Membership and Operating Guidelines

Member Roster

The New Deans Learning Community (NDLC) is proposed as an AACSB International Affinity Group, effective April 2003.   Dean Niranjan Pati, School of Business, Indiana University Kokomo, initiated formation of the Affinity Group and serves as the Chair.  A Steering Committee is operating to assist with  organizational and administrative activities for the Affinity Group, and it is proposed the entire Steering Committee will continue in this role through July 1, 2004.  Steering Committee members may continue beyond that date based on their interests and availability. 

Organizational activities of the NDLC Affinity Group will operate according to the AACSB Policies and Guidelines for Affinity Groups.  The following policies and guidelines are proposed as specific for the NDLC Affinity Group. 

Membership Criteria and the Level of Membership

The primary membership criterion for New Deans Learning Community (NDLC) membership is – 

Academic Deans in AACSB International member institutions during their initial three years as a full time dean. 

Interim Deans may participate in the Affinity Group activities, as guests without voting privileges, for developmental and networking purposes.  The Steering Committee members, upon their retirement from the NDLC, will retain their Charter Membership if they so wish.  Other members may transition to an alumni group to form a support network for new Deans.

Since the New Deans seminar was reorganized in 2001 in Las Vegas, the Deans that assumed their full-time deanships in July 2001 or later are eligible to be NDLC members.  Interim Deans hired to Dean positions can participate for three years after they assume a permanent deanship.  For the sake of continuity, August 1 to July 31 will be considered the period of an academic year.

Purposes/Objectives

The purposes of the New Deans Learning Community will be to:

• expand upon and supplement the experience and content of the AACSB New Deans Seminar
• organize a contact group for strategic networking and support on topics of importance for new deans
• provide a channel of communications to AACSB leadership on issues affecting the success of new deans
• organize educational and information activities specifically for new deans during AACSB conferences
• establish voluntary mentorship for interested community members
• provide an electronic Q&A forum to the community
• showcase effective practices implemented by new deans
• share meaningful transitional experiences of deans in their new administrative roles

Activities

The New Deans Learning Community is a catalyst for orientating and training of academic deans in their initial years by enabling them to share the successes, trials, and tribulations of their new roles.  The NDLC Steering Committee in consultation with NDLC’s membership will determine the community’s activities, which may range from discussing curriculum and AACSB accreditation issues to sharing strategies for fund-raising and leading faculty and staff.  To ensure optimal participation, these activities will be organized primarily at the AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting and at the annual Dean’s meeting.