Position Descriptions for Administrative Faculty Appointments

Dean, Sam Fox School

The Dean of the Sam Fox School serves as the chief academic and executive officer. The Dean oversees the School’s four academic units – the College of Art, the College of Architecture, the Graduate School of Art, and the Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design – as well as the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. The dean is responsible for all aspects of the school and museum, including academic program planning and implementation; budget planning and fiscal management; fundraising and strategic planning; resource development and external relations; all faculty appointments and promotions; staffing and physical plant oversight; and institutional policy. The Dean reports to the Provost. They represent the School on University Council and sits on numerous University-wide committees as needed. The Dean works closely with the National Council and the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum Art Collections Committee.

The directors of Art and Architecture and the director of the Kemper Art Museum report directly to the Sam Fox School Dean, as do many of the school’s senior staff members including the Associate Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Finance, Director of Research and Technology, and the Associate Dean of the Sam Fox School.

The Dean of the Sam Fox School is appointed by the Chancellor and is evaluated every five years in a process led by the Provost.

Directors of Art and Architecture

The directors of Art and Architecture serve as academic leaders and administrative officers for their respective colleges and graduate schools. The directors provide academic leadership and work closely with the academic chairs and the faculty to develop and implement academic degree programs, strategic initiatives, and relevant curricula and to promote a high level of creative activity, faculty research, and service.  The directors work with school administration to create and oversee college-specific operational budgets. They are responsible for enforcing safe studio practices and instilling a positive learning environment. The directors provide a clear and open process for communication and decision-making and conduct regular faculty and staff meetings as needed.

Directors also provide annual written faculty evaluations, make merit recommendations to the dean, and oversee contracts, teaching assignments, faculty workloads, and faculty development. They conduct approved faculty searches for tenure and tenure-track positions in their colleges and are responsible for hiring adjunct and visiting faculty and staffing their units with the approval of the Sam Fox School Dean.  The directors work proactively and closely with school staff on graduate and undergraduate student recruitment and retention, respond to student needs, and promote student leadership and academic integrity. College directors are also responsible for working as effective collaborators across campus to advance the college and school. The directors represent the college at various student, faculty, and alumni functions on and off campus. They also participate in alumni and development activities and work closely on these efforts with the dean and National Council. The college directors have the overarching responsibility for professional accreditation in their college and represent their college at the appropriate professional meetings.

College directors are appointed by the dean for five years terms and evaluated in their fifth year in a process led by the dean. Directors may be renewed for additional terms.

Academic Graduate and Undergraduate Chairs

Chairs are appointed by the directors of Art and Architecture in consultation with the Dean of the Sam Fox School and are responsible for oversight of their discipline and programmatic areas as well as collaborating with their fellow chairs. Chairs work closely with their faculty and area coordinators to develop and implement the curriculum and coordinate smooth operations of their areas and make recommendations to directors for faculty teaching assignments each semester. They also work with the directors on strategic planning, policies, and staffing. Chairs work with staff and faculty colleagues to promote their programs in support of student needs, recruitment, and advising activities. Chairs are responsible for self-assessment and work in support of meeting accreditation standards and requirements, specifically those that ensure students are professionally prepared to work in their respective fields. Chairs manage budgets assigned by the directors for program-specific needs such as supplies; equipment and materials; guest critics and related travel; and exhibitions and other program area activities. Chairs are appointed for renewable three-year terms and evaluated at the beginning of the third year in a process led by the director. Area coordinators report to their respective academic chairs.

Endowed Professors

Endowed professorships are the highest honor we can bestow on the faculty and one of our top priorities as a School is to increase the number of endowed professorships. Endowed professorships provide a long-term commitment and give important recognition to faculty who have achieved a very high level of accomplishment in their field. The endowments are used to provide a salary increase plus a scholarly account to pursue excellence in teaching and undertake creative and research projects that will significantly contribute to innovative creative activity and scholarship.

Area Coordinators (Art)

Area coordinators manage the area budgets as assigned by their chair and coordinate the purchase of consumable supplies and small equipment, physical spaces, and area-specific logistical issues. Appointments will be made by chairs in consultation with the director of art annually.

Faculty Coordinators (Architecture)

Faculty coordinators in architecture help develop themes and oversee consistency across multiple sections of foundational and advanced studios. Appointments will be made annually by the director of architecture in consultation with the appropriate chairs.