Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, Academic Program Planning

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary:

Oversee academic affairs operations including faculty support, curriculum management and training.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Academic Programs and Policy in the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, Academic Program Planning will work across the FAS and the College to support cross-departmental academic planning and curricular initiatives, including placement exams, first-year gateway and foundational course planning, and initiatives to support departments, such as course innovation funds oversight.

• First-year and gateway course planning. Serves as primary OUE liaison with departments and programs on first-year course planning and existing and new gateway courses to ensure academic rigor, accessibility for students from any background, and that courses are serving their intended purpose.
• Cross-departmental curricular planning. Under OUE senior leadership’s direction, serves as liaison with departments, the College, and the FAS on overall curricular planning and course review to ensure academic pathways for students are clear and meaningful.
• Rising Scholars Program Oversees the Rising Scholars Program, a pre-matriculation academic transition initiative designed to support students from under-resourced educational backgrounds
• Works with departments on an ongoing basis to review existing placement exams and to develop new instruments to ensure that exam content aligns with course content.