1. Academic Affairs Career Paths
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The division of Academic Affairs at most colleges and universities is the center of teaching and learning. Higher education professionals in academic affairs utilize policies and processes to ensure that faculty have the resources needed to teach and that students have what is needed to optimize learning. The selected positions in academic affairs reviewed today have some common core competencies and some that are unique to the individual positions. Walk with us as we take you down paths to careers in academic affairs including Registration, Information Technology, Academic Dean, Assessment, and Institutional Research.

2. Registrar
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3. & Creates Manages Transactions
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The registrar’s office creates and manages transactions. These transactions are primarily student based and include registration for classes, ensuring that course grades are entered into the student information system, creating degree plans and performing degree audits to prepare for graduation, creating course schedules and catalogs of programs of study, scheduling facilities, and managing the student information database. However, a registrar must also accommodate faculty teaching preferences to the extent possible. The processes that create and move student records through the college experience are primarily done here. All of these transactional duties and responsibilities support the overall mission and goals of Academic Affairs by executing the detailed activities that get students from their first semester registration to graduation. The registrar’s duties allow the VP of Academic Affairs to concentrate on the overall academic policies and strategic decisions needed for student success.

4. Core Competencies Registrar
Analyze data
Communication
Student Information Systems
FERPA Compliance
Effective institutional leadership
Core Competencies
Registrar
According to the AACRAO Report of the AACRAO Professional Competencies and Proficiencies Working Group (2015) the position of registrar must have the following competencies and proficiencies:
Analyze and interpret data
Communicate effectively
Work with complex administrative software systems
Knowledge and ability to comply with federal regulations such as FERPA
Manage student records
Provide effective institutional leadership
Each of these competencies relates to one or more job duties and responsibilities on the previous slide. For instance, to ensure that registration occurs without mishap, the registrar must analyze data to make sure accurate and complete student and course information is in administrative software system database, and communicate the process for registration to faculty, appropriate staff, and students. Student records must be managed to account for student GPA and course completions so that a student can graduate.

5. Information Technology
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6. Competencies Multi-task Technical Knowledge Interpersonal Skills
Information Technology
Interpersonal Skills
Technical Knowledge
Project Management
Multi-task
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The Information Technology Director is responsible for all IT infrastructure needs of the college/university.
Technical skills such as networking, server management, virtual desktop infrastructure, and audio/visual equipment management are essential.
The ability to multi-task is required as there is not a day that would be considered “typical”. Time is spent taking care of institutional level issues, such as systems upgrades or interruptions and day –to –day issues, such as password resets or individual assistance.
It is also necessary to have good communication and people skills when interacting with vendors, students, and faculty. The position involves troubleshooting and repairing IT and audio/visual equipment, and assisting the College community with their technology needs.
The IT Director must stay current with changing technology. Since it is such a fast-moving industry, it is important to be proactive about these changes and research ways to upgrade and implement new technology. Committee membership is also a part of higher education.

7. Support Learning Management System Support E-mail Account Services
Academic Affairs
Learning Management System Support
Account Services
Classroom Audio-Visual Systems
Software & Hardware Procurement
Training
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The IT Director plays an important role in supporting Academic Affairs. He is responsible for setting up user IDs, providing learning management system support, and training both instructors and students on how to use the learning platform.
The IT Director also sets up user IDs for account services and manages password re-sets.
The IT Director oversees the design, implementation, and maintenance of all classroom audio-visual systems and provides individualized training to instructors and must be available for troubleshooting any classroom technology issues.
As part of his duties, the IT Director develops the institutional technology plan to determine information technology goals and how to best implement the latest technology so students are prepared to move to the next level, either academically or professionally.
As noted previously, the IT director is responsible for training faculty and students about how to use the available software and technology hardware. For professional development, the IT Director attends the University and Business Tech (UB Tech) conference. The conference has an education component that shares the latest technology available for the classroom and student support.

