Job Title

College of Education, Associate Dean for Curriculum, Assessment, and Academic Policy

Department

Dean, College of Education

University Expectation

MTSU seeks candidates committed to innovative teaching, robust research/creative activity, and meaningful service. We also seek to attract culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with diverse students.

Salary

The salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Job Summary/Basic Function

The College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University invites applicants for a full-time associate dean (position #414080). The successful candidate must qualify for the rank of associate professor or professor. The start date for the position is as early as January 1, 2026.

The Associate Dean for Curriculum, Assessment, and Academic Policy provides leadership for the quality and effectiveness of academic programs within the College of Education. Responsibilities include overseeing curriculum development and review; directing assessment and accreditation processes to ensure compliance with university, state, and professional standards; and administering student academic policies related to progression, appeals, and completion. The associate dean works with the dean as well as academic and administrative leaders across the college and university to support student success, advance strategic priorities, and ensure academic quality. This role is central to promoting academic quality, accountability, and alignment with the college’s mission and strategic priorities.

Required Education

A terminal degree (PhD or EdD) in education or a closely related field such as educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, higher education administration, counseling, and learning sciences from an accredited university is required by the appointment date.

Required Related Experience

Five (5) years of full-time higher education experience that includes teaching, curriculum development, assessment, or accreditation and three (3) years of progressive academic leadership experience (e.g., department chair, program coordinator, director, or equivalent) is required by the appointment date.

Other Desirables

Applicants with the following will receive special consideration:

• Direct experience with regional and/or specialized accreditation processes (e.g., SACSCOC, CAEP, CACREP, ALA);
• Demonstrated success in using program assessment data for continuous improvement and strategic decision-making;
• Experience contributing to or overseeing student academic policy processes (e.g., progression, appeals, or degree completion);
• Strong knowledge of curriculum development and approval processes at the university-level;
• Familiarity with state licensure requirements for education-related programs;
• Evidence of strategic thinking and implementation related to academic quality and student success;
• Record of collaborative leadership across academic and administrative units.

Documents Needed to Apply

To successfully apply, applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, and a research or creative activities statement (as appropriate to the discipline). In addition, applicants must provide a statement of leadership or administrative philosophy (other document 1). Applicants who fail to provide all required documents at the time of submittal are not eligible for consideration.

Special Instruction to Applicants 

For more information about serving as a faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University, please visit our faculty recruitment webpage at https://mtsu.edu/facultyrecruitment/.

If you need help applying, please contact Mitzi Dunkley, Faculty Recruitment Specialist, at (615) 898-5128. If you have position-specific questions, please contact Donald Snead at Donald.Snead@mtsu.edu.

Application Review Date: 10/03/2025