Dean, Language Arts and Communication Job at Inside Higher Ed in Lancaster

Dean, Language Arts and Communication

Location: Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, CA

Salary: $162,595.85 - $203,059.94 annually

Deadline: 2/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Representative Duties

• Provide leadership for program development. Work directly with faculty and department chairs to develop culturally relevant, accessible curriculum and programs designed to eradicate disproportionate impact gaps that meet and promote student needs, set priorities for resource needs, and deletions to maintain the relevance of divisional programs to meet and promote student and community needs; set priorities for resource needs, provide program analysis and multi-year instructional plans, and participate in strategic and long-range instructional planning for the district. (E)
• Provide leadership that demonstrates understanding of Antelope Valley College’s mission and the diverse students we serve. (E)
• Promote the assessment of learning outcomes to eradicate disproportionate impact gaps, promote equitable participation in programs and courses of study, and determine the effectiveness of student learning within the division and throughout the college. (E)
• Stay current regarding national trends and innovations applicable to assigned disciplines, community colleges, and higher education, including alternative modes of assessment, hiring practices, academic freedom, and the role of technology in the classroom, course design, and prerequisites. (E)
• Direct accreditation processes for individual programs and assist with the institutional accreditation process. (E)
• Cultivate and sustain a positive culture of care for students and all levels of division staff and work cooperatively with other campus personnel to integrate and coordinate programs and services across the curriculum. (E)
• Prepare budget requests that emphasize funding of priorities that promote the eradication of disproportionate impact gaps as well as equity-driven initiatives with input from department chairs; allocate funds; prioritize division financial needs, including new hires, program funding, technology, and instructional equipment; and communicate those priorities clearly to the appropriate departments. (E)
• Complete grant writing and/or program development plans. (E)
• Promote excellence in teaching and orient new staff, in conjunction with department chairs, orient new division faculty. (E)
• Promote college programs beyond the campus community. (E)
• Serve on campus organizations and committees and effectively participate in meetings.
• Serve as liaison with leaders in the private and public sectors and in educational agencies to determine needs for new courses and programs; in conjunction with department chairs and faculty, establish advisory committees, as appropriate. (E)
• Work to effectively resolve conflicts and issues within the division and between divisions in the spirit of collegiality utilizing due process, adhering to collective bargaining agreements as appropriate. (E)
• Effectively supervise and regularly evaluate staff. (E)
• Support staff development and professional growth. (E)
• Analyze staff hiring requests to meet short-term and long-term needs and make recommendations to the Vice President of Academic Affairs; assist in developing equity-driven job descriptions for new positions during the program review process.
• Maintain an effective working knowledge of computers and related technologies that affect office management including electronic spreadsheets, word processing, data collection, and internet/intranet capabilities. (E)
• Coordinate the program review process within the assigned division. (E)
• Monitor and enforce compliance with state and federal regulations. (E)
• Participate in the rotating responsibility of Administrator on Duty, and be available for day, evening, or weekend assignments. (E)
• Participate actively at multiple educational sites. (E)
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited higher education institution.
• One (1) year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment (Title 5, section 53420. Minimum Qualifications for Educational Administrators).
• Demonstrated commitment to equity-based leadership and programming that grows access and support to address disproportionate impact gaps.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, differing abilities, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, demonstrated passion for the pursuit of DEIA principles and how that positively impacts the organization, and how positive leadership successfully promotes the achievement of all students’ educational goals.

Desirable Qualifications

• Three (3) years of progressive leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
• Commitment to practicing the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and embedding these principles through activities in education.
• Proven and demonstrated success in employee development, change management, and conflict resolution.

Other Information

• Knowledge of equity-based principles and leadership in higher education; change management strategies; higher education in community colleges, including the mission of the California Community Colleges; participatory governance within the California Community College System; applicable federal, state, and local laws, regularity codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned programs, projects, and operations; pedagogy, andragogy, and current instructional practices in all modalities; disciplines within the assigned division(s); budget preparation and control that sustains the mission of the college and student success; grant-funded program compliance.

Ability To

• Effectively communicate orally, electronically, and in writing across various audiences and constituent groups.
• Provide effective leadership in the management, supervision, and evaluation of the work of others.
• Provide a commitment to equity-based teaching/learning and the vision of a learning-centered institution and community.
• Effectively and innovatively use data to inform decision-making.
• Conduct analysis of workforce and educational/training needs based on information from college and community stakeholders, labor market data, demographic information, and surveys.
• Identify resources and complete grant writing and/or program development.
• Prepare and administer large and complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Promote and develop partnerships with educational and community organizations.
• Commit to supporting the successful completion of the degrees, certificates and objectives of the different educational sites.
• Travel to multiple educational sites to fulfill duties.
• Work as liaison for communications between administrators, students, and the community at large.
• Demonstrate understanding of Student Learning Outcomes and ACCJC Accreditation Standards for higher education.
• Commitment to equity, student success, and program completion.
• Commit to effectively leading a culture of successful participatory governance, consensus building, and a team approach to management, supporting academic achievement and academic freedom.
• Equitably develop, plan, organize and programs, policies, and procedures to meet student, staff, and community needs.
• Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, requirements, and restrictions.
• Approach challenges as opportunities and utilize data to inform equitable solutions that meet multiple ends.
• Plan, organize work, and meet schedules and deadlines.
• Work cooperatively with and coordinate projects with other administrators and staff.
• Evaluate and support faculty and staff recommendations for program improvements and new programs.
• Work evenings and weekends as required.

Work Direction, Lead and Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises work of a diverse team of faculty, staff, student workers, and others as required by duties assigned.

Contacts

Administrators, staff, students, vendors, government agencies, public and community members and co-workers.

Physical Effort

Requires the ability to exert physical effort, such as walking, standing, and light lifting; operate office equipment; tasks require extended periods sitting and at a keyboard; employees are frequently required to walk and stand.

Working Environment

Normal office environment at potentially multiple sites; frequent interruptions; employee must travel to locations other than the assigned work site and may be required to work evenings and weekends; typical 40‑hour work week minimum, with occasional night and weekend work.

Contact Information

For a complete listing and details of all open positions and how to apply, select the HR & Employment link on the AVC Web site at or contact the Human Resources Office at (661) 722-6311; Voice/Relay, (661) 722-6300 x. 6360, 3041 West Avenue K, Lancaster, CA 93536.