Career Center

The Dean of Students is key in leading the residential identity of our liberal arts college, administering accountability and expectations through our community standards, and providing general division support. The Dean exercises a high level of discretion and judgment, embraces and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, and possesses strong problem-solving skills. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), the Dean will occasionally and temporarily serve as the senior student affairs officer in absence of the VPSA. This is a full-time position and manages the student affairs on-call rotation. This position is a responsible employee under the MCLA Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action (EO) Plan. This position is a live-off, 12-month position.

Required Quals:

• Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Counseling, or related field
• Minimum 4 years' experience in higher education with progressive responsibilities
• A record of creating opportunities for ongoing learning and engagement in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility for yourself and others.
• Demonstrated leadership related to strategy development and implementation designed to support underrepresented and underserved student populations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of due process requirements in student discipline matters; detail oriented, with the ability to investigate incidents and gather and use data.
• Subject expertise in areas of responsibility including residential life, student support, case management, and assessment; ability to provide leadership and supervision to staff managing the day-to-day work of these areas.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with college students, staff, faculty and parents, and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, confidential, layered and sometimes competing demands.
• Facility with a range of standard software tools including previous experience with a student conduct/case management database.

Preferred Quals:

• Doctorate in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Counseling, or related field
• 5+ years' experience in higher education
• Experience at or equal to the Assistant Dean level
• Previous live on experience as a Hall Director
• Experience with Maxient 
• Experience maintaining complex operating budgets

About MCLA

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ continued commitment to an excellent, affordable education is reflected in the 2022-2023 U.S. News and World Report rankings: The College is #7 on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Colleges for the second year in a row, ranks #33 as a Top Performer on Social Mobility among national liberal arts colleges, and first among all Massachusetts liberal arts schools. MCLA also continues to appear on the list of Top National Liberal Arts Colleges. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Public Colleges for 10 of the past 12 years. The College has also been acknowledged in its list of National Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Mobility since the organization adopted this ranking in 2019. This list measures how well institutions graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants, typically awarded to students whose families make less than $50,000, though most Pell Grant money goes to families with income below $20,000. Slightly more than 42 percent of MCLA undergraduate students receive Pell Grants, and 51.4 percent are the first in their families to go to college. Overall, 93.1 percent of students receive some kind of financial aid. ... “As we once again appear in the Top Public College rankings, I feel immense gratitude toward my colleagues who support our Trailblazers in achieving their academic goals,” said MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D. “From faculty and staff strengthening and growing programs, to the exceptional student body striving for academic excellence and fulfilling lives, I am grateful to work at an institution with a mission of advancing equity, social mobility, and serving under-resourced students.” “I am incredibly impressed by MCLA’s continued success – an institution that is consistently recognized as a Top Public College,” said Brenda Burdick, Chair of the MCLA Board of Trustees. “The work that has been done to remain in the top 10 standings is extraordinary. With our excellent faculty and staff dedicated to growing and strengthening the College’s programs, I am proud to see affordable and accessible college education at the forefront of the College’s mission.” U.S. News ranks colleges based on indicators that reflect a school’s student body, its faculty, and its financial resources, along with outcome measures that signal how well the institution achieves its mission of educating students. For more information, go to usnews.com/colleges. About MCLA: At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. Nearly 93% of our graduates land competitive jobs or are accepted by some of the best grad schools in the country. We engage in the most nationally relevant conversations by hosting some of the most celebrated thinkers and speakers on our campus in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, an area known for its mountain ranges, hiking trails, and panoramic views. Our home town of North Adams is brimming with young, creative energy and the regional economy is booming as a result. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate you as an individual, a leader, and a communicator, fully empowered to make your impression on the world.

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