The Associate Dean reports to the College Dean and works with Department/School Chairpersons, Program Directors, and other members of the College Leadership Team. The Associate Dean deals directly with individual members of the College, including faculty, staff, and students, as the occasion warrants. The Associate Dean serves as a Senior Officer of Central Michigan University and as the chief academic officer of the College in the absence of the Dean.

The Associate Dean provides support to the Dean in areas such as, but not necessarily limited to: curriculum; faculty workload and workflow approvals; faculty evaluations; budgeting; planning; program development; program review, accreditation and compliance; space allocation and remodeling; faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion actions; faculty development; recruiting of new faculty and staff; enrollment management; facilitating of research and grant writing; student success; and supervision of college staff. The Associate Dean will be assigned leadership responsibility in these areas, as determined by the College Dean.

Terminal degree with academic credentials sufficient to be tenured at the level of associate or full professor in a department/school within the College.

Administrative leadership experience including academic chair, director, assistant dean or similarly situated position.
Experience with academic budgeting and planning.

Experience in curriculum development and program evaluation/assessment.

Demonstrated record of highquality teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and service.
Ability and willingness to represent the interests of the College to all constituencies.
Demonstrated commitment to ensuring that members of the university community can thrive.

Demonstrated commitment to collaborative leadership through active engagement with college and university stakeholders, while fostering strong partnerships with community organizations and external partners.
Effective communication skills across a variety of formats, including successful interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to shared governance.

Strong record of peer-reviewed scholarly publications and a demonstrated ability to secure external funding.
Knowledge in creating and implementing Interprofessional Education opportunities.

Demonstrated experience in recruiting students through outreach, engagement, and program promotion.

Experience in accreditation and affiliation agreements.
Experience in mediation and conflict resolution.
Knowledge of collective bargaining principles, particularly in higher education.
Experience with successful implementation/application of information technology to the academic enterprise.
Experience with external fundraising.

Experience in basic and/or applied scientific research.

Supports the Dean in the academic, administrative, and strategic leadership of the College.

Assists with academic program management, faculty support, student success, policy implementation, and strategic planning.

Collaborates with faculty, staff, and university leadership to maintain academic excellence and ensure the effective operation of all programs and services within the College. Provides assistance to Departments/Schools which may include course scheduling and enrollment management.
Provides support to the Dean in areas such as, but not limited to: curriculum; faculty workload and workflow approvals, faculty evaluations, budgeting; planning; program development; program review, accreditation and compliance: space allocation and remodeling; faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion actions; faculty development; recruiting of new faculty and staff; enrollment management; facilitating of research and grant writing; student success; and supervision of college staff.
Provides leadership in areas such as, but not limited to: curriculum; budgeting; planning; program development; space allocation and remodeling; faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion actions; faculty development; recruiting of new faculty and staff; enrollment management; facilitating of research and grant writing; and supervision of college staff, as determined by the College Dean.
The Associate Dean may be assigned other duties, reasonably related to the operation of the College, at the discretion of the College Dean.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others on our team. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve our leadership abilities and our demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence.

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by June 28, 2026; however, the search will remain open until the position is filled.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

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CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:

Phone: 989-774-3253
Office: 103 E. Preston St.
Bovee University Center, suite 306
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Email: [email protected]