Dean of Graduate Studies
Position Profile
(updated Jan 2021 - Office of the Provost & Vice President Academic)
Position Profile - Dean of Graduate Studies (PDF)
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
The School of Graduate Studies is responsible for the administration of graduate degree programs offered at Trent University, the appointment of graduate faculty, the admissions and registration of graduate students, as well as the management of funding, including teaching assistantships, scholarship, bursaries, fellowships, and other awards to graduate students.
Faculty members who supervise graduate students are often members of an undergraduate department and one or more graduate programs. This type of organization encourages interdisciplinarity in our graduate programs and facilitates interactions between faculty and graduate students from different disciplines.
The following graduate programs are currently offered at Trent University:
- Anthropology MA
- Applied Modelling & Quantitative Methods MA and MSc
- Bioenvironmental Monitoring & Assessment MSc, MBEMA and Graduate Diploma
- Canadian Studies & Indigenous Studies MA
- Canadian Studies PhD
- Cultural Studies MA and PhD
- Educational Studies MEd
- English MA (Public Texts)
- Environmental and Life Sciences MSc and PhD
- History MA
- Indigenous Studies PhD
- Instrumental Chemical Analysis MICA and Graduate Diploma
- Interdisciplinary Social Research PhD
- Management MMgt
- Materials Science MSc and PhD
- Mental Health and Addictions Nursing Graduate Diploma
- Nursing Professional Practice Leadership MScN
- Psychology MSc
- Sustainability Studies MA
- Trent/Queen’s – Various Master’s and PhD programs
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEAN
Key Duties:
- Academic Leadership
- Promotion of Quality of Graduate Student Experience
- Operational Leadership including fiscal accountability for the School of Graduate Studies
- Building Relationships
- Strategic and Operational Leadership for the broader Trent University
- External Relationships
- May be assigned other duties as requested by the Provost and Vice President Academic
Academic Leadership
- Provides leadership to foster, build and assure graduate education to capitalize upon resources and opportunities for graduate students, and to respond to regional, national and international opportunities that enhance Trent’s strengths and reputation;
- Plays a leading role in the development of new graduate programs and the development of professional master programs as a key priority;
- Plays a leading role in the recruitment of high quality graduate students as a key priority;
- Plays a leading role in the development and implementation of policies and strategies related to the quality of graduate programs;
- Works with the Vice President Academic and Provost, Vice President Research and Innovation and other Deans to help ensure graduate programs complement and reinforce other academic and research activities and vice-versa;
- Ensures approvals and reviews and other forms of assessment of graduate programs are rigorous, objective, expeditious and appropriate for the type of program and further ensures outcomes of reviews are acted upon in a timely manner.
Promotion of Quality of Graduate Student Experience
- Oversees the provision of services to graduate students and graduate program directors, (e.g., graduate student admissions, fellowships, scholarships and awards, thesis defenses, graduate calendar);
- Safeguards graduate students’ interests and ensures they are supported in their studies and in their research and instructional roles;
- Promotes and helps develop strategies for the professional development of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to help prepare them for their current responsibilities and future careers including but not limited to GTA training and certificates;
- Provides leadership to promote and recognize quality graduate instruction;
- Ensures good communication between students, program directors, and the Faculty and ensures students’ concerns are addressed.
Operational Leadership including fiscal accountability for the School of Graduate Studies
- Oversees the management of the School of Graduate Studies and its administrative functions, including but not limited to the graduate student admissions process; the provision of teaching assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, and other awards to graduate students; budget management; student accounts; records and registration; and the production of the graduate calendar;
- Responsible for the overall management of graduate budgets, including graduate operating budgets, and graduate student funding (e.g., GTAs, RF’s; entrance scholarships, bursaries; endowed funds);
- Effectively manages the Faculty’s financial and other resources in accordance with policies and procedures of the University;
- Works with colleague Deans and the Provost & Vice President Academic to ensure adequate staffing of graduate programs;
- Responsible for the allocation of office space for graduate student teaching assistants and graduate programs;
- Oversees quality assurance for graduate programs and is responsible for the coordination of periodic and new appraisals of graduate programs;
- Supports directors of graduate programs and graduate secretaries in the administration of graduate programs;
- Recommends adjunct faculty appointments from outside the University in accordance with University Policies and all relevant collective agreements;
- The Dean is the senior academic administrator to whom directors of graduate programs report on matters having to do with graduate studies, including admissions, policy, curriculum, and student funding;
- Works in partnership with the Vice President, Research & Innovation and the Deans to enhance faculty support of graduate programs, e.g., teaching releases, participates in Canada Research Allocation (CRC) process;
- Collaborates with Office of Research & Innovation and Deans to enhance student opportunities, e.g., availability of graduate funding for domestic and international students.
