Dean of Health and Wellness Programs

Job Summary:
The Dean of Health and Wellness Programs serves as the divisional academic administrator for the College’s health sciences, wellness, and healthcare career programs. In this role, the dean collaborates with other instructional deans and various college departments to meet the institutional mission and objectives. They develop broad, campus-wide coordination of educational opportunities for students and provide innovative leadership and vision by overseeing all divisional activities, including assessment, development, planning, operations, program review, and continuous improvement. Additionally, the dean actively participates in college activities, professional development opportunities, and grant-writing processes while reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Planning
The dean leads division-wide initiatives and strategic planning efforts by:
• Encouraging student learning, inspiring quality teaching, and cultivating meaningful programs of study.
• Representing the division in college planning processes, including prioritizing and making sound decisions based on data.
• Ensuring continuity of the college’s mission through new course offerings, innovative programs, and learning opportunities.
• Evaluating the health and viability of current programs as related to community needs.

Personnel Management
The dean directs faculty and staff development through:
• Establishing and sustaining productive working relationships with students, faculty, and staff, and mediating grievance processes within the division.
• Coordinating hiring activities for all full-time divisional faculty with Human Resources.
• Collaborating with the program chairs on employee evaluations for all divisional faculty.
• Maintaining fair and equitable workloads for faculty.

Budget and Resource Management
The dean manages financial and physical resources by:
• Overseeing the development and administration of divisional budget through fair allocation of resources.
• Making sound recommendations for equipment and personnel through supporting, approving, and monitoring expenditures.
• Delivering mid-year updates and adjustments as needed.
• Coordinating administrative duties, including inventory, maintenance, and procurement for instructional equipment.

Academic Oversight
The dean ensures academic quality and compliance through:
• Reviewing instructional syllabi, selection of supplemental materials/textbooks, and appropriate classroom environments through implementing the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), Quality Matters (QM), and various teaching and learning frameworks designed to enhance student success.
• Verifying faculty administrative duties are completed promptly and accurately.
• Overseeing student and program learning outcomes and assessments.
• Collaborating with other division leaders to offer comprehensive credit and non-credit programs.

Instruction and Student Support
The dean supports teaching and learning by:
• Teaching up to six semester contact hours annually and/or leading special projects as recommended by the Vice President.
• Planning and delivering accessible, high-quality instruction that enhances learning and promotes student success.
• Employing a proactive advising model aligned with the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) core values.
• Supporting students’ understanding of the importance of transferable skills for achieving success in college, life, and the workplace.

Institutional Effectiveness
The dean contributes to college-wide improvement efforts through:
• Engaging in institutional effectiveness processes and college- and state-wide initiatives (e.g., program review, grants, Strategic Plan, NC Guided Pathways, SACSCOC accreditation, programmatic accreditation).
• Demonstrating proficiency in student learning outcomes assessment, including aligning
experiences with outcomes, and analyzing data to enhance learning.
• Pursuing professional development activities each academic year, including required training, and staying current in professional literature.
• Championing the College’s initiatives for student retention, progression, and completion.

External Relations
The dean builds partnerships and community connections by:
• Collaborating with higher education institutions to establish articulation agreements.
• Participating in advisory, standing, and ad hoc committees; developing recommendations related to educational pathways, courses, policies, and procedures.
• Engaging in recruitment efforts by reviewing and recommending improvements for program publications, the College website, social media, and marketing materials.
• Seeking grant opportunities to aid in program funding as appropriate.

Specialized Functions
The dean of health and wellness programs has the following responsibilities:
• Maintaining familiarity with specific programmatic accreditation agencies (e.g., ACEN, CAAHEP, CODA, NC Board of Cosmetic Arts Examiners).
• Fostering and maintaining partnerships with health and wellness professionals to create experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Ensuring compliance with programmatic accreditation agencies (e.g., ACEN, CODA, CAAHEP, NC Board of Cosmetic Arts Examiners), and other state and federal requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The dean must possess the following competencies, aligned with the College’s Transferable Skills Framework, to fulfill the role and responsibilities effectively:
• Analytical Skills: Examining information systematically, performing complex problems, and using evidence-based reasoning to evaluate programs, making data-informed decisions, assessing institutional effectiveness, and analyzing student learning outcomes.
• Adaptability Skills: Adjusting effectively to changing circumstances, managing multiple priorities and interruptions, and demonstrating resilience and flexibility in response to evolving educational needs, technologies, and institutional priorities.
• Communication Skills: Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from diverse backgrounds; listening actively; providing constructive feedback; and maintaining confidentiality.

