School of Law

Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs (080026)

Position:
The University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law invites applications for the position of Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is hired.

The University of Missouri-Columbia is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri system and is one of only 34 public universities in the country belonging to the Association of American Universities, a group of elite research universities. The School of Law was established in 1872, making it one of the oldest law schools in the country. The School enrolls approximately 150 students in the first year class each fall, and its faculty come from the finest law firms, government agencies and law schools across the country. Located in central Missouri, midway between St. Louis and Kansas City and one half-hour from the state's capital, Jefferson City, Columbia is routinely rated as one of the best U.S. cities in which to reside. Additional information about the School of Law is available at http://www.law.missouri.edu.

Basic Functions and Responsibilities:
The assistant dean will spend approximately 75% of the dean’s time in supervising and operating the Law School’s Admissions Office, planning and participating in all phases of J.D. student admissions (including travel both within Missouri and across the country). In this capacity the dean will be primarily responsible for the Law School’s efforts to identify, recruit, and matriculate an outstanding and diverse class of J.D. students and for the processing of student scholarship and loan assistance.

The other 25% of the assistant dean’s time will be spent in leading the Law School’s student affairs efforts and in building a welcoming, nurturing, and inclusive Law School community. Specific duties in this area include responsibility for planning student orientation, family day, commencement activities, counseling individual students, and working with student organizations not assigned to other faculty or staff. With others within the Law School, the Assistant Dean may also share responsibility for the online student handbook, the annual student awards banquet, oversight of the process by which students register and apply for admission to the bar, and such other duties as may be appropriate to this position.

With respect to both sets of duties, the assistant dean will be responsible for participating on appropriate Law School and University committees, preparing appropriate reports and publications, working with the dean and other senior Law School administrators, and for other related duties as assigned by the dean.

Columbia has a population of 86,000, and Money magazine has ranked it as one of the most livable cities in the United States. Columbia is particularly noted for its excellent educational opportunities, medical care, and quality of life. It is within a two-hour drive of St. Louis, Kansas City, and the Lake of the Ozarks resort area.

Supervision Received:
Administrative supervision is received from the dean or his or her designee.

Supervision Exercised:
The dean supervises both an administrative assistant and admissions representative within the Office of Admissions.

Qualifications:

• An advanced degree–preferably a Juris Doctorate from an ABA-approved law school–is strongly desired.
• The dean must have at least two years experience in higher education administration, preferably with supervisory duties, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential.
• The person who holds this position must have strong inter-personal and problem-solving skills, be able to work well with various constituencies, and have the ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• The assistant dean must be committed to diversity in all its forms and be sensitive to applicants and other individuals from various cultural, ethnic, geographic, and experiential backgrounds.
• Additional experience in student recruitment, student programming, computer programs and databases, and marketing would be helpful but is not required.
• This is a full-time, twelve-month position.

Applications:
Send your resume and letter expressing interest in the position to

James R. Devine
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law
203 Hulston Hall
Columbia, MO 65211

The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/ADA institution and is particularly interested in applications from women and minorities. To request ADA accommodations, please contact Associate Dean Devine at 573-882-7453.

Date Posted:
January 25, 2008