staff.  Training includes both house specific areas and College House & Academic Services procedures and policies.  House Deans are expected to provide clear written expectations and direction to this set of staff and to develop and implement operational procedures for management of the house office.  
  • Provide residents with counsel and guidance on general matters of personal well-being, provide referrals and alert Schools of critical student situations. Work closely with the Student Intervention Services Office and other campus partners to resolve crises as needed. Serve as House Dean on Call on a rotating basis. 
  • Serve as primary pre-major advisor to approximately 40 students in the College of Arts and Sciences, in accordance with policies and guidelines set forth by the Dean of Freshmen and Director Academic Advising in the College.  Provide in-residence academic programming to House residents from Wharton, Nursing, and Engineering programs; provide referrals in light of each school’s respective educational objectives and policies. 
  • Understand and enforce Penn’s Code of Student Conduct and other policies and administer such policies along with general departmental policies regarding behavior, safety, security, health, and other matters in cooperation with the appropriate offices.  Develop and implement House-specific behavioral policies and community standards along with internal adjudication processes for behavioral resolution in accordance with University and College Houses & Academic Services standards.
  • Coordinate communications within the House, including CHAS- and campus-wide messages, particularly those relating to emergency preparedness and safety awareness and those regarding general policy matters and new University initiatives or programs.  Be prepared to take a lead communication role in emergency situations, particularly when on duty as Dean on Call.  Provide semester reports of House activities and other information upon request; facilitate the flow of information to and from the House residents with CHAS and the larger campus community; participate in efforts to promote the college house system and to solicit resident evaluation and assessment through surveys, focus groups, and other feedback mechanisms.
  • Plan annual budget in consultation with the House Faculty Director; manage all the House finances in accordance with University policy/best practices.  Working in accordance with general guidelines and specific requests of CHAS, attend regular budget meetings; reconcile purchases in a timely fashion; oversee student/administrative staff use of procurement processes; work with residential senior staff to determine their financial needs vis-à-vis programming.
  • with Residential Services to implement room assignments processes; set guidelines for the management of roommate conflicts during the course of the year, personally intervening in such conflicts when necessary and coordinating with Residential Services if room changes are necessary.  Assist with move-in and move-out.  Work with Residential Services to review maintenance and housekeeping concerns in the House.
  • Serve on numerous CHAS working groups and committees as requested.  Participate in ongoing training as required. Work with CHAS Tech to coordinate AV support, ongoing web development and assessment technology. 
  • Perform additional duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

A Master's Degree is required with a minimum of 3 to 5 years work experience as a full time professional.  Experience working with undergraduates and faculty in a residential setting, financial management, teaching or advising, supervision and community building is required. The successful candidate will also possess strong administrative and communication skills, demonstrated ability to work in an environment that values innovation and support of students, experience working with residential academic programs or living/learning communities and experience with learning outcome development, implementation and assessment.

Evening and weekend hours are required. This is a live in position provided with an unfurnished, two-bedroom apartment, partial meal-plan , parking for one vehicle and full benefit package including a tuition benefit.

A cover letter in addition to resume/cv is required.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
College Houses and Academic Services

Pay Range
$50,684.00 - $91,232.00

Affirmative Action Statement 

Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 

Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert