Assistant Dean

Colorado School of Mines; Golden (CO); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

Health and dental options

RTD Ecopass

Retirement plan

Job summary

Colorado School of Mines invites applications for Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies to lead curriculum strategy, assessment, and program leadership across the undergraduate portfolio.

The role reports to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and collaborates with Student Life, CASA, the Trefny Center, and department leadership to advance student success, academic quality, and policy implementation. A campus-based role with potential hybrid arrangements supports a broad range of initiatives.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, curriculum and instruction, assessment, educational leadership, a STEM discipline, or another relevant field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in higher education involving curriculum, academic programs, assessment, faculty development, accreditation, or academic administration.
• At least 5 years of experience leading complex projects or initiatives involving faculty and multiple institutional units.
• Experience working effectively in shared-governance environments with diverse perspectives and levels of authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead Undergraduate Curriculum Strategy, Innovation, and Program Leadership (40%), coordinating priorities to support retention and timely degree completion.
• Oversee Strategic Academic Initiatives and Implementation (30%), including Mines’ institution-wide communication development initiative and a competency framework.
• Drive Accreditation Support and Policy Implementation (20%), coordinating ABET and HLC activities and cross-functional collaboration.
• Represent the Office of Undergraduate Studies in campus governance and advise the Dean on operational risks and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in higher education or related field

Job description

The Office of Undergraduate Studies at Colorado School of Mines (Mines) is hiring for an Assistant Dean.

The Assistant Dean for Undergraduate (UG) Studies provides leadership and implementation capacity for selected undergraduate and cross-cutting academic priorities within the Office of UG Studies (OUS). These priorities span undergraduate education, student success, academic quality, compliance, instructional practice, and emerging strategic initiatives. Reporting to the Dean of UG Studies, the Assistant Dean helps move institutional priorities that have been approved through appropriate leadership and governance channels from concept to implementation by coordinating faculty engagement, cross-campus partnerships, assessment, accreditation-related work, and evidence-informed planning. The role also organizes and leads emerging work within the scope of OUS as institutional needs evolve, working closely with campus stakeholders to advance broader institutional goals and strengthen student progression, academic quality, career readiness, and operational effectiveness.

The Dean sets vision, priorities, institutional direction, and final recommendations on policy and strategy. The Assistant Dean provides the capacity to lead assigned initiatives, develops approaches needed to organize the work, builds durable partnerships, supports faculty and program leaders, coordinates implementation, assesses progress, and elevates decisions that require institutional authority action.

The Assistant Dean will develop effective working relationships with Student Life units including the Career Center and the Center for Academic Services and Advising (CASA) to connect academic priorities with career readiness, student support, and academic policy implementation. The Assistant Dean will partner with administrative and student-facing units whose roles support registration, advising, classroom operations and related implementation needs. The role will also work closely with the Trefny Innovative Instruction Center, faculty engagement, teaching and learning improvement, and accreditation-related priorities. Finally, the Assistant Dean will establish and sustain trusted working relationships with UG program directors, department leadership, faculty leaders, UG Council, and portfolio deans. These relationships are essential to building shared understanding, navigating governance and decision-making processes, and securing the collaboration needed to execute approved initiatives.

The Assistant Dean will contribute to institutional and program accreditation needs by coordinating ABET-related support with academic programs, helping organize evidence and writing for the HLC assurance argument as assigned, and serving on cross-functional committees where undergraduate curriculum, assessment, student success, and compliance intersect.

This position is campus-based and requires a regular on-campus presence to support faculty engagement, collaboration, and institutional partnerships. A hybrid work arrangement may be available with supervisor approval and in accordance with Mines policies and operational needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Undergraduate Curriculum Strategy, Innovation, and Program Leadership (40%)

Advance and coordinate OUS-led curriculum priorities by identifying challenges, developing practical solutions, and helping translate institutional goals into manageable plans, tools, and measures of progress that support student retention, timely degree completions, and operational efficiency in undergraduate academic work.

• Analyze and evaluate curricular pathways, complexity, course demand, enrollment patterns, and instructional capacity, identifying opportunities to improve student progression and timely degree completion.
• Support department-designated faculty and program leaders in using institutional data and other evidence to identify curricular gaps or barriers, evaluate alignment with learning outcomes, accreditation requirements, and approved institutional priorities, and develop actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Develop practical tools, guidance, and engagement processes that help UG program directors carry out their responsibilities effectively and strengthen coordination between programs and OUS.
• Translate approved priorities and faculty-generated ideas into draft frameworks, pilot approaches, decision points, and measures of progress for review by the Dean and appropriate governance bodies.
• Partner with academic and administrative units on initiatives that strengthen undergraduate teaching and learning, including instructional space planning and utilization, classroom improvement, educational technology coordination, and accessibility implementation.
• Identify implementation barriers, resolve routine issues, and elevate decisions requiring policy, resources, or senior leadership action.

Strategic Academic Initiatives and Implementation (30%)

Provide leadership for major strategic academic initiatives assigned to the Office of UG Studies. The current primary initiative is the development, implementation, and ongoing coordination of Mines’ institution-wide communication development initiative.

• Lead implementation of a communication and professional-practice ecosystem across undergraduate education and, in partnership with Graduate Studies, support the identification and coordination of graduate communication priorities.
• Maintain and advance a Mines-wide communication competency framework that includes technical argumentation, visual and data communication, collaborative and intercultural communication, professional communication, and responsible AI-enabled communication.
• Convene the initiative’s faculty, graduate-student, and campus partner network and keep partners aligned around priorities, roles, timelines, and outcomes.
• Work closely with academic faculty, Student Life, the Career Center, advising/CASA, the Trefny Center, the Library, Graduate Studies, undergraduate research programs, and academic departments to connect communication development with career readiness, student support, faculty development, shared resources, skill integration and assessment.
• Establish assessment mechanisms and prepare regular updates on implementation, outcomes, faculty and student experience, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead other emerging strategic academic initiatives within the scope of the Office of Undergraduate Studies, building the partnerships, implementation structures, resources, and measures of progress needed to move approved priorities from concept to sustainable practice.

Accreditation Support and Policy Implementation (20%)

Lead selected OUS/AA priorities that require coordinated planning, accreditation support, policy implementation, and partnership across academic and student-facing units.

• Work with faculty and administrative partners to develop, refine, implement, and evaluate UG academic policies and practices.
• Coordinate initiatives involving student progression, curricular pathways, academic operations, accessibility, workforce readiness, and other OUS responsibilities.
• Connect assessment findings and institutional data to specific questions, decisions, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support ABET and HLC accreditation work through coordinating activities with academic programs and campus partners, helping gather and organize evidence, report preparation, and supporting continuous-improvement practices connected to student learning outcomes.
• Serve on cross-functional committees with Student Life, the Career Center, advising/CASA, the Trefny Center, academic departments, and other partners where UG curriculum, student success, assessment, policy, and accreditation intersect.
• Anticipate implementation challenges, resolve routine barriers, and elevate issues requiring leadership decisions.

Office Leadership and Representation (10%)

Serve as a leader in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, representing the office on campus committees and advising the Dean on operational risks, emerging priorities, and strategic opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, curriculum and instruction, assessment, educational leadership, a STEM discipline, or another relevant academic or professional field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in higher education involving curriculum, academic programs, assessment, faculty development, accreditation, or academic administration.
• At least 5 years of experience leading complex projects or initiatives involving faculty and multiple institutional units.
• Experience working effectively in shared-governance environments and with individuals holding differing perspectives, responsibilities, and levels of authority.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and Other Attributes (KSAOs):

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Deep understanding of how curriculum, assessment, faculty governance, academic policy, and student progression intersect.
• Ability to establish credibility with faculty without overstepping departmental authority.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with disciplined execution and attention to operational detail.
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems and create a practical path forward.
• Skilled facilitation of complex or politically sensitive conversations.
• Ability to create shared ownership while maintaining accountability for decisions and deliverables.
• Strong project leadership, organization, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Capacity to synthesize varied perspectives and identify institution-level implications.
• Ability to communicate clearly with faculty, administrators, students, and senior leaders.
• Intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, adaptability, and a strong commitment to student learning and academic quality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral or terminal degree.
• Experience with Mines culture, policies, and practices.
• Experience in a STEM-focused, technical, or professionally oriented higher education environment.
• Experience providing institution-level leadership for assessment or academic program improvement.
• Experience with specialized or institutional accreditation, including ABET or regional accreditation.
• Experience designing or implementing interdisciplinary, general education, professional skills, communication, career-readiness, or AI-related curricular initiatives.
• Experience with academic policy development, student progression analysis, or curricular pathway redesign.
• Experience securing or stewarding grants, philanthropic support, or external partnerships related to academic initiatives.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology, engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Annual Rate

$115,000 to $120,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

In addition to the amazing benefits mentioned below, Mines continues to show its dedication to its employees by offering an 11% employee contribution through our Mines Defined Contribution Plan and an incredible 12% employer contribution with immediate 100% vesting for our University Staff positions!

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees.

For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.