Are you a passionate, student-centered leader who believes that an exceptional medical education extends beyond the classroom? Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) is seeking a collaborative and forward-thinking Associate Dean for Student Affairs to help shape a supportive, inclusive, and engaging student experience. This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact on the next generation of physicians and healthcare professionals by championing student success, fostering personal and professional growth, and ensuring students have the resources and support they need to thrive.
The Associate Dean for Student Affairs provides strategic leadership and oversight for the non-curricular programs, services, and policies that support medical and graduate student success throughout the full student experience, from admission and orientation through graduation and transition to residency. Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and serving as a member of the medical school's senior leadership team, the Associate Dean promotes academic achievement, personal well-being, professional development, and a supportive learning environment.
The Associate Dean leads the Student Affairs team and oversees recruitment and admissions, financial aid and scholarships, student records and registration, academic advising and learning support, career development and advising, student life and well-being, and disability and accessibility services. Responsibilities include reporting and compliance; coordinating access to behavioral health services; supporting financial literacy, tutoring, and academic success programs; and overseeing student organizations, recognition and awards, and major events, including Orientation, the White Coat Ceremony, Match Day, Awards Ceremony, and Graduation.
For medical students, the Associate Dean oversees a coordinated system of academic advising, career exploration, and mentoring. The role supports students through the residency application and Match processes and provides oversight and guidance for the Medical Student Council, student interest groups, and honor societies, including the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.
Working closely with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, senior leaders, assistant deans, department chairs, program leaders, and course and clerkship directors, the Associate Dean develops and implements policies and programs that support student progress and professional development. The role coordinates support for students experiencing academic or personal difficulties, have oversight for the leave of absence process, and participates in institutional processes addressing professionalism, student misconduct, and learning and working environment concerns. The Associate Dean uses student feedback and outcomes to evaluate services, guide improvements, and ensure that support is accessible, coordinated, and responsive to student needs. The role participates in representing the institution at professional groups from national medical education organizations such as the AAMC and NBME.
The Associate Dean serves at the pleasure of the dean of the medical school; demonstrates the highest level of personal and professional commitment, enthusiasm, integrity, and support of the medical school and its mission, vision, and values; aligns with and supports all aspects of the medical school; and strives to achieve excellence in all aspects of operations.
The assistant dean for Student Affairs role is a 0.7-0.8 FTE.
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BENEFITS:
- Wellness reimbursement.
- Continuing education and tuition reimbursement.
- Employer-funded retirement plan.
- Two medical plan options: PPO and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with employer HSA contribution.
- Up to $6,300 annually for professional development.
- Starting bonus (as applicable).
- Professional liability insurance coverage.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership and Administration
- Provides strategic leadership for Student Affairs, aligning departmental priorities, resources, and services with the medical school's mission and the needs of medical and graduate students.
- Oversees admissions, academic advising and learning support, career advising, financial aid and scholarships, student records and registration, student life and well-being, and disability and accessibility services.
- Supervises and develops Student Affairs leaders and staff, establishes clear expectations, evaluates performance, and promotes collaboration, professional growth, accountability, and responsive student service.
- Oversees departmental budgets, staffing, and operational processes to ensure effective and responsible use of resources.
- Serves on the medical school's senior leadership and strategic planning teams, advises the Senior Associate Dean and other institutional leaders on student matters, and contributes to institutional planning and policy development.
- Uses student feedback, institutional data, and program outcomes to identify emerging needs, evaluate services, and guide continuous improvement.
Student Support, Advocacy, and Well-Being
- Establishes accessible, trusting relationships with students and maintains regular opportunities for individual dialogue and communication with student leaders.
- Promotes a culture of psychological safety, respect, and belonging that encourages students to seek assistance, raise concerns, and participate in improving the student experience.
- Serves as an advocate for students and a trusted connection between students and the administration, faculty, and staff, communicating student concerns and institutional decisions with clarity, discretion, and appropriate confidentiality.
- Coordinates support for students experiencing academic, personal, financial, health, or professionalism concerns, working with appropriate institutional and community resources.
- Oversees access to student behavioral health services and collaborates with providers to support timely access, continuity of care, and appropriate separation of treatment from academic evaluation.
