Do you have a passion for helping students in higher ed organizations?

As an academic dean, you're a leader who makes important decisions in regard to student success within higher education organizations. Learning more about the career can help you determine if it's the right path for you.

What does an academic dean do?

Academic deans (ADs) are often responsible for:

  • Understanding learning needs by doing, observing, and researching to help with the needs of students.

  • Pitching the right learning solutions, making changes for the best way to meet learning needs.

  • Managing stakeholders. ADs will often coordinate with different departments when creating different policies to help students.

A group of students talking, while a higher ed professional observers the discussion. Photo by Antenna on Unsplash

How do I become an academic dean?

There's a relatively set path for becoming an academic dean:

  1. Earn a bachelor's degree and master's degree in education-related studies (ie. higher education, educational leadership).

  2. Get involved with your school community.

  3. Create your resume (focus on any experience in leadership skills).

  4. Gain experience working in administrative positions under an academic dean as an academic advisor or professor (working for an academic dean will help you understand the job).

  5. Apply for opportunities at colleges.

Quiz

What are some ways you can gain experience during college that would help you become an academic dean? Select all that apply:

What's the salary?

A US flag. Photo by Jon Sailer on Unsplash

The average salary for an academic dean in the US is $169,665 per year based on full-time employment. Some academic deans can be part-time as well.

A Canadian flag. Photo by Praveen Kumar Nandagiri on Unsplash

In Canada, the average salary for an academic dean is $124,042 CAD. Canadian Academic deans are also full-time for the most part.

What are the pros & cons?

Two men debate pros and cons.

Understanding the pros and cons of a job will help you make sure this job is the right fit for you. When looking at these pros and cons, reflect on what you are looking for regarding a position and how it would fit within your lifestyle and personality.

Pros

  • Rewarding to help students, staff and the school

  • Recognition as an expert in higher education

  • Being able to make changes that will better the school

Cons

  • Constant change with school policies (often set by governments) that need to be followed

  • Job responsibilities can change to meet the needs of the students or staff

  • Pressure to lead different staff departments and guide students

  • No set schedule

Take Action

A group of graduates in a field throwing their hats into the air. Photo by Pang Yuhao on Unsplash

Does it sound like being an academic dean could be a good path for you?

If it does...

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