University of New South Wales - Human Resources - Guidelines for Position of Associate Dean, Human Resources,

Approving Authority:	Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee
Date of Approval:	17 March 2004
Last Amended:
Contact Officer:	Faculty HR Consultant

The following guidelines have been developed to assist Faculties in establishing Associate Dean positions and appointing academic staff to them.

Faculties are required to appoint an Associate Dean (Research) and will normally have an appointment to the position of Associate Dean (Education). Faculties also have the flexibility to develop other Associate Dean positions where a need exists.

Should Faculties establish other Associate Dean positions, the Dean should develop and communicate an appropriate position description.

Where a Dean identifies the specific need for senior member of staff to assist the Dean across a range of portfolio matters, the title of Senior Associate Dean should be used. It is not envisaged that the role of Senior Associate Dean will necessarily be relevant across all Faculties.

1. Conditions of Employment for Associate Deans

The appointment will be for a period of at least three but no more than five years.

A responsibility loading is payable to the position of Associate Dean. Generally, the minimum amount payable will be the rate applicable to that paid to a Head of a small School. A lesser amount is payable where the full range of Associate Dean duties will not be undertaken.

Payment above the minimum requires prior approval of the Director, Human Resources, and will have regard to the duties, size, and complexity of the particular Faculty and the resources afforded to the portfolio.

2. Process for Appointment and Re-Appointment

Faculties may appoint internal applicants or advertise the positions externally. In the latter case the Dean will need to determine whether a fixed term or continuing academic appointment would be recommended in conjunction with the Associate Deanship.

If a Faculty wishes to advertise externally to fill the position, normal recruitment procedures for a senior academic appointment apply.

Internal appointments must follow a broad consultation process within the Faculty. The Dean will call for expressions of interest from academic staff who feel they meet the criteria. Before making a recommendation for approval to the relevant Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice-Chancellor [DVC (Academic) or PVC (Education) in the case of an Associate Dean (Education), or DVC (Research) in the case of an Associate Dean (Research)] the Dean will consult with a representative group of academic and general staff in the Faculty. The Dean may also wish to consult with senior colleagues in the Faculty, members of School Advisory Committees or the Presiding Member of the Faculty.

Where there is more than one internal candidate the Dean should seek the views of the relevant Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice-Chancellor and if interviewing candidates to include the relevant Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice-Chancellor or nominee on the selection committee.

3. Annual Review

The performance of the Associate Dean will be reviewed annually by the Dean and requires consultation with Heads of School and relevant stakeholders.

4. Reappointment

An Associate Dean may be re-appointed for a second term.

5. Associate Dean Position Description

Generic position description guidelines for Associate Dean (Research) and Associate Dean (Education) are attached at Appendix A and B respectively. Individual Faculties may wish to add other requirements.

In preparing the duties for Associate Dean other than Research or Education the following should be considered in relation to the area of responsibility.

Assistance to the Dean to develop strategy and direction
In conjunction with Heads of School advise the Dean on resources and profile
Where relevant, accountability for staff management issues
Implementation of strategies and plans, monitoring and reviewing plans
Provision of relevant statistics and reports.

6. Additional Information

For additional advice or information regarding the appointment of Associate Deans, contact the Human Resources Consultant in your Faculty.

Appendix A - Position Description of Associate Dean (Research)

It is appropriate that the specific accountabilities of the position be the subject of discussion/negotiation between each appointee and the Dean of the Faculty. However, the following general points should apply to all position descriptions.

The Associate Dean for Research will:

advise the Dean on the overall research profile of the Faculty;
be responsible for the oversight of the preparation of a Faculty research plan and advise the Dean on strategies to improve the Faculty research profile;
advise the Dean on the use of Faculty research funds;
provide agreed statistics and other information on research in the Faculty as requested and as appropriate;
in conjunction with Heads of School, ensure that supervision of post-graduate research students is effective and of high quality, and in consultation with Faculty Research Committee or other relevant committee, monitor the selection of thesis examiners and the examination process;
serve as Presiding Member of the Faculty Research (Management) Committee, or other relevant committee(s) as required by the role, and be available to represent the Faculty on the Committee on Research of Academic Board;
in consultation with the Dean ensure that Faculty-based support mechanisms for new researchers are developed and implemented;
mentor staff and/or arrange mentoring of Faculty staff in research;
communicate and consult with other Faculties concerning inter-disciplinary Faculty research efforts;
organise a specified number of research seminars per year across School and Faculty boundaries, especially if a common timetabling system can be implemented;
facilitate interactions which will promote commercialisation of intellectual property;
undertake other activities as determined through consultation with the Dean and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research);
act for the Dean on Management Committees of UNSW Research Centres or Cooperative Research Centre Boards, as determined through consultation with the Dean and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).

For appointment to the position of Associate Dean (Research), individuals should:

be highly respected for their research output;
have a demonstrated significant standing in research;
have a demonstrated ability to mentor or facilitate mentoring for other staff;
have the skills necessary to chair the Faculty Research (Management) Committee and represent the Faculty on University committees, including the Research Committee of the Academic Board;
have a record of and ability to strengthen interdisciplinary research activities and foster internal, national and international research activities.

Appendix B - Position Description of Associate Dean (Education)

Assisting the Dean and formal Faculty committee(s) in the development of the Faculty's teaching and learning strategies and policies and coordinating their implementation;
Providing support to Heads of School in implementing strategies and policies related to course and program developments and teaching, learning and assessment issues;
Promoting research into teaching practices within the University and Faculty, including researching innovative teaching practices;
Ensuring that staff development opportunities are available in relation to enhancing the effectiveness of teaching and learning;
Mentoring staff and/or arranging mentoring of Faculty staff in relation to best practice in teaching and learning;
Providing active service as a member (or as presiding member where relevant) of the Faculty Standing Committee, Faculty Education Committee and other relevant committees as required by the role;
Participating with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education & Quality Improvement) and other Associate Deans (Education) in the development of the University's teaching and learning policies;
Undertaking other activities as determined in consultation with the Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education & Quality Improvement).

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