Academic Leadership

Aoife Mac Namara

Terms of Reference

The dean leads the students, faculty and staff of the Faculty of Arts. Through university-wide and community engagement, the dean manages priorities that contribute to the vision of the faculty, encourages research, champions the student experience and fosters a culture of excellence. The dean also manages policies and sustains an effective budget. 

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Leads in the communication and implementation of the vision, priorities and strategic planning of the Faculty of Arts.
• Engages faculty members and staff to choose initiatives and manages priorities that align with the vision of the faculty and the university as a whole.
• Fosters and encourages a high level of research productivity within the faculty and across faculties by further enhancing and developing excellent research infrastructure and supporting faculty efforts to obtain and maintain research funding.
• Oversees the implementation of frameworks, policies and initiatives that promote a culture of excellence, innovation and collaboration that impacts all aspects of the Faculty.
• Develops and sustains an effective budget and organizational structure to ensure the faculty is financially sustainable, and that its educational offerings are of the highest quality. 
• Leads and supports the conceptualization and implementation of innovative educational programs in line with the university’s overall planning objectives.
• Communicates the vision to spur fund development and attracts resources from government, philanthropy, and other sources. Stewards these relationships and provides timely reporting and accountability to funders.
• Nurtures a strong connection to community and demonstrates how this faculty and the university are concerned with addressing the challenges facing the people of Calgary, Alberta, and beyond.
• Maintains a connectivity to and visibility with faculty, staff and students. Acts as a role model for students, staff and faculty alike.
• Champions the student experience, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Creates a sense of unity for the faculty and a culture that is inclusive and engaging.
• Chairs the faculty’s Equity & Diversity Committee that leads efforts and coordinates initiatives to advance equity and diversity within the faculty.

Terms of Reference

The vice dean assists the dean of the Faculty of Arts in the areas of process, policies and plans. The vice dean assists with managing human and financial resources that sustain the faculty’s academic programs and oversees the Faculty’s administrative support structure. The vice dean also oversees external reviews of academic programs.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• With the dean, designs, develops, and implements the faculty's academic and strategic plans. Documents, publicizes and archives processes, policies, and plans.
• Assists heads and directors in managing the human and financial resources that sustain the faculty's academic programs.
• With the dean, works on the promotion and tenure process, new faculty and headship searches, the merit system, study and other leaves, collective agreement and policy interpretation, and grievances.
• With the Human Resources Partner, advises heads on academic searches, appointments, reviews, and workload policies.
• With the Finance Partner, allocates annual funding for teaching and learning activities.
• With the Associate Dean - Teaching and Learning, establishes and maintains indicators of faculty teaching performance for merit and promotion.
• Is responsible for the review, revision, and approval of the faculty's teaching plan.
• May serve as the dean's designate for faculty members' concerns and grievances at the decanal level.
• Oversees external reviews of Faculty of Arts academic programs and units in accordance with the University's Quality Assurance Process, including providing guidance to heads and directors for the self-study process.
• Coordinates with the Deputy Provost with regards to review matters and the implementation of report recommendations.

Terms of Reference

The Associate Dean Internationalization and Global Initiatives provides strategic leadership and support for global initiatives and strategic partnerships that increase internationalization activities in the faculty.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Chair the Faculty of Arts Internationalization Committee;
• Serve as the Faculty’s representative on the VP-International’s Council of Associate Deans and Directors International;
• Implement and promote the faculty’s Internationalization Strategy;
• Collaborate with departments and programs and with University of Calgary International (UCI) on establishing strategic global partnerships with universities outside of Canada;
• Negotiate partnership agreements such as articulation, dual, and joint programs as well as summer schools at the undergraduate and graduate levels that bring international students to the Faculty of Arts;
• Help establish and oversee the pathway programs (IFP) for incoming international students; and
• Oversee the management of international student and faculty experiences (such as student exchange or study abroad programs).

