The Role of the Dean

The Dean is instrumental in bringing the faculty team together socially, professionally and institutionally.

Ways of bringing faculty team together SOCIALLY.

1. Social meeting at dean’s home.

2. Have meals before meetings.

3. Plan a fishing outing or a bowling evening.

4. Plan a yearly retreat (team building with emphasis on either fun or professional concerns)

5. Send birthday cards to your faculty. Try Apple iCards for a free and fast way of sending it.

6. Remember what they prefer: Coffee with sugar, white tea with no sugar, etc...

Ways of bringing faculty team together PROFESSIONALLY (see appendix below).

1. Read a book/article together about the goals of theological education, educational best practices, place of technology, wise use of online spaces, etc. to promote effective learning.

2. Have coffee sessions during which time professional issues can be discussed.

3. Invite a educationist to give a talk about specific teaching/learning issues.

4. Syllabus sharing and critique - a time where faculty are invited to share course syllabus with the intention of allowing faculty vet, critique, and provide positive suggestions.

Ways of bringing faculty team together INSTITUTIONALLY.

1. Involve faculty in major decision making processes.

2. Help faculty to see that institution is part of something bigger (e.g. how are we contributing to the development of our denomination, our alumni, our parachurch organization). Cp. Richard Mouw (President of Fuller) who once said…

There are 3 questions that every seminary needs to ask:
i) What is God doing in the world today?

ii) What is the church doing in response to what God is doing in the world today?

iii) What is the seminary doing to help the church align itself with what God is doing in the world today?