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Serving as a voice for diverse populations in Saint Cloud Hudda Ibrahim D’25, who earned her Ed.D. in Leadership at... Read More
The role of an academic dean is to oversee the activities of students, as well as the curriculum, and faculty of an academic institution, like a college or high school. A successful academic dean has a background in leadership and education. Learn how enrolling in the Doctor of Education: Leadership program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota can help you become an academic dean.
How to Become a College Dean
Most academic deans come from a teaching background. To advance their careers in academia, many will pursue a Doctor of Education in Leadership (Ed.D.). The program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is designed to be completed remotely or on campus in just four years. Our educational leadership degree can prepare students to pursue leadership opportunities in educational settings. Those enrolled in the program are on track to learn how to:
- Create and nurture learning organizations
- Demonstrate leadership competencies
- Engage in complex critical thinking
- Engage others with justice, empathy, compassion, and cultural competence
- Lead appropriate organizational change
- Operate in a complex, global environment
Through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Ed.D. program, students work toward becoming innovative educational leaders. The program focuses on developing research skills and contributing to the insights of peers.
Course Overview
Courses available in the Doctor of Education in Leadership program include:
- Leadership Theory
- Organization Development
- Communication and Power in Learning Settings
- Systematic Instructional Design
- Legal Issues in Education
- Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Higher Education
Program Outcomes
At the end of the program, graduates should walk away with these eight key skills:
- Communicating effectively
- Engaging in complex critical thinking
- Engaging others with justice, empathy, compassion, and cultural competence
- Becoming capable contributors to our knowledge
- Creating and nurturing learning organizations
- Leading appropriate organizational change
- Operating in a complex, global environment
- Demonstrating leadership competencies
Graduates of the program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota have gone on to be university presidents and vice presidents, superintendents, and more.
Program Requirements
Within the field of mental health, behavioral health counselors are responsible for the following duties and tasks:
- Evaluate and document the mental and physical health of clients
- Develop treatment plans and goals withclients
- Help clients identify behaviors and addictions they wish to improve upon
- Teach clients and others about substance abuse, stress, and other mental health issues
- Provide community resources and referrals for clients
- Engage with in-patient discharge planning and assist with life transitions
- Facilitate group counseling sessions around particular problems or within institutions
- Specialize in specific client populations, such as veterans, teenagers, or people with disabilities
Behavioral health counselors also may work with medical professionals and other medical team members, collaborating on treatments and goals. This provides more personalized treatment, helping individuals experience better mental, emotional, and physical health for a higher quality of life.
The Role of an Academic Dean
An academic dean has many responsibilities, most of which involve creating strategies and educational opportunities for students. Other responsibilities of an academic dean can include:
- Analyzing student assessment data
- Creating academic budgets
- Gauging student academic progress and performance
- Managing faculty activities
- Outlining academic policies and procedures, including rolling out new programs
- Overseeing student retention
- Regulatory compliance
- Resolving student issues that may arise
- Training teachers on improving instructional strategies
- Working on the school’s curriculum
An academic dean can have a hand in many operations of an educational institution. Because of that, they are often compensated well, with the average academic dean’s salary topping $125,000 a year.
Similar Roles to an Academic Dean
An academic dean is often tasked with inspiring other leaders. As such, an academic dean can have similar responsibilities to these other job titles:
- Department chair
- Director of admissions
- Education director
- Principal
- School president
Choosing the Ed.D. program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota can help transform students into the leaders of tomorrow. The program prepares students for leadership opportunities in all industries.
Learn More About Earning a Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Degree
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private, nonprofit Lasallian Catholic university that awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. Our programs are exciting and interactive and will allow you to be an asset in the education field. Students can complete the program coursework remotely online, which includes synchronous group sessions and other asynchronous assignments. Other students may choose in-person courses at the Minneapolis or Rochester campus, which include seven in-class sessions meeting once a week, plus one online session.
If you are ready to take the next step and further your education with a leadership degree, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is ready to help you apply for admission. Our admission office can also answer any questions you may have. We also encourage you to attend one of our virtual information sessions to learn more about all the doctorate programs we offer. For more information, contact us today.
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