Vice-Dean - Role and Responsibilities

1. Appointment of Vice-Deans

Vice-Deans are appointed by, and are formally accountable to, the Board. The Vice-Dean may be appointed by (a) election; (b) selection by internal or open competition; or (c) combined nomination and election. Further information is set out in the document Procedures for Appointment to Vice-Deanship (website address to follow).

2. Term of Appointment

The term of office for those appointed as a Vice-Dean in 2005 will be a three to five year period, with the possibility of renewal for a total period of no more than eight years.

3. Vice-Dean

The Vice-Dean is responsible for the effective general management of the Vice-Deanery, for promoting strategic thinking and ensuring co-ordination between disciplines, and for the quality of the student experience. The Vice-Dean will be the budget holder for all disciplines within the Vice-Deanery. The Vice-Dean will exercise his/her authority in consultation with an Executive Committee and with the advice of a Committee of staff and student representatives in disciplines in the Vice-Deanery, and with due delegation of responsibilities as appropriate.

Specific responsibilities will include

Strategic and Budgetary Planning

3.1 Preparing a staffing and resource plan for disciplines within the Vice-Deanery, in consultation with the Executive Committee.
3.2 Engaging the staff of the Vice-Deanery and the University's senior officers in devising and agreeing its plan.
3.3 Reviewing the implementation of the staffing and resource plan.
3.4 Having responsibility for all financial matters, including financial planning and sustainability, resource allocation, the identification of new sources of income, the monitoring of expenditure to ensure that it is within appropriate levels, ensuring the linking of resource allocation to strategic and operational planning and compliance with College approved financial policies.
3.5 Managing and monitoring of implementation of the resource allocation process within the Vice-Deanery.
3.6 Preparing an annual report for consideration by the Committee of staff and student representatives in disciplines in the Vice-Deanery and by its Executive Committee.

Teaching, learning and research

3.7 Having overall responsibility for the management of the programmes of teaching and research in the Vice-Deanery and the implementation of the College's academic policy.
3.8 Ensuring the effective delivery of high quality teaching and the maintenance of academic standards.
3.9 Promoting a culture of learning that is directed to student needs, and of teaching that is informed by the research interests of staff in the Vice-Deanery.
3.10 Fostering the development of academic policy and initiatives within the context of the long-term strategies of the College and disciplines within the Vice-Deanery.
3.11 Fostering a vibrant research culture of international standard, including the promotion of research initiatives and networks.
3.12 Fostering interdisciplinarity and supporting innovation in the activities of disciplines within the Vice-Deanery.
3.13 Promoting excellence and improvement in all matters of teaching, learning, research and administration.
3.14 Ensuring the regular review, evaluation and development of programmes offered by the disciplines in the Vice-Deanery.
3.15 Advising the Senior Lecturer and the Dean of Graduate Studies on entry requirements for specific courses, in consultation with the relevant course committee as appropriate.
3.16 Promoting collaboration within the Vice-Deanery, with other Schools and Vice-Deaneries, and with other institutions.
3.17 Liaising appropriately with the Faculty Dean on cross-School/Vice-Deanery and Faculty-wide issues.
3.18 Ensuring the nomination of External Examiners for undergraduate programmes and submission of nominations to Council for approval.

Staffing

3.19 Dealing with staff recruitment matters that fall within the remit of the Vice-Deanery.
3.20 Creating a supportive working environment for all staff in the Vice-Deanery and fostering their career development.
3.21 Ensuring that staff review and development is completed in a timely manner (including PMDS).
3.22 Completing probation reviews with all newly appointed academic staff in line with the College's Guidelines for Academic Probation, in consultation with the relevant

Heads of Discipline

3.23 Confirming the allocation of duties to staff as determined by the relevant Head of Discipline, and the management of staff in accordance with College policies and procedures.
3.24 Approving outside earnings activities of staff members in accordance with College regulations.
3.25 Handling of grievance procedures for staff except where a grievance is against the Vice-Dean, in which case the Faculty Dean is responsible.
3.26 Managing relevant disciplinary procedures for both staff and students.

General

3.27 Representing the Vice-Deanery both internally and externally, including representation on College committees.
3.28 Managing and encouraging an information flow to staff and students.
3.29 Ensuring the effective operation of the Vice-Deanery in accordance with approved governance procedures.
3.30 The general management, subject to College policy, of physical facilities and equipment, including the allocation of rooms and other space.
3.31 Having overall responsibility for ensuring that arrangements in the Vice-Deanery comply with legal requirements and related College policies such as health and safety, data protection and data retention policy, freedom of information.
3.32 Implementing decisions of Board and Council and the supply of information in accordance with Board and/or Council directions.
3.33 Delegating to an Acting Vice-Dean during any period of absence of more than three working days (see below).
3.34 Conducting elections to Headship of Disciplines in the Vice-Deanery, as required.
3.35 Other duties as may be assigned by the Board.

4. Officers within the Vice-Deanery

The Vice-Dean may nominate members of the Vice-Deanery for appointment to the following roles, in consultation with the Executive Committee, and taking account of the range of disciplines represented:

• The Director of Teaching and Learning (Undergraduate)
• The Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate)
• The Director of Research

The term of appointment will normally be for a period of two years (renewable for a further two) and nominations for appointment will be submitted to the University Council for approval.

In some areas, one individual may carry two of the above roles (e.g. Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) and Director of Research).

The Directors will report to the Vice-Dean and will have delegated responsibility in their designated areas. The roles and responsibilities of these positions are documented and can be accessed at the following website addresses

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research

The Directors will be members of the Executive Committee ( ex officio ) and the Directors will make regular reports to meetings of the Committee of staff and student representatives in disciplines in the Vice-Deanery .

Heads of Discipline will be elected by the members of a disciplinary grouping within a Vice-Deanery for a period of three years, renewable for a further three. They will become ex officio members of the Executive Committee.

5. Vice-Deanship and other College Officerships

Faculty Deans and College Officers will not act as Vice-Deans during their term of office.

6. Absence of Vice-Dean

Where a Vice-Dean will be absent from College for more than three consecutive days (but less than 21 days), the Vice-Dean must appoint, in consultation with the Executive Committee and with the agreement of the individual concerned, an Acting Vice-Dean. The appointment of an Acting Vice-Dean should be notified to the Faculty Dean.

The Board may grant leave of absence for periods of twenty-one days or more. As part of this process, the Faculty Dean should request permission of the Personnel and Appointments Committee for leave of absence for a specified period, and nominate a member of the Vice-Deanery as Acting Vice-Dean. Such requests would not normally exceed a period of twelve months.

7. Vice-Deans and Professorial Chairholders

The relationship between Vice-Deans and professorial chairholders will vary from area to area in College. But generally it must be assumed that Vice-Deans are charged with running the affairs of the Vice-Deanery and that chairholders will, in the same way as any other members of the Vice-Deanery, perform the teaching duties, supervise the graduate students, and undertake the administrative tasks assigned to them. In addition, professorial chairholders may be expected to assume a prominent role in the profession suitable to their seniority and special distinction. This will involve them in the active promoting and publishing of research, in contributing significantly to curricular and pedagogical developments, and, where appropriate, in the mentoring of younger staff and helping them with the development of their careers. They will normally be provided with such facilities and support as is necessary to fulfil their special responsibilities.