Deans step down
Four new deans are on their way to Utah State University. The Colleges of Science, Engineering, Business and Family Life will all be receiving new deans by July, said Stan L. Albrecht, provost and executive vice president.
The search is just getting started, but is moving aggressively, Albrecht said.
After sifting through 17 proposals by firms that search out potential candidates from chancellors and presidents to librarians, USU opted to employ Baker Parker, a search firm specializing in academics.
“They are very well qualified,” Albrecht said. “They understand Utah State and our needs.”
Baker Parker helped USU find Elizabeth Grobsmith, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She has been at USU since the beginning of fall semester. Grobsmith was dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colo., Albrecht said.
Since four deans are being replaced for fall semester 2002, a major change will result in terms of academic leadership, Albrecht said. Finding those deans is a daunting task for a few reasons.
First, good people need to be in place to maintain leadership. Second, lots of schools are doing dean searches. There is an element of competition to get the best faculty possible. Third, salaries need to be arranged for new faculty, Albrecht said.
A consulting firm like Baker Parker is useful because its associates can talk with prospective candidates for the position and answer questions they may have about a new location and its environment.
“It’s not inexpensive,” Albrecht said.
The service costs one-third of the annual salary of the position sought after.
“Is it worth it? Yes,” he said. “People will apply who otherwise wouldn’t.”
James MacMahon, University Advancement vice president, served as dean for the College of Science.
“As a dean, you are responsible for everything that goes on in the college,” MacMahon said.
Deans oversee all academics and research in a college. Students go to deans when they need help resolving problems and faculty and staff need to be rewarded for their work, MacMahon said. While MacMahon was dean, he procured funds for the Science Learning Center which was funded entirely by private donors.
Albrecht said, the role of deans has changed over the years. Besides teaching and research, the dean’s role has become more development oriented. Deans spend approximately 40 percent of their time fund raising and bringing private donors to the various colleges to enhance students’ experiences.
“We couldn’t survive if deans weren’t fund-raising,” Albrecht said.