Associate Dean of Graduate School, Online

Open Role · Higher Education Academic Leadership Associate Dean of Graduate School, Online, Orlando, FL A multi-campus post-secondary institution is hiring an Associate Dean of Graduate School to oversee and coordinate its online graduate programs: student retention and re-entry, academic advising, faculty coverage and observation, curriculum revision, certification and licensure tracking, and compliance with state, accreditation, and programmatic regulators. The client lists the position as remote and attaches it to its Orlando, Florida campus. A doctorate is required. A search conducted by Excelon Associates. LocationOrlando, FL Work SettingRemote, Online Programs Employment TypeFull Time ClientMulti-Campus Institution On This Page Role OverviewWhat the Role InvolvesScope of the RoleResponsibilitiesQualificationsCompensationWho Thrives HereAbout ExcelonFAQApply NowRole Overview Excelon Associates is conducting a search on behalf of its client, a multi-campus post-secondary institution, for an Associate Dean of Graduate School. The Associate Dean is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all graduate programs and activities that support student recruitment, education, and retention, including re-entries, across the institution and its assigned campuses. The role provides the leadership necessary to fulfill the mission, objectives, plans, and goals of the campus and ensures that support services and academic courses in diploma and degree programs meet the needs of faculty, students, and the community the institution serves. The Associate Dean assists the Executive Director in all education and training areas of planning, organizing, directing, staffing, coordinating, motivating, supervising, improving, and evaluating every facet of the campus graduate programs academic department. The posting requires a doctorate in Business Administration, Education, or a related field and at least three years of successful college-level teaching, preferably in a proprietary school setting. The position is listed as remote, full time, and is attached to the Orlando, Florida campus; evening and weekend outreach to at-risk students is part of the schedule. What Does an Associate Dean of Graduate School Do? An Associate Dean of Graduate School at a career-focused institution is the academic operator for the graduate programs: the person who makes sure every online graduate course has a qualified instructor, every student failing satisfactory academic progress gets advised on time, every re-entry is tracked against a monthly goal, and every program certification or licensure exam is ordered, proctored, and reported. The Dean and the Executive Director set direction; the Associate Dean runs the academic department day to day and is measured on retention, student satisfaction, laddering into the next credential, and certification pass rates. Online graduate programs in Florida operate under several layers of oversight. The institution is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education within the Florida Department of Education, its accreditor sets standards for distance education and faculty qualifications, and satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy follows the Title IV rules published by Federal Student Aid. Programs that enroll students in other states do so through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which Florida joined in 2018. The Associate Dean is the person who keeps program operations, personnel, facilities, and curriculum inside those requirements and answers for them at accreditation reviews. The client lists the position as remote, which fits the subject matter: the courses, the faculty observations, and most of the student contact are online. The seat is attached to the Orlando campus, the client's hub in Central Florida, and the Associate Dean coordinates with the campus leadership there, including the Executive Director and the VP for Academic Affairs, who approves curriculum revisions. What the Associate Dean Owns and Who the Role Works With The posting divides the Associate Dean's accountability into five areas. The table summarizes what the role owns in each and which campus leaders it works with. AreaWhat the Associate Dean ownsWorks withRetention and advisingMonthly, quarterly, and annual retention, laddering, student satisfaction, and certification goals; re-entry and readmission tracking; SAP advising; evening and weekend at-risk outreachStudent services team; Executive DirectorFacultyQualified coverage for every online graduate class; recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of faculty; biweekly one-on-ones; quarterly classroom observations; annual faculty developmentDean; Executive Director; program coordinatorsScheduling and engagementThe student schedule for all graduate programs and courses; daily student engagement goals across online programsProgram coordinators and managersCompliance and licensureProgram operations, personnel, facilities, and curriculum compliance with state, accreditation, and programmatic bodies; ordering, tracking, and proctoring certification and licensure exams; sit and pass ratesAccreditors; state and programmatic regulatorsCurriculum and qualityTimely course development and curriculum revision recommendations; instructors following the standardized curriculum; student experience analysis from observations and surveysVP for Academic Affairs (approves revisions) Excelon is also recruiting an Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and an Executive Director for the client's Orlando campus. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs seat covers the on-campus diploma and degree programs; this seat covers the online graduate programs. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Student Retention, Advising, and Re-Entry • Meet or exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual retention, laddering/career pathway, student satisfaction, and certification goals by structuring appropriate student services, dedicated time for students, academic advising inclusive of office hours, and regular communication with students.• Coordinate and track student re-entry and readmission processes, ensuring monthly student re-entry goals are met.• Meet or exceed daily student engagement goals for graduate online courses across all online programs.• Assist in developing and maintaining the student schedule for all graduate programs and courses under supervision.• Coordinate timely academic advising for students failing satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in compliance with policy and regulations.• Provide retention support and advising to students and support the student services team during evening and weekend at-risk outreach.Faculty Coverage, Hiring, and Development • Assist the Executive Director in verifying that online graduate-level classes have qualified and appropriate faculty coverage and that instructors complete contractual agreements through module end dates.• Support the Dean and Executive Director with recruitment, interviews, hiring, and onboarding of all faculty, including New Faculty Orientation and programmatic training sessions.• Conduct biweekly one-on-one meetings with faculty and quarterly formal online classroom observations of instructors and program coordinators/managers.• Assist with scheduling and fulfilling requirements for annual faculty development, in-services, and professional growth activities to meet accreditation criteria.Compliance, Certification, and Curriculum • Ensure program operations, personnel, facilities, and curriculum comply with state, accreditation, and programmatic regulatory bodies.• Manage program certifications and/or licenses for students by ordering, tracking, and assessing sit and pass rates and coordinating external or internal proctoring of exams.• Monitor, facilitate, and implement timely course development and curriculum revision recommendations in coordination with, and subject to approval of, the VP for Academic Affairs.