Old Dominion University
A to Z Index  |  Directories


Office of Academic Affairs


Faculty Handbook


 Search Handbook       

Appointment and Evaluation of Academic Deans

The dean of an academic college is the chief administrator for that college who has the major responsibility for the leadership of the college. Duties of each dean are specified in detail in the position description. Deans are expected to have excellent credentials in teaching, scholarship and research, and service when hired.

  1. Appointment
    1. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for all aspects of the search process and ensures that it is carried out as specified by University policy.
      1. Candidates selected for interviews should have the credentials for tenure and full professor at the initial appointment at Old Dominion University. Appointments with tenure will follow the process described in the policy on Initial Appointment of Teaching and Research Faculty, section II.D.

      2. The curriculum vitae and other relevant documents for each candidate must be made available to the college and University community prior to the interview.

      3. Deans are appointed without any term limit expectation. A regularly scheduled review involving faculty input will be conducted every three years.

      4. Deans serve at the pleasure of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and do not receive tenure in the administrative position.

  2. Evaluation
    1. Deans are evaluated annually during the spring semester for improvement, potential and merit consideration by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The evaluation process is as follows:
      1. The dean prepares and submits a report of college achievements and personal professional growth to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

      2. College chairs submit performance appraisals of the dean of their college to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained.

    2. Criteria for the performance appraisal shall be both generic and specific. Specific criteria refer to the college, and generic criteria are common to all deans.

    3. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will inform the dean of the results of the appraisals and of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs' response to the evaluation materials in writing, including constructive criticism.

    4. The evaluation results and the dean's reply (if any) will be retained in confidence by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs but will be available to the President upon request.

  3. Review Procedures
    1. The third year review process is conducted by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs who notifies the faculty that the dean is being considered for review.

    2. Input from all full-time faculty in the relevant college will be solicited by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through use of a survey form that also provides for written comment. Confidentiality and anonymity will be maintained.

    3. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will consider results of the dean's annual evaluations, progress in attaining goals, and faculty input. Faculty in the college will receive a summary report from the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

  4. Associate and Assistant Academic Deans
    1. These positions are staff appointments by the dean of the college. Associate deans are usually selected from tenured faculty in the college.

    2. Associate and assistant deans do not hold tenure in the administrative position.

    3. The dean shall provide associate and/or assistant deans with a job description that will form the basis for annual evaluations by the dean.

    4. For all appointments, the dean shall be responsible for initiating the search, forming the search committee, providing a written job description, inviting interested internal faculty to apply, and following established University policies and procedures.

    5. All associate and assistant deans are evaluated annually in the spring semester by the dean for continuance and merit. Annual evaluations of teaching, research, and service should include input from the department chair in the department in which the associate/assistant dean holds a faculty appointment unless the associate or assistant dean is a full time administrator. Collaborative goals are set for the subsequent year after the evaluation is completed.
      1. The criteria for evaluation must be specific to the job description.

      2. The associate or assistant dean will submit a report of yearly achievements and progress toward previous year's goals to the dean.

      3. The dean will use the report and other relevant data to provide an evaluation. The evaluation will be provided to the associate or assistant dean through a performance appraisal letter.

    6. A reappointment process shall be conducted by the dean every three years and shall include the results of annual evaluations and a survey to provide for faculty input. The associate or assistant dean, the faculty and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will be notified of the decision to reappoint or to not reappoint.

 - Approved by the president
February 27, 1990
Revised February 27, 2007
Revised December 16, 2014
Reviewed; No Changes Proposed April 20, 2022

          


   Compare with: