Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate research, instructional, student administration and services, and other educational activities at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

Sample of reported job titles: Academic Affairs Dean, Academic Affairs Vice President, Academic Dean, Admissions Director, College President, Dean, Dean Of Students, Financial Aid Director, Provost, Registrar

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Tasks

• Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
• Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.
• Represent institutions at community and campus events, in meetings with other institution personnel, and during accreditation processes.
• Participate in faculty and college committee activities.
• Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
• Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
• Confer with other academic staff to explain and formulate admission requirements and course credit policies.

Knowledge

• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Skills

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Interests

• Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles

• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Tools and Technology

Tools used in this occupation:

• Desktop computers - Desktop computers
• High capacity removable media drives - Universal serial bus USB flash drives
• Liquid crystal display projector - Liquid crystal display LCD video projectors
• Notebook computers - Laptop computers
• Personal computers - Personal computers

Technology used in this occupation:

• Data base reporting software - SAP Business Objects Crystal Reports
• Data base user interface and query software - Student and Exchange Visitor Information System SEVIS; Student information systems
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Enterprise resource planning ERP systems; Jenzabar EX; Oracle PeopleSoft; SunGard Higher Education Banner Unified Digital Campus
• Project management software - Microsoft Project; SunGard Higher Education DegreeWorks
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel

Note: This occupational description highlights important information for this occupation (ie, Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities). Additional detail is available from: O*NET OnLine.

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