The Office of the Academic Dean was created in 1984. It evolved from the functions held by the Office of the Principal (1966-1977) and the Office of the Dean (1978-1984) both of which exercised academic functions as well as the functions of a Chief Executive Officer, now held by the Office of the President. The Academic Dean ensures effective and efficient academic program management and development through the development and implementation of an academic operational plan based on the approved Strategic Plan, in collaboration with the President and in consultation with Senate.
The Academic Dean understands the purpose of the University system and its interdependence and through appropriate communication, effectively participates as a member of Administration. Finally, the Academic Dean facilitates effective and responsive external relations with Laurentian University, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, other key organizations and the community.
For the above ends, the Academic Dean is responsible for planning, developing and overseeing the implementation of the academic operational plan, on which the Strategic Plan is based; initiating and developing in academic areas to enhance future enrollment at target levels; overseeing program evaluations in order to maintain high levels of program quality; ensuring academic staffing for quality program delivery; undertaking personnel quality improvement including peer review for probationary, sabbatical, tenure and promotion evaluations amongst faculty; and coordinating personnel quality improvement and evaluation of part-time faculty, in conformance with collective agreement. The Academic Dean also supervises the Library Director and the Arthur A. Wishart Library. During the period 1998-2006, the Academic Dean was the Acting Library Director.
The following faculty members have held the position of Academic Dean: Dr. Thomas A. Allaway (1984-1989), James Gibson, BA, MA (1989-1995), Dr. Linda Sorenson (1995-1997), Dr. Celia Ross (1997-1998), Dr. Jong S. You (2000-2002), and Dr. Arthur H. Perlini (2002-2014), Dr. Richard McCutheon (2014-)
