School of Pharmacy

About VCU:

Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country, and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as “Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity.

VCU's character, however, extends far beyond just our rankings. One of the most diverse campuses in the country, the unique backgrounds of our faculty, staff and students create a vibrant, supportive atmosphere both in and out of the classroom.

At VCU, we pride ourselves on having knowledgeable, approachable faculty, who put students first. Much like our students, our faculty think beyond disciplinary boundaries, and work together to explore ideas, create questions and seek solutions.

Finally, the lively and welcoming city of Richmond provides the ideal backdrop for VCU's academic work. Rich in culture and history, the city becomes a living laboratory, where our faculty, staff and students can tackle problems directly affecting our local communities and see the impact of their work first-hand.

About the School of Pharmacy:

The School of Pharmacy has a 126-year tradition beginning with the Medical College of Virginia and continuing to the present. Ranked in the top 20 of Schools of Pharmacy nationwide, the school is dedicated to graduating outstanding future pharmacists and scientists who will improve human health, foster exemplary research, and provide sustaining contributions to inter professional patient care. The University recognized the School of Pharmacy as the highest-ranking academic unit for Excellence in Inclusive Excellence.

About the Office of Academic & Faculty Affairs:

The Associate Dean serves as the chief academic officer for the school with responsibility for oversight of curriculum and assessment of learning for professional, graduate, and undergraduate degree programs as well as facilitating faculty development and engagement across departmental units. This position is vital to the school’s mission providing leadership in academic planning, developing scholarly efforts related to pharmacy education, and providing leadership for faculty development in teaching.

Chief Purpose of this position:

We invite candidates to apply for School of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Academic & Faculty Affairs. The Associate Dean works within the Office of the Dean serving as the chief academic officer. The Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs is responsible for: (1) faculty administration, (2) academic planning and assessment, (3) faculty development and engagement, (4) experiential oversight, and (5) continuing education. The Associate Dean will work with the VCU Health and other VCU schools to develop partnerships and facilitate interdisciplinary/interprofessional practice and education.

Position Responsibilities:

Faculty Administration
Assess faculty-related staffing needs to identify opportunities for full-time, adjunct, and other part-time hires Assist and/or guide departments with searches for open faculty positions Recruit and manage adjunct instructors Facilitate faculty evaluation processes Conduct performance evaluations for adjunct instructors

Academic Planning and Assessment
Create strategic course schedules and sequences to meet the needs of each cohort in compliance with accreditation and University standards Collaborate with faculty on the development and rotation of open electives In partnership with the Office of the Senior Vice President, develop relationships with pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences organizations and leading professionals to enhance the traditional curricular offerings or support experiential learning Identify, develop, and supervise interprofessional program opportunities, such as certificates and dual degree programs, as accreditation standards allow Manage, in collaboration with a Curriculum Committee and Outcomes and Assessment Committee, the collection and review of faculty course materials to assess learning outcomes and ensure compliance with ACPE, University, and School policies Serve as a member of the School’s Executive Committee Work with other VCU Health System departments and schools to facilitate interprofessional practice and education

Faculty Development and Engagement

Develop and administer the onboarding program for new full-time faculty Act as the custodian of the bylaws for the School, which details specific policies related to student contact hours, grading, evaluation processes, research expectations, and service requirements Create and oversee a faculty workshop series to build a community that supports innovation in teaching and research In collaboration with Department Chairs support equitable faculty service loads to encourage teaching and research productivity
Supervisory Role

Oversight of Director of Continuing Education and the Office of Continuing Education Oversight of Director of Educational Innovation and Assessment Oversight of Director of Experiential Education and the Office of Experiential Education
Other Assigned Duties

The Associate Dean works collaboratively with the Dean and other Associate Deans, department chairs, student leaders, School of Pharmacy faculty and other members of the University community. The Associate Dean assumes all other administrative duties as assigned by the Dean, which may relate to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Associate Dean represents the School on various university committees. Travel within Virginia and to national and regional meetings will be required.
Required Qualifications:

The position of Associate Dean requires a Pharm.D., Ph.D., or other advanced degree in a related field with extensive academic administrative/practice experience. The position requires demonstrated experience working in an academic environment and experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Experience in the following domains will be critically evaluated:

1) Curriculum development in higher education

2) Academic program development and leadership

3) Mentorship and advisement of students

4) Teaching graduate/professional-level coursework and demonstrated teaching effectiveness

5) Building partnerships at all levels of a university, including faculty, staff and administration

6) Developing and executing a self-study, preferably in a higher education setting

Preferred Qualifications:

A pharmacist license is preferred.

Application Process:

The search committee will review applications until the position is filled, but priority will be given to complete applications received by July 1st, 2024.

Application materials submitted must include the following documents :

1) A letter of interest
2) A curriculum vitae
3) Synopsis of teaching philosophy; teaching contributions so far and projections in the future
4) Statement on diversity, equity and inclusion
5) Summary of research interests and plans
6) Names and contact information for three professional references

Further questions can be directed to the search committee chair, Michael Hindle, PhD, at Review of applications will begin 30 days from posting date and continue until the position is filled. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Applicants should go to www.vcujobs.com and locate the above Requisition number. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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