8. Academic Dean
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What is an academic Dean?
A Dean is a leader of an academic division with departments who is required to implement and follow the college’s strategic plan. The Dean has a unique position in which she must follow directives from upper administration while supporting and leading faculty. A successful dean maintains balance between upper administration and faculty and the best way to be successful is to realize that good relationships are essential for success (Behling, Laura L The Resource Handbook for Academic Deans)

9. Functions of an Academic Dean Problem Resolution/ Personnel Management
Meetings
Strategic Plan and Division’s Mission
Budget
Master Schedule and Curriculum Management
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What does an academic Dean do?
Dean’s deal with a variety of issues- student/parent issues, faculty issues, staff issues and other upper administrative issues.
In order to resolve the administrative issues there are lots of meetings. I interviewed and Academic Dean who said, that a large part of her job was to attend and contribute at meetings.
The Dean must develop and implement the division’s missions & make sure the Division’s mission is in-line with the college’s mission.
The division’s budgets must be monitored to ensure that the departments are utilizing their funds properly. A dean is held accountable for any misuse or over spending. Must coordinate with financial officers and analyze where additional funds are needed or where cuts can be made. Deans are also responsible for reviewing non-tenured, full-time faculty evaluations and promotion packages which may lead to additional budgetary revisions.
Other important things that the Dean is responsible for include monitoring assessment, managing the master schedule, and curriculum management.
In interactions with upper administration the Dean represents her area and her supervisor as she fosters relationships with college leadership and decision makers (Behling, Laura L The Resource Handbook for Academic Deans)
According to the Dean that I interviewed, it is all about personalities and one of the most important part of her job is listening to people. She also said that each day is different from the next but one thing that remains the same is that humor can be an excellent coping mechanism to keep things in perspective.

10. Things to know Academic Dean If you want to be an
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Image has been altered by, Meredith Amos
Career Path:
While there is no absolute clear cut path to becoming a dean, an entry level position in Academic Affairs on track to a Dean position would be faculty. From faculty it would be a Chair or Coordinator and then Assistant Dean and Associate Dean; all of these positions would require at least a Master’s Degree. In order to advance, a Doctorate is usually required but it depends on the school and the particular situation.
Some qualities that are important for an academic dean candidate:
good written and oral communication, listening skills, critical thinking abilities, knowledge of the mission and culture of the college. Candidates must be student centered, skilled in instructional leadership, be able to handle change and have the ability to persuade faculty that change is good. Finding solutions to difficult situations and being able to problem solve are imperative. Other important characteristics to be a good administrator are patience, passion, courage, empathy and compassion.
Advice for New Professionals in Higher Education
Be student centered and prepare to deal with challenges such as financial constraints and the lowering of standards.

11. Assessment
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12. Determines The Effectiveness of Learning
Assessment, by definition of the Marriam-Webster Dictionary, is:
The act of making a judgement about something
An idea or opinion about something
Assessment in Higher Education is a vital part of the institution as the process determines the effectiveness of learning and provides feedback as to the value of the education system.
Take a look at the TIGER comic strip by Bud Blake…Punkinhead tells Tiger that he taught Stripe how to whistle but Tiger doesn’t hear any whistling. Punkinhead explains that he said he taught Stripe to whistle but that doesn’t mean that Stripe learned it. This comic strip is a perfect example of why Assessment in Higher Education is so important and should be the backbone that leads Academic Affairs.
References:
Assessment In Merriam-Webster.com.
Retrieved November 3, 2015, from
Why Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2015 from

