Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY)

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, United States

Updated: 28 days ago
Location: Pennsylvania Furnace, PENNSYLVANIA
Job Type: FullTime

Posting Details
Posting Details


Posting Number S358
Classification Title Strategic Leadership E3 - Dean
Working Title Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY)
Department Academic Deans
Home Campus
City Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield
State Pennsylvania
Zip Code n/a
Bargaining Unit Non-represented
Work Location Home Campus
Position Type Management
Temporary/ Permanent Temporary
Full-time/ Part-time Full-Time
If Part-time, specify percentage (Examples: 0.75; 0.50; 0.25)
Benefits
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education provides a comprehensive package of employer benefits to eligible employees and their enrolled dependent(s), which include*:
  • Medical and prescription drug benefits.
  • Generous retirement plans, two options:
    • Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP)
    • State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS)

  • Tuition benefits for employees and dependents.
  • Paid time off.
  • Employer-paid dental and vision benefits.
  • Employer-paid life insurance.
  • Voluntary insurances and additional retirement programs.

*Specific benefits may vary based upon university, employee group and/or collective bargaining unit. Visit: http://www.passhe.edu/inside/HR/syshr/healthcare/Pages/Summary-of-Benefits.aspx for additional information regarding benefits.
To be eligible for most benefits, you must be a permanent, full-time employee (including temporary, full-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) or a permanent, part-time employee (including temporary, part-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) who is scheduled to work every pay period for at least 50% of full-time hours.
Start Time 8:00am
End Time 4:00pm
Hours Per Week 37.5 hours per week
Days Worked (Check all that apply) Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri
Salary Commensurate with experience and qualifications
Anticipated Start Date
July/August 2026
Anticipated End Date
Anticipated to serve for one year

Position Summary Information


Position Purpose
The Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences will provide visionary and strategic leadership for the College to foster academic excellence. Reporting to the university’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs , the Interim Dean is responsible for the overall operations of the college, including coordinating and assessing academic/instructional programs, improving academic excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, service and outreach, budgets, accreditation, recruitment and retention, ensuring excellence in program compliance, faculty evaluation, and resource generation and stewardship. A member of the Academic Affairs Leadership Team, the Interim Dean will play a key role in CU’s academic administration.

The home campus for this position is flexible to include Bloomsburg, Lock Haven or Mansfield.
Description of Duties
The Interim Dean must be an effective advocate for their college, both within the university and externally. The Interim Dean has ultimate accountability for their college’s sound management of resources (fiscal, facilities, and human resources) across the three campuses – Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. They are responsible for college planning, including aligning goals across educational and research initiatives, and effectively leading college accreditation and assessment activities. The Interim Dean will also be a key point-of-contact and influencer across our communities, connecting regional businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies with the intellectual, human, and financial resources of Commonwealth University.
Decision Making
Fiscal Responsibility
Supervisory Responsibility
Minimum Requirements Profile
While no single candidate will possess all attributes, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and strengths:
▪ A strong academic background and credentials, including an earned doctorate or the highest degree in their chosen academic field;
▪ A successful record of academic leadership combined with executive accomplishments and experience;
▪ Demonstrated knowledge of student-learning assessment, high-impact practices, and a commitment to continuous improvement of academic programs;
▪ Intellectual curiosity and a deep commitment to excellence in teaching, research and scholarship;
▪ Demonstrated experience building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment, including an ability to navigate difficult and sometimes controversial issues across a range of constituencies;
▪ The ability to represent the mission and vision of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Commonwealth University to the region and state-wide;
▪ Demonstrated knowledge of historical and contemporary higher education issues, including but not limited to curricula, accreditation, recruitment, retention, and student learning and development;
▪ A strong commitment to the principles of shared governance, leading transparent and effective work across faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community leaders, and other university partners;
▪ A proven record in fundraising and the cultivation of donors in support of a college and its mission;
▪ Ability to provide the Provost with informed, evidence-based recommendations for academic leadership and educational programs grounded in relevant research and university policies;
▪ Ability to work collaboratively and constructively with collective bargaining units in a unionized environment;
▪ A highly visible, active, engaged, and consistent presence across all Commonwealth University campuses, with a desire to spend time equitably at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield;
▪ Knowledgeable regarding compliance with Middle States Commission on Higher Education standards relating to curriculum and assessment of programs;
▪ Knowledgeable regarding compliance with specialized program accreditation standards for disciplines within the college;
▪ High integrity, trustworthiness, and judgment, as evidenced through providing sound, consistent, and ethical decisions informed by financial and legal best practices;
▪ A willingness to challenge the status quo thoughtfully and deliberately;
▪ Experienced in budgetary decision-making and the financial pressures often facing public universities;
▪ A background of providing oversight to faculty, including reviews related to tenure, promotion, post-tenure review, and annual reappointments.
▪ Ability to direct, mentor, support, and supervise the associate dean/faculty associate to the dean and additional staff members within the college.
▪ And ultimately, a leader who can execute on the Values, Mission, Vision, and Goals of the university to take the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences to the next level of success in support of our students.
Preferred Qualifications
Applicant Rating Criteria
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential Functions