Steig Johnson

Terms of Reference

The Associate Dean, Research and Infrastructure oversees the Canada Research Chair program, promotes international research collaborations, identifies needs for research infrastructure and manages external review processes.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Manages and oversees the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program and support systems for large grant applications.
• Coordinates post­ award grant management services.
• Chairs the Faculty's Research and Scholarship Committee and takes the lead in strategies to increase research capacity by supporting and creating research platforms of international prominence.
• Works closely with the vice dean, heads, directors and the Finance Partner to assess and oversee infrastructure needs for research and teaching and develop guidelines for efficient use of space.

Dawn Johnston

Terms of Reference

The Associate Dean (Teaching, Learning and Student Engagement) (ADTLSE) provides strategic leadership in areas related to teaching, learning and student engagement in the Faculty of Arts.

Leadership activities include developing, promoting, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that advance these areas. The ADTLSE builds and maintains relationships between the Faculty of Arts and other faculties and units in the University of Calgary to develop and advance initiatives related to teaching, learning and student engagement.  

The ADTLSE chairs the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Student Engagement Committee and reports directly to the Dean, Faculty of Arts.

The position is housed in the Arts Students’ Centre, where the ADTLSE has an office and administrative support. 

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Oversees all areas of teaching support, including workshops/colloquia, mentorship, instructional technologies/active learning;

• Administers faculty-level interdisciplinary academic programs, including the Arts and Science Honours Academy.

• Oversees faculty-level awards, nominations, and grants to recognize effective teaching and other contributions to the learning and teaching environment .

• Responsible for curriculum renewal and flexibility across departments, programs and units in the Faculty of Arts.

• With Vice Dean, establishes and maintains indicators of faculty teaching performance for merit and promotion.  Works closely with departments to review and evaluate existing indicators, and ensures that they are clear and transparent.

• Assists Associate Dean – Undergraduate Programs and Student Affairs as needed, on matters including advising, discipline and appeals.

• Stays current with pedagogical approaches, technologies, policies and ideas by attending conferences and reviewing literature.

• Initiates and maintains communications (including social media) between the Arts Students’ Centre, Heads, faculty, staff, and students for teaching support and consultations on issues and initiatives.

• Oversees the Faculty of Arts’ contributions to university-level plans and priorities for teaching and learning, including the Eyes High goals; the Academic Plan; and the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

• Works with the Office of the Provost (Vice-Provost Teaching and Learning), the Teaching and Learning Centre and representatives of other faculties on teaching-related initiatives, programs, and committees outside the Faculty of Arts.

• Advises the Dean on resource needs for the development, promotion, and evaluation of teaching-and-learning-related initiatives and programs.

• Oversees the Faculty of Arts’ Co-operative Education Program.

• Leads the Student Engagement team and mobilizes efforts to support and energize student activities, both academic and extracurricular

• Provides leadership and operational liaisons with student organizations, including FASA and the SU Arts reps

• Collects and analyses quantitative and qualitative data on student engagement, through instruments such as NSSE surveys, workshops, focus groups, etc.

• Develops a strategic plan for improving student engagement, including experiential learning

• Works with departments, including Heads, to analyze these data and to develop and implement this plan

• Performs other ad hoc duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Dean

Melissa Boyce

Terms of Reference

The Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and Student Affairs oversees the undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts and provides leadership in the areas of curriculum review, student recruitment and advising, and enrollment management at the faculty and university levels. The Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and Student Affairs is the academic director of the Arts Students' Centre.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Responsible for administration of undergraduate programs in the faculty.
• Responsible for the faculty’s calendar entry, including faculty and program regulations and requirements.
• Chairs the Faculty of Arts Curriculum and Academic Review Committee.
• Represents the Faculty of Arts on GFC’s Calendar and Curriculum Subcommittee.
• Academic Director of the Program Information Centre; supervises and works closely with the Administrative Director of PIC.
• Responsible for all student affairs, including recruitment, admission, enrollment management, academic advising, enforcement of faculty and university regulations, academic and nonacademic misconduct cases, complaints, assessment of transfer credit, academic standing, and approval for graduation.
• Leads the faculty’s Strategic Enrollment Management Team.
• Responsible for contact with and engagement with alumni/ae.