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Academic dean vs college dean

The differences between academic deans and college deans can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an academic dean and a college dean. Additionally, an academic dean has an average salary of $94,053, which is higher than the $91,676 average annual salary of a college dean.

The top three skills for an academic dean include curriculum development, professional development and student services. The most important skills for a college dean are colleges, scholarship, and strategic plan.

Academic dean vs college dean overview

Academic DeanCollege Dean
Yearly salary$94,053$91,676
Hourly rate$45.22$44.08
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs3,1901,862
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does an academic dean do?

Academic deans take a vital role in the development and advancement of education in a college or university. The dean may have different functions depending on the university, but mostly, academic deans focus on creating new strategies in providing education for students. It is the responsibility of the academic dean to ensure that the faculty conducts all educational practices. The academic dean also manages all faculty members' activities and works with drafting the university's curriculum.

What does a college dean do?

College deans lead the faculty to achieve their goals in areas like teaching, scholarship, and service. They are the representatives of the colleges they oversee both internally and externally. Deans are in charge of reviewing curricular requests and instruction proposals and denying or approving them to ensure they meet the state and accreditation standards. Their job is to ensure that all records kept in their offices are accurate to make it easier to respond to academic concerns and seek resolution with the faculty.

Academic dean vs college dean salary

Academic deans and college deans have different pay scales, as shown below.

Academic DeanCollege Dean
Average salary$94,053$91,676
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $153,000Between $53,000 And $157,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABridgeport, CT
Highest paying stateNew YorkConnecticut
Best paying companyDCP Holdings IncMassasoit Community College
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between academic dean and college dean education

There are a few differences between an academic dean and a college dean in terms of educational background:

Academic DeanCollege Dean
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Academic dean vs college dean demographics

Here are the differences between academic deans' and college deans' demographics:

Academic DeanCollege Dean
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 45.0% Female, 55.0%Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between academic dean and college dean duties and responsibilities

Academic dean example responsibilities.

  • Produce, manage and evaluate all budgetary and programmatic aspects of a comprehensive career service program for students and alumni.
  • Work cooperatively with other offices and student groups in the implementation of various campus-wide multicultural activities and other major events.
  • Create individualized educational plans for students desiring to study in English speaking countries.
  • Coordinate several courses which involve development of the departmental syllabus and managing development of the departmental final.

College dean example responsibilities.

  • Produce, manage and evaluate all budgetary and programmatic aspects of a comprehensive career service program for students and alumni.
  • Design new illustrations for children's literature using a Wacom tablet.
  • Authore ICT faculty handbooks and train faculty in effective implementation.
  • Work cooperatively with other offices and student groups in the implementation of various campus-wide multicultural activities and other major events.
  • Authore ICT faculty handbooks and train faculty in effective implementation.

Academic dean vs college dean skills

Common academic dean skills
  • Curriculum Development, 10%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Student Services, 5%
  • Student Learning, 5%
  • Academic Affairs, 5%
  • Program Directors, 4%
Common college dean skills
  • Colleges, 23%
  • Scholarship, 18%
  • Strategic Plan, 13%
  • Professional Development, 12%
  • Graduate Programs, 8%
  • Accreditation Standards, 5%

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