Posting Detail Information


Open Date mm-dd-yyyy 03/06/2026
Close Date mm-dd-yyyy
Open Until Filled Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applications are now being accepted. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by March 30, 2026.
Application materials should include:
  • A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant’s qualifications for the position. Letters of interest should be no longer than three pages in length.
  • A current résumé/curriculum vitae.
  • Contact information for three professional references.


    • Finalists for this position must communicate well and successfully complete an interview process. Completing this search is contingent upon available funding.
    Background Clearances
    Offers of employment are conditional, pending successful completion of the background clearances mandated by Act 153 of 2014 and Board of Governors Policy 2014-01-A: Protection of Minors. In order to qualify for a provisional appointment, the Applicant Acknowledgement Consent Form, Provisional Hire Form, Pennsylvania State Police and Justifacts portion of the clearance process must be successfully completed prior to your start date. The remaining PA Child Abuse History Clearance and FBI Clearance must be successfully completed and returned as soon as possible within the first 90 days of employment.
    Diversity Statement
    At Commonwealth University we recognize our responsibility to continuously support a living, learning, and working environment that values the diverse contributions from all members of our campus community. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion enriches our campus community and is instrumental to our institutional success. Commonwealth University strives to cultivate a campus climate that allows all members to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as we achieve success both in and out of the classroom, in our work responsibilities, and in our professional lives beyond Commonwealth University. We uphold our commitment to DEI by:
    • Actively supporting and promoting the intellectual and personal growth of our students, inside and outside of the classroom.
    • Providing workshops, trainings, programs designed to broaden the knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion within our campus community.
    • Ensuring that all learning and living environments throughout our campus are welcoming and capable of serving all individuals.
    Title IX/Clery
    The University prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, marital or family status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability in any decision regarding admissions, employment, or participation in a University program or activity in accordance with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
    The University also complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Title IX prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discrimination. VAWA imposes additional duties on universities and colleges to investigate and respond to reports of sexual assault, stalking, and dating or domestic violence, and to publish policies and procedures related to the way these reports are handled. The University has designated the Title IX Coordinator (Jennifer Raup, Elwell Hall, ORL, 570-389-4808, jraup@commonwealthu.edu or titleixcoord@commonwealthu.edu ), to coordinate the University’s compliance with Title IX and VAWA and to respond to reports of violations. The University has directed the Police Department to coordinate the University’s compliance with the VAWA-related Clery reporting requirements. For information on the University’s crime statistics, which is available in a publication called “Annual Security Report”, please contact Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg Police at 570-389-2211, Commonwealth University – Mansfield Police at 570-662-4900, or Commonwealth University – Lock Haven Police at 570-484-2278 or by accessing the following website: https://www.commonwealthu.edu/offices-directory/university-police/annual-security-report . Additionally, inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing regulation can be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region III, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East – Suite 505, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: (215) 656-6010; Fax: (215) 656-6020.
    About Commonwealth University of PA
    The Power of Three Bloomsburg , Lock Haven and Mansfield universities have joined forces to boldly transform higher education in our region and beyond. While we are uniting as Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, you can expect a college experience that is anything but common.
    We’re Honoring our History by preserving the founding principles of each campus and continuing our vibrant on-campus student experience, serving as pillars of our communities, supporting students and our neighbors alike.
    We’re Investing in Today by answering the greatest challenges facing higher education: accessibility, cost, quality, and relevance through the combined strength of our storied institutions.
    We’re Building a Powerful Tomorrow by boldly changing the trajectory of public education to position ourselves for growth, increased access, and to meet economic and workforce development needs in our region, across Pennsylvania and beyond.
    Quick Link https://commonwealthu.peopleadmin.com/postings/5187

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