• Digital and Information Skills: Demonstrating proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant educational and emerging technologies; effectively locating, evaluating, and using information ethically to support decision-making and strategic planning.
• Dependability Skills: Being consistently reliable and trustworthy in meeting commitments and deadlines; fulfilling responsibilities promptly and accurately; and practicing high ethical standards with sensitive data.
• Initiative Skills: Taking proactive action to pursue professional development; demonstrating self-motivation and intellectual curiosity; staying current in professional literature; and showing willingness to learn and implement innovative practices in teaching, learning, and academic leadership.
• Teamwork & Leadership Skills: Fostering a collaborative and team-based work environment; cultivating and nurturing productive relationships with colleagues, students, and community stakeholders; and leading effectively to achieve institutional goals.

Additional competencies include:
• Exhibiting skills in planning, organizing, and implementing new initiatives while managing time, resources, and deadlines.
• Applying knowledge and practical ability in student, career, and workforce development.
• Displaying comprehensive knowledge of the entire student experience, including coaching, mentoring, advising, and academic progression.
• Showing commitment to excellence within the learning environment and workplace.

Education and Experience Requirements
• Master’s degree in health sciences, wellness, or a related field from an institutionally accredited institution.
• A professional license or certification current with all requirements and unencumbered by disciplinary action in a health science and/or wellness field (e.g., RN, RT, RTT, PT/PTA, OT/OTA, CDA, ST, Paramedic, NCBMBT) appropriate to divisional programs.
• At least five (5) years of post-licensure experience with at least three (3) years of clinical experience.
• At least five (5) years of combined teaching and/or administrative experience at the postsecondary level, including a minimum of three (3) years of teaching and two (2) years of administrative experience.
• At least one (1) year of project management experience with stakeholder collaboration.

Preferred Education and Experience
• Experience in community college administration and instruction.
• At least two (2) years of experience teaching distance learning using learning management systems and digital engagement tools.
• At least one (1) year of experience with student engagement software.
• Completion of professional or course development certification(s) from the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), Quality Matters (QM), or Association of College and University Educators (ACUE).

Equity in Learning and Employment:
Equity and belonging are crucial to who we are. The College celebrates diversity and inclusion, embracing a broad definition of diversity that includes people of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual/affectional orientation, age, socio-economic status, ability or attributes (visible and invisible), neurodiversity, religious or ethical values system, national origin, political beliefs, veterans, and first-generation college students.

Physical Requirements
The dean must manage the following physical requirements of the job:
• Environment
Working in an office or learning environment, typically indoors, with moderate noise levels. Working closely with others and occasionally working online or on irregular hours.
Maintaining equipment and supplies, ensuring cleanliness, functionality, and compliance with OSHA regulations.
• Physical Effort
Maintaining physical condition appropriate to assigned duties, including standing, walking, or sitting for extended periods, moderate lifting and carrying (up to fifteen pounds), general manual dexterity, operating equipment, and extended computer screen exposure.
• Mental Requirements
Making sound decisions using good judgment, demonstrating intellectual capabilities, working with numbers, maintaining confidentiality, and evaluating programs, courses, services, and personal effectiveness.

Schedule and Travel
To complete job responsibilities and tasks, the dean must adhere to the following:
• Schedule
Present on campus and/or at medical, business, and industry locations daily for teaching, learning, or administrative responsibilities.
• Travel
Local travel between campuses and community locations will be required. Limited out-of-state travel for professional development, training, conferences, and workshops.

Related Responsibilities
The following are the other responsibilities of the dean’s role:
• Attending the College graduation ceremony and supporting other student and institutional activities.
• Assisting with inventory management of programmatic equipment and assuming responsibility for designated facilities.
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Evidence of U.S. work authorization is required. It is the respective employee’s responsibility to obtain initial and continued authorization to work in the U.S., and Mitchell Community College will not provide sponsorship for employees to work in the U.S.

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