13. This Wordle was constructed using the Interview which I conduced with West Virginia Northern Community College’s (WVNCC) Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), Dr. Carry DeAtley. The words which appear the largest were words that were referenced the most throughout the interview process. Words such as: Assessment, programs, data, courses, VPAA, IR department, support, relationship, duties, etc.
According to The Handbook of Institutional Research, “an important role the provost plays in assessment is regularly keeping assessment activities in the minds of faculty and administrators”. The VPAA must interact and depend on numerous positions and offices throughout the Assessment process:
Registrar’s Office
Information Technology Office
Institutional Research Office
Business Office
Faculty
Faculty Committee’s
Dr. DeAtley noted that Assessment and those departments or offices involved differ from Institution to Institution. She mentioned that at WVNCC, the Institutional Research Department plays a vital part however at other institutions, they didn’t even have an IR Department.
Specific skills, knowledge and qualifications for those involved in the Assessment process are just as important as the individual offices:
Previous experience with assessment of programs
Previous experience with assessment of courses
Detail oriented
Good time management
Ability to prioritize work load
Research data
Analyze data
References:
DeAtley, C. (2015, September 29). Assessment [Personal interview].
Feinberg, J. (2014). Retrieved November 3, 2015, from
Howard, R., McLaughlin, G., & Knight, W. (2012). Chapter 9 Supporting the Provost and Academic Vice President. In The Handbook of Institutional Research (pp ).
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

14. Institutional Research
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15. What is Institutional Research (IR)?
IR is “research leading to improved understanding, planning, and operating of institutions of postsecondary education” (Peterson, 1999). 
Institutional researchers provide a “data-informed foundation for good decision making” (AIR, 2015).
IR works across many different campus concerns: student outcomes, faculty issues, financial planning, resource management, admissions and enrollment, and more.
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The IR office at a college may have a different name, e.g. Institutional Effectiveness or Institutional Planning. The function may be centralized in one office or spread out throughout the university. (Howard et al., 2012).
IR offices provide data for internal and external requests. Internal requests deal with supplying data that improves the functioning of an institution. External requests are for surveys (e.g. US News & World Report Rankings) and mandated reporting such as accreditation requirements.
To be successful, an Institutional Researcher has to have “3 tiers of intelligence” (Terenzini 1993):
Technical/analytical intelligence – data management and analysis skills
Issues intelligence – knowing about the institution’s students, faculty, and resources
Contextual intelligence – having knowledge of broader issues in higher education as well as a deep understanding of the specific culture and functioning of the home institution.
References:
Association for Institutional Research. (2015). About AIR. Retrieved from
Howard, R. D, McLaughlin, G. W, & Knight, W. E. (2012). The handbook of institutional research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Peterson, M. W. (1999). The role of institutional research: From improvement to redesign. New Directions for Institutional Research, 1999(104),
Terenzini, P. T. (1993). On the nature of institutional research and the knowledge and skills it requires. Research in Higher Education, 34(1), 1-10.
Image Credits:
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. (2014) Strategic Planning and Institutional Research Website. Retrieved from
Skidmore College. (2015).Office of Institutional Research Website. Retrieved from

16. Skills Personal Qualities Data management Statistics and data analysis
Presenting results effectively
Customer service orientation
Personal Qualities
Managing details while understanding the big picture
Suspending judgment while evaluating complex problems
Understanding limitations of existing data
Source:
Hourigan, C. (2015, October 9). Institutional Research [Personal interview].
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17. Useful Experience Working in a large, complex organization
Working with enterprise application software
Statistics experience
Networking
Source:
Hourigan, C. (2015, October 9). Institutional Research [Personal interview].
Image Credit:
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18. Academic Affairs Career Path Summary
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19. Academic Affairs encompasses many different career paths, all of which support teaching, learning, and research in higher education.
Quick Facts: Postsecondary Education Administrators
2012 Median Pay
$86,490 per year  $41.58 per hour
Entry-Level Education: Master’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: 5 years or more
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2012: 161,800
Job Outlook, : 15% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, : 23,500

20. Professional’s Resources Job Search Websites Professional Associations
Association for Institutional Research (AIR)
American Association of Collegiate Registrars
Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
HigherEdJobs.com
LinkedIn
Airweb.org/Careers
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21. Answ Questions Questions Questions Answers Questions Answerss
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Answerss
Questions