Building Relationships
- Fosters good working relations between the School of Graduate Studies and other administrative units involved in the support of graduate programs (e.g., Office of Research, Office of the Deans of Arts & Science, undergraduate departments, the Office of the Registrar, Finance, Information Technology, External Relations and Advancement, Marketing and Communications);
- Works collaboratively with the Office of Research and Innovation to promote research achievement of faculty and graduate students within the institution
- Develops and maintains excellent student relations within the School of Graduate Studies and addresses complaints in an effective and timely manner in accordance with established School of Graduate Studies and University procedures;
- Encourages and supports graduate student participation at provincial and national events (e.g., 3-minute thesis);
- Represents Trent at COU (i.e., OCGS) as well as provincial and national associations relating to graduate studies (e.g., CAGS, NAGS).
Strategic and Operational Leadership for the broader Trent University
- Participates in development and implementation of University strategy, policy and institutional management as a member of the senior administration and as a member of the University Senate;
- Models and actively supports the mission, vision and strategic directions of the University;
- Participates with colleague Deans and senior University leaders, both academic and other, in administrative and leadership committees (including but not limited to chairing three Senate subcommittees (Graduate Studies Committee, Graduate Scholarships Committee, Graduate Faculty Appointments and Graduate Directors), one or more additional Senate sub-committee at the request of the Provost, contributing to planning meetings with the Provost, President and Board of Governors; preparing budget presentations; collaborating on new projects and resource allocations);
- Provides advice to the Provost and Vice President Academic, on emerging issues in the area of graduate studies and in the broader university sector;
- Communicates and explains institutional policies and decisions to the Faculty of Graduate Studies;
- Represents the goals, needs and views of the Faculty of Graduate Studies in deliberations relating to University policy and decision-making;
- Participates in institutional graduate student enrolment planning and management activities.
- Develops graduate student recruitment, retention, and time to completion strategies in close conjunction with the graduate programs;
- Monitors the effectiveness of graduate student recruitment approaches and supports active implementation of strategies to improve graduate student recruitment.
External Relations
- Promotes good and responsible external relations;
- Fosters and maintains, in conjunction with the Provost and Vice President Academic, Vice President External Relations & Advancement, Vice President Research and Innovation, the President’s Office and other Deans, good relationships with alumni, donors and other external agencies and groups;
- Promotes understanding and appreciation of the programs and activities of the School of Graduate Studies and of the University;
- Advises administration of external developments and of their potential implications to the School of Graduate Studies and the University and suggests possible responses on the part of the University;
- Supports and encourages collaborations with the community, agencies and institutions within the Peterborough and Durham regions as well as provincial, national, and international organizations;
- Ensures that the terms of contractual agreements with external agencies are fulfilled, and that donated funds are utilized according to the donor’s intentions;
- Works in conjunction with the Vice President External Relations & Advancement, Vice President Research and Innovation, and other university officials to increase funding for graduate education, scholarship and research;
- Participates in community, donor cultivation and recognition, and other events as requested to build profile for the program/school and facilitate relationship development.
Qualities and Experience
- The ideal candidate will be an experienced, effective leader with strong interpersonal skills, strong facilitative management skills and the ability to foster excellence in teaching and research;
- Ability to build consensus across the University and guide the changing role of graduate studies in today’s society and economy;
- Appreciation of the enduring importance of scholarly research, the training of future academic teachers and researchers and professional development for careers outside of the academy;
- Record of dynamic and collegial leadership;
- Commitment to student-centered graduate education and to improving the learning environment for graduate students;
- Demonstrated record of internal and external partnership-building;
- Strong personal record of undergraduate/graduate teaching, graduate supervision and research;
- Broad understanding of and appreciation for the diverse disciplines and interdisciplinary programs;
- Excellent communication skills; experience with university budgets; and experience with records and registration;
- Candidates should hold a doctorate degree and have significant progressive administrative experience.