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College dean vs student services director

The differences between college deans and student services directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a college dean and a student services director. Additionally, a college dean has an average salary of $91,676, which is higher than the $68,307 average annual salary of a student services director.

The top three skills for a college dean include colleges, scholarship and strategic plan. The most important skills for a student services director are professional development, financial aid, and support services.

College dean vs student services director overview

College DeanStudent Services Director
Yearly salary$91,676$68,307
Hourly rate$44.08$32.84
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs1,86269,818
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

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.

What does a student services director do?

In learning institutions, a Student Services Director spearheads and oversees the student services office's daily operations. They directly handle student affairs, from academic endeavors to student discipline, including expulsions and suspensions, school security, child welfare, internships, and alternative education. A Student Services Director also participates in developing academic projects and programs, coordinating with internal and external parties to make them possible. Moreover, they also have the authority to implement policies and regulations, developing new ones as necessary.

College dean vs student services director salary

College deans and student services directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

College DeanStudent Services Director
Average salary$91,676$68,307
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $157,000Between $43,000 And $106,000
Highest paying CityBridgeport, CTBerkeley, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Jersey
Best paying companyMassasoit Community CollegeLos Alamos National Laboratory
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between college dean and student services director education

There are a few differences between a college dean and a student services director in terms of educational background:

College DeanStudent Services Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

College dean vs student services director demographics

Here are the differences between college deans' and student services directors' demographics:

College DeanStudent Services Director
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 47.2% Female, 52.8%Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 4.3% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between college dean and student services director duties and responsibilities

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.

Student services director example responsibilities.

  • Support and oversee students from colleges across the country as they organize and lead interfaith service programming on their own campuses.
  • Source employers through market research, LinkedIn and cold calls.
  • Explore and find additional sources to supplement scholarship funds for minorities.
  • Review and edit resumes while providing direction for content in LinkedIn and e-portfolio profiles.
  • Attend and contribute to impartial hearings or legally-binding mediation meetings where students' needs are discuss.
  • Design and maintain a participation tracking system that will accurately document student participation in the SSS program.
  • Show more

College dean vs student services director skills

Common college dean skills
  • Colleges, 23%
  • Scholarship, 18%
  • Strategic Plan, 13%
  • Professional Development, 12%
  • Graduate Programs, 8%
  • Accreditation Standards, 5%
Common student services director skills
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • Financial Aid, 7%
  • Support Services, 6%
  • Social Work, 5%
  • Alumni, 4%
  • Student Life, 4%

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