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From the Desk of the Associate Dean, 2/28/10

By Paul McGreal

Today marks six months and 28 days for me as Associate Dean. In terms of actual work, I think that coverts to about six years in faculty time. As I mentioned in my introductory post, I've come to really like the job. Before explaining what precisely I like, and don't like, about the position, I thought I would say a few words about what I actually do.

If there is anything I have learned from speaking with fellow Associate Deans, it is that our position can be a grab bag of functions and responsibilities, and the precise duties can vary from school to school. For example, my full title is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and I am the only Associate Dean at SIU Law School. Some law schools have more than one Associate Dean, such as Associate Dean for Administration or Finance. And some law schools have added a position known as Associate Dean for Faculty Research/Development, but that position is different in kind from the traditional Associate Dean position. As I said in that first post, Associate Deans are the "somebodies" of the law school.

When I sat down to compose this post, I looked for a list of what I do in addition to the work expected of a faculty member. After all, the Law School has me on a 12 month contract (as opposed to the standard 9 month academic contract), and I have a half teaching load (one course each semester) and a reduced scholarship expectation. The Law School must expect something in return -- right? (The nerve -- I know!)

Well, as a start, here is the job description that my Law School posted for the position:

This position, reporting directly to the Dean, is responsible for those administrative activities which must be undertaken in support of the juris doctor degree program. These include leadership in curriculum planning, the assignment of teaching responsibilities, scheduling of classes, student academic advisement, and supervision of the registration and academic records area. The incumbent will work closely with the Dean, faculty, and standing committees within the School of Law.

Wow! That doesn't seem so bad, does it? In retrospect, however, I came to learn that the following incredibly ambiguous phrase was in fact a hidden trap: "responsible for those administrative activities which must be undertaken in support of the juris doctor degree program." Apparently, our "juris doctor degree program" has a few bazillion "administrative duties which must be undertaken" in its "support." I should have read the job description as if it were a standard form residential lease!

Also, note how the position description says that the Associate Dean will "work closely" with standing committees. That's code for, "you are hereby anointed ex officio on the Law School's heavy lifting committees ? i.e., the committees that are so busy that normal faculty only serve on one at a time." For example, this year I chair the Personnel Committee and a Special Committee to examine the Law School's readmission rules, I am ex officio on the Curriculum, Rules, and Long Range Planning Committees, and I am a member of the Academic Standing Committee, which reviews the students for re-admission. And in my experience, ex officio is Latin for, "you shall attend all the meetings and do all the same work, but you shall not vote." Maybe the Associate Dean could serve in absentia instead? Just a thought.

(In all seriousness, it is helpful to have the Associate Dean as ex officio because that is the person who ultimately interprets, applies, and implements many of the decisions and rules that the committees make.)

Another place to look for what the Associate Dean does would be the Law School Rules. A phrase I have grown to dread when reading the Rules is that a decision is "committed to the discretion of the Associate Dean." It's truly a mixed blessing. On the one hand, it's nice that the faculty trusts their Associate Dean colleague to exercise discretion. And sometimes discretion promotes fairness better than a bright line rule. On the other hand, discretion can be a messy thing, especially if one wants to maintain consistency over time and across several Associate Deanships. As I will mention in a later post, this part of the job pushes a person to hone (or develop, as the case may be) their decision making style.

So, the posted job description and Law School Rules are of little help. This is not surprising because, as a former Associate Dean told me, 90% of the stuff you deal with walks in the door that day ? that is, it wasn't previously on your calendar or "to do" list. And each new issue that walks in your door can spawn several items that require inquiry or follow up. It makes it hard to plan your day when every time you strike something off of your "to do" list four more pesky items find their way on. That is why I end up making the face pictured at the left at least once a day.

Then it finally occurred to me where to look for all the things I do: since so much of my work involves communication by e-mail, I could browse my e-mail folders to see what I've been doing. Shortly after taking the position, I created a single e-mail folder titled "Associate Dean." That lasted for about three days, as the deluge of e-mail messages made me realize that I needed sub-folders. And it is these sub-folders that chronicle my work. In my next post, I'll take a virtual walk through my e-mail folders and thus the life of this Associate Dean.

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on February 28, 2010 (boomark / email).