• Safeguard the student experience and satisfaction by analyzing and addressing student needs based on quantitative and qualitative data, including online classroom observations and student surveys.• Ensure instructors follow the standardized curriculum and that course objectives are met.Qualifications and Education Required • Doctorate in Business Administration, Education, or a related field (required).• Minimum of 3 years of successful teaching experience at the college level, preferably in a proprietary school setting.Experience the Role Calls For • Teaching or administering graduate courses in an online learning management system, since the classroom observations in this role are conducted online.• Working knowledge of satisfactory academic progress policy, re-entry and readmission processes, and the retention metrics a proprietary institution reports.• Experience hiring, onboarding, and observing adjunct and full-time faculty, and documenting development activities for accreditation review.• Familiarity with program certification and licensure exam administration, including proctoring and pass-rate reporting.• Availability for evening and weekend at-risk student outreach alongside the student services team.Compensation The client has not published a salary range for the Associate Dean of Graduate School position. Compensation is discussed with qualified candidates during the recruiting process and reflects the candidate's academic credentials, teaching record, and administrative experience; the client's full-time benefits are reviewed at the same stage. SalaryNot Published Pay BasisAnnual, Full Time Work SettingRemote; attached to Orlando, FL Associate dean positions are classified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics under postsecondary education administrators (SOC 11-9033). At multi-campus proprietary institutions the Associate Dean of a graduate school typically sits above the campus Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and below the Dean and Executive Director, and the doctorate requirement places the role in the upper part of that band. Who Thrives in This Role? The best fit is a doctorally prepared faculty member or program director who has already run an online graduate program at a proprietary or career-focused institution and knows that the job is measured in numbers: monthly retention, re-entry, daily engagement, student satisfaction, and certification pass rates. Candidates who want a traditional graduate dean's role built around research and governance will find this seat more operational than they expect; candidates who like running a department against a dashboard will find it familiar. It also suits someone who is comfortable supervising faculty they rarely meet in person. Biweekly one-on-ones, quarterly online classroom observations, contractual coverage through module end dates, and annual development requirements all happen through the learning management system and the calendar, and the Associate Dean has to make that structure hold across several assigned campuses. Evening and weekend outreach to at-risk students is written into the role. Someone who has done SAP advising and re-entry calls personally, and can coach a student services team to do the same, will be at home here. About Excelon Associates and the Client Excelon Associates is a retained and contingency executive search firm founded in 2007, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida, and a dedicated higher education recruitment practice that fills admissions, enrollment, academic, and campus leadership roles for colleges and universities. This search is being conducted by Excelon Associates on behalf of a multi-campus post-secondary institution attached to its Orlando, Florida campus, and the firm publishes its search fees and engagement terms so clients and candidates know how it works. Institutions scoping an academic leadership search can start from Excelon's Academic Director sample job description. The client is a multi-campus post-secondary institution with campuses across Florida and online graduate programs that enroll students across its assigned campuses. The client's identity is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiting process. You can browse current open roles or review recent campaigns. Frequently Asked Questions Where is this Associate Dean of Graduate School role based?The client lists the position as remote and attaches it to its Orlando, Florida campus. The Associate Dean oversees online graduate programs across the institution and its assigned campuses and coordinates with the Orlando campus leadership. It is a full-time position with evening and weekend at-risk student outreach as needed. Is the Associate Dean of Graduate School position remote?Yes. The client lists the position as remote. The graduate programs it oversees are online, and faculty observations, advising, and most student contact are conducted through the learning management system. The role is attached to the Orlando campus for reporting and coordination. What is the salary for the Associate Dean of Graduate School position?The client has not published a salary range for this position. Compensation and the client's full-time benefits are discussed with qualified candidates during the recruiting process. What degree is required for the Associate Dean of Graduate School role?A doctorate in Business Administration, Education, or a related field is required, along with a minimum of three years of successful teaching experience at the college level, preferably in a proprietary school setting. What does the Associate Dean of Graduate School do day to day?The Associate Dean oversees and coordinates all graduate programs and the activities that support student recruitment, education, and retention, including re-entries. Day to day that means tracking retention, re-entry, engagement, and certification goals, advising students failing satisfactory academic progress, verifying qualified faculty coverage for online graduate classes, observing instructors, supporting faculty hiring and onboarding, managing certification and licensure exams, and keeping program operations and curriculum compliant with state, accreditation, and programmatic regulators. Who does the Associate Dean of Graduate School work with?The Associate Dean assists the Executive Director, supports the Dean on faculty recruitment and onboarding, coordinates curriculum revisions subject to approval by the VP for Academic Affairs, works with program coordinators and managers, and supports the student services team on retention outreach. Who is the employer for this role?The employer is a multi-campus post-secondary institution with a campus in Orlando, Florida. The search is being conducted by Excelon Associates, and all inquiries and applications should be directed to Excelon Associates. The client's identity is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiting process. How do I apply?Apply directly through the live posting using the Apply Now button, or submit your resume, a brief statement of interest, and your academic CV to Excelon Associates. All inquiries are held in strict confidence. Is this an equal opportunity search?Yes. Excelon does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apply for the Associate Dean of Graduate School Role This search is being conducted by Excelon Associates on behalf of a multi-campus post-secondary institution attached to its Orlando, Florida campus. Submit your resume or academic CV and a brief statement of interest through the Excelon Associates job board. A recruiter contacts qualified candidates to discuss the role and the institution, and all inquiries are held in strict confidence. Apply Now The client is an equal opportunity employer and values all applications. Excelon does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Current Searches More Open Roles View All Open Roles Apply Now