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University Executive Office

Dean of Students

UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

Appointment of Dean of Students

The University is seeking to appoint to the role of Dean of Students to provide strategic leadership of academic support, progression and success in line with the University’s commitments to inclusive education and experience.

The purpose of this role is to operate at institutional level so that the academic support needs of students are considered in University-wide strategic developments and delivery. The post-holder will work with key stakeholders including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Academic Registrar and Director of Student Experience to support the delivery of our strategy on inclusive education, student success, student engagement and experience.

The Dean of Students is a member of the Education Strategy Team and key education committees representing academic support, progression and student success.

The Dean of Students will have line management responsibility for the academic and professional services staff within the Dean of Students Office, including the Deputy Dean of Students and Faculty Senior Tutors, and will lead the Departmental Senior Tutor Network,

Key to the success of the Dean of Students role is positive engagement and collaboration with academic departments, the Students’ Union and professional service teams including Education Group, Wellbeing and Safeguarding, Social Inclusion and Discipline and Resolution to ensure effective cross-department working and effective outcomes for students.

The Dean of Students is a senior role. Expressions of interest are welcome from academic staff who believe they meet the criteria as set out in the specification. The post has previously involved an 0.8 FTE time allocation. An honorarium is payable to the post-holder.

The post-holder would be expected to serve for an initial period of up to three years.

Expressions of interest, which should include a CV and a covering statement (2 sides A4) setting out the suitability for the role against the specification, should be submitted to Professor Lorenzo Frigerio, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), and must be received no later than midnight on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 11th January 2024.

Individuals may be invited to submit further information in support of their application following consideration by the selection panel.

Summary Role Description

Job Purpose: To provide institutional strategic leadership for academic support, progression and student success ensuring that practice at Warwick is sector leading and supports both academic outcomes and the wellbeing of students.

Reporting to: You will report to the Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) with a dotted line relationship to the Academic Registrar.

You will work closely with colleagues in the Education Strategy Team to integrate the strategic development of academic support with the University’s wider strategy, furthering student success, progression, and success.

Duties and Responsibilities:

To participate as an integral member of the Education Strategy Team to deliver the University’s Education Strategy. To engage in University Committees, working groups and other University activities where representation is required on academic support, progression and success.

  • To lead the Dean of Students’ Office and provide line management for the academic and professional services staff working within it. This includes budgetary responsibility and liaison with the Student Funding team to ensure effective processes around the distribution of the Dean of Students Hardship Fund.
  • To have overall leadership and oversight of the provision of academic support mechanisms for students to enable them to progress with their studies. This includes leadership and regular review of personal tutor provision at the University, ensuring it is a holistic approach that supports both the academic development of students, as well as support for student-facing departmental staff and leadership of developments to facilitate this work e.g. development of policy and guidance around the use of learner analytics, provision of high quality training, guidance and support for Departmental Senior and Personal Tutors.
  • To horizon scan and engage with sector developments to inform and implement improvements to institutional level academic support. Work with the Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Director of Student Experience and other key stakeholders to inform related academic and non-student experience developments, drawing on best practice within the sector and ensuring that provision at Warwick anticipates and remains ahead of changing sectoral and educational practice.
  • To work with key colleagues in the Marketing Comms and Insight team to ensure good student insight relating to academic support, progression and success and clear and effective strategies for engagement with students and staff.
  • To work collaboratively with relevant professional service teams to integrate academic support for students with wellbeing and support services in support of successful student outcomes. For example, maintaining close and effective relationships with Wellbeing and Safeguarding to contribute to the development and implementation the University Wellbeing Strategy.
  • To be the institutional point of escalation for all matters relating to concerns regarding academic progression for individual students. The post-holder will intervene in student cases where there is a serious impact or risk on academic progression, providing advice in line with university regulations and policies and working across relevant services to secure appropriate support.
  • To ensure that generic learning points from casework are disseminated to relevant departments and professional service colleagues to facilitate continuous improvement in the University’s approach to academic support, progression and success maintaining records and data to inform developments, guidance and training.
  • To be responsible for the annual Warwick Awards for Personal Tutoring Excellence, including its judging, award and oversight of spending of monies and dissemination of successful practice initiatives and developments across the institution.
  • To engage with in the development and review of academic policies and regulations to ensure continuing fitness for purpose in the context of academic progression and support considerations. For example working with colleagues in Education, Policy and Quality, and other relevant teams to ensure student-facing policy and guidance are accessible and inclusive.
  • Actively contribute to the University’s Quality Assurance and audit processes, taking lead accountability for elements of assurance that relate to academic student support.
  • To represent the University externally as required and undertake any other duties or projects as may be required from time to time.

Person specification

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.

Essential Criterion 1

Demonstrable record in education with a clear record of evidence-based delivery in relation to student academic support, outcomes and success across all academic levels, with a clear commitment to staff development, co-creation and inclusion (a, c)

Essential Criterion 2

Demonstrable ability to quickly establish credibility within the role, building partnerships and influence with students, colleagues and other stakeholders including with both professional service and academic departments (c, d)

Essential Criterion 3
Experience of delivering projects within or between departments or collaborative activities at an institutional level (c)

Essential Criterion 4
Leadership skills to motivate, support and provide well-judged guidance and support to students and colleagues (c, d)

Essential Criterion 5
Ability to motivate people to secure positive performance from individuals and their teams (c)

Essential Criterion 6
Demonstrable ability to work at all times with tact, confidentiality, diplomacy and respect (c)

Essential Criterion 7
Experience of effective line management (a, c)

Essential Criterion 8

Excellent communication, negotiation and persuasion skills, with the ability to effectively deploy different communication styles to engage and promote understanding (c, d)

Essential Criterion 9

Ability to think creatively, innovate and implement sustainable change with strong analytical and decision making skills demonstrated in various complex scenarios (c, d)

Essential Criterion 10
Experience of involvement in the University's decision-making processes (a, c)

Essential Criterion 11
Good understanding of the national HE environment and in particular the factors supporting the academic student experience and student success (c, d)

Desirable Criterion 1

Experience of successfully leading strategic change that has delivered benefit at Institutional level (a, c, d)

Desirable Criterion 2

Experience of representing institutional viewpoints externally with sector stakeholders (a, c, d)