- Leads disability and accessibility processes, including the review and coordination of reasonable accommodations in collaboration with the disability resource professional and the accommodations committee.
- Reviews and makes decisions regarding student leaves of absence and return from leave in accordance with institutional policy, coordinating individualized transition and support plans.
- Oversees student absence review in collaboration with academic advisors and the assistant dean for Foundations of Medicine.
Academic Success, Career Development, and Student Engagement
- Oversees a coordinated approach to academic advising, learning support, tutoring, and academic intervention to promote student progress and success.
- Directs career advising and residency preparation services, including specialty exploration, mentoring, residency applications, and the NRMP Match.
- Provides leadership for student organizations, student government, honor societies, recognition and awards, and programs that strengthen community, leadership, service, and professional development.
- Oversees major student events and milestones, including orientation, the White Coat Ceremony, awards ceremonies, Match Day, and graduation.
- Oversees financial aid, scholarship administration, and financial literacy programming to help students make informed decisions about budgeting, borrowing, and educational debt.
- Leads the development and improvement of coordinated student support systems, including advising documentation, referrals, and follow-up processes.
Educational Leadership and Institutional Collaboration
- Serves as co-course director for Transition to Medical School, coordinating programming that prepares incoming students for the academic expectations, professional responsibilities, and resources of medical school.
- Collaborates with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, graduate program leaders, department chairs, and course/clerkship directors to develop policies and programs that support student learning, progress, and professional development.
- Serves as a non-voting member of the Medical Student Performance Committee, Misconduct Committee, Appeals Committee, and Curriculum Committee.
- Has oversight for the accommodations committee, scholarship committee, infectious disease workgroup, and other institutional committees/workgroups as appointed.
- Collaborates with admissions and institutional partners to recruit, support, and retain students who are aligned with the WMed mission.
- Oversees the review and approval process for student international travel for elective credit.
Accreditation, Policy, and Professional Responsibilities
- Maintains knowledge of applicable accreditation requirements, AAMC guidance, and best practices in student affairs; leads compliance, documentation, assessment, and improvement efforts within the role's areas of responsibility.
- Oversees the preparation and submission of required reports and disclosures to accrediting bodies, state and federal agencies, and institutional leadership, including U.S. Department of Education reporting, IPEDS, NSLDS, the AAMC Medical Student Enrollment Database, and the Guide to Consumer Information.
- Oversees the review and resolution of FERPA-related concerns reported through the Concerns and Compliance Hotline, coordinating with appropriate institutional offices.
- Develops, reviews, and implements Student Affairs policies and procedures in collaboration with institutional partners, ensuring clear communication and consistent application.
- Maintains current knowledge of technologies and practices that improve student services, operational effectiveness, and responsible management of student information.
- Serves as a Campus Security Authority under the Clery Act, fulfills associated reporting responsibilities, and completes required annual training.
- Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, confidentiality, and commitment to the medical school's mission, vision, and values.
- Works occasional evenings and weekends to support student events, address urgent student needs, and complete time-sensitive responsibilities.
- Performs other duties assigned by the Dean in support of the medical school's mission.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- MD/DO, PhD, or equivalent degree required.
- Physicians with clinical responsibilities must maintain an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Michigan, and maintain privileges at clinical sites corresponding with their clinical responsibilities. Other health care providers with clinical responsibilities must maintain the appropriate license for their profession, and maintain privileges at clinical sites corresponding with their clinical responsibilities.
- Must maintain a faculty appointment at the medical school.
- Academic rank of associate professor or professor.
- Broad understanding of academic medical centers and faculty roles.
- Must have a proven track record of progressive management experience and demonstrated success in providing strong leadership in medical education in a complex academic clinical setting is highly desirable.
- Experience in medical education and curriculum development at LCME-accredited medical schools, preferably with experience in undergraduate medical education curriculum development, implementation, and assessment.
- Experience with program accreditation of medical education programs by LCME and other accrediting entities.
- Broad knowledge organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)
We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a welcoming, supportive, and engaging culture. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.
The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Beacon and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide, as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs, with an estimated annual economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program as well as a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and four fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.
The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.
WMed builds upon Kalamazoo's century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school's advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with applicable State and Federal law.