3.13 School Administrators: Selection and Responsibilities
The academic college deans are ultimately responsible for the administration of college activities. The academic colleges may also include the following positions within their organizational structure associate dean(s), department chair(s), and/or program coordinators.
In distributing administrative responsibilities, academic colleges may organize into departments or employ other approaches, as agreeable to the college faculty, dean, and provost. Any fiscal commitments involved shall be approved by the institutional Budget Committee.
3.13.1 Academic Deans
College deans are appointed by the Board of Regents, University of Houston System, on recommendations of the Chancellor, the President, and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Deans are responsible to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for the operation of their colleges. College deans serve at the pleasure of the president, upon recommendation of the provost, on year-to-year appointments.
The college dean recommends the appointment, promotion, salary adjustments, terminations of faculty, and other appropriate personnel actions; recommends curricular programs for the college; and is accountable for the administration of general university policy in the college.
Within budgetary limitations as approved by the Board of Regents, the College dean has the authority and is accountable for the expenditure of funds in the operation of the college. The college dean prepares and recommends the college's budget and the detailed schedule of courses to be offered within the college and assigns teaching duties to the college's faculty. The college dean further represents the college's faculty, making committee assignments, and coordinating administrative and academic activities with appropriate agencies.
3.13.1.1 Dean Selection Process
When a dean selection is to be undertaken, the provost will meet with the college's faculty members to define pertinent issues and characteristics sought; and to name a search committee.
The search committee chosen by the provost is to be comprised of at least three faculty members, either tenured, tenure-track, teaching-track, or clinical-track, from the college representing various disciplines; at least one staff member and student from the college; and one academic administrator from outside the college. The search committee will screen applicants and recommend finalists to the provost for on-campus interviews.
The search committee makes recommendations to the provost, who will in turn recommend a candidate to the president. Should differences over the selection arise, the provost will meet with the search committee and, as applicable, with the college's faculty to discuss these and attempt to arrive at agreement.
3.13.1.2 Dean Term of Office and Review
Deans serve an annual appointment at the pleasure of the president. The performance of the dean is reviewed annually by the provost with the participation of the college’s faculty and staff in separate evaluations. Reappointments and replacements are expected to take place in an orderly and timely way.
3.13.2 Associate Dean
Associate deans are appointed by the provost upon recommendation of the dean in consultation with the faculty and serve at the pleasure of the dean. Duties as associate dean normally extend from the beginning of the fall semester through the first summer term or for approximately 10.5 months as designated by the dean. Associate deans remain on a faculty contract. Service as an associate dean carries a 1/1/1 teaching load and an annual stipend.
Should an associate dean cease to hold the position, these arrangements cease at the same time.
The associate dean’s faculty performance is to be evaluated annually by the dean in accordance with the same criteria and process for all faculty in the college.
The associate dean’s administrative performance is also to be evaluated annually by the dean with significant input from the faculty. Faculty evaluation of the associate dean will be performed in the same manner as all other administrator evaluations.
3.13.3 Department Chair
Department chairs are appointed by the provost upon recommendation of the dean, in consultation with the faculty, and serve at the pleasure of the dean. Duties as department chair normally extend from the beginning of the fall semester through the first summer term or for approximately 10.5 months as designated by the dean. Department chairs remain on a faculty contract. Service as a department chair carries a 2/2/2 teaching load and an annual stipend. Should a department chair cease to hold the position, these arrangements cease at the same time.
The chair's faculty performance is to be evaluated annually by the dean in accordance with the same criteria and process for all faculty in the college.
The chair's administrative performance is also to be evaluated annually by the dean, with significant input from the faculty in the department. This input will be provided via an annual, online evaluation. Evaluations will be administered by the Office of the Provost and will consist of items approved both by the Faculty Council and by the Provost. All departmental faculty and adjuncts are eligible to participate in the online evaluation. Results will be provided to the dean, who will then incorporate this input into the annual evaluation of the chair.
3.13.4 Academic Program Coordinators and Directors
Program coordinators and directors are formally appointed by the college dean upon recommendation of the department chair to assist primarily with program development, assessment of learning results, program review, and course scheduling. The appointment is generally for the academic year and counts toward the service requirement.