Assistant House Dean, West Campus House System (Hans Bethe House)

Student & Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education leads initiatives and programs that broaden access to learning opportunities, provide essential academic supports, emphasize education, and ease cross-college faculty and staff collaborations, ensuring that all undergraduates get the most out of their Cornell education

As a program of the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education in partnership with the Division of Student and Campus Life, the West Campus House System is made up of five residential houses accommodating approximately 1900 student residents offering a living and learning experience for sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Cornell University and is charged with bringing students and faculty together in a spirit of inquiry and active citizenship. Each House in the West Campus House System is overseen by a House Professor-Dean, a tenured faculty member who guides and directs the House's educational program, and an Assistant House Dean, a student affairs professional who directs the multiple functions of the House and shares responsibility with the House Professor-Dean for the realization of the House's educational mission. The House Professor-Deans and Assistant House Deans of the five Houses together lead the West Campus House System through a shared-governance model.

Hans Bethe House, which opened in the fall of 2007, is one of five residential colleges comprising the university’s West Campus House System. Bethe House accommodates approximately 370 upper-level students in a faculty-led, student-governed residential community. The name honors long-time and beloved Cornell faculty member Hans A. Bethe. For more information on Hans Bethe House, visit https://wchs.undergrad.cornell.edu/houses/hans-bethe-house

   

As a member of the West Campus leadership team, the Assistant House Dean (AD) serves a dual-capacity role with responsibility for both their assigned residential House and the broader West Campus House System. In partnership with fellow Assistant House Deans and House Professor-Deans, the AD contributes to the effective administration, coordination, operation, and strategic planning of the West Campus House System, including aligning common practices across the five Houses and coordinating System-wide programs. Working within a shared-governance model, Assistant House Deans collaborate to develop and implement policies, procedures and common practices; coordinating resources and services; fostering meaningful partnerships with faculty, campus partners, and community partners that help advance House System initiatives and educational missions while also creating a cohesive residential experience for all West Campus students.

 

In close partnership with the House Professor-Dean, the Assistant House Dean directs the full range of administrative and operational functions within a residential House, which includes day-to-day oversight of critical functions, including House programs,  community-building initiatives that support student engagement and community development as well as coordinate crisis response and conflict resolution in partnership with other campus partners, such as Housing & Residential Life, in order to foster an inclusive and engaging residential experience.

The Assistant House Dean plays a key role in student development by serving as a mentor, resource, and role model for student staff and residents, directly supervising professional, undergraduate, and graduate student staff and serving as the primary liaison for residential support partners, including dining, facilities, and Building Care. Balancing the needs of an individual House with the collective goals and operational effectiveness of the West Campus House System, this position oversees House operations, administrative systems and processes, budget management, and provides administrative and logistical leadership for House-based and System-wide academic initiatives.

 

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

 

Success Factors

The Assistant House Dean’s successful performance will depend on the ability to cultivate a vibrant, engaged, inclusive and supportive House community through effective leadership, collaboration and communication with stakeholders across the House, the West Campus House System, and among the broader University community. The role requires sound judgement, independent problem-solving and the ability to work effectively with limited direction while also collaborating across teams, departments and stakeholders that may have different priorities or goals. Additionally, the Assistant House Dean requires strong organizational and interpersonal skills, the ability to manage complex and competing priorities and the commitment of stewardship of the House Community. The Assistant House Dean must effectively balance multiple initiatives, make thoughtful decisions in both routine and crisis situations and contribute to the success of both the individual House and the broader effectiveness of the West Campus House System.

 

This is a live-in position with a rotating academic-year on-call responsibility for significant residential issues. The Assistant House Dean is appointed to an initial three-year term with the option to renew thereafter based on successful performance and mutual agreement. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Social Work, Community Organizing, Higher Education Administration or other appropriate field, and a minimum of 3 years of experience in a relevant educational leadership position; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in critical areas such as operations management, community building, supervision, crisis intervention, conflict management, outreach, and/or engagement including work experience with culturally, socially and/or economically diverse communities
• Excellent communication (written and oral), interpersonal, time management and organizational skills.
• High level of competency in basic desktop programs (Outlook, Word, Excel) as well as database, budget and website management.
• Able to live in the House and interact on a regular basis with students and staff. To meet these requirements, the Assistant House Dean is provided with a furnished two-bedroom apartment, a parking permit, and basic internet service and utilities (excluding cable service). The incumbent and immediate family members also receive an academic-year house meal plan for the purpose of dining with students, staff and other work- related contacts in ways that support their role as Assistant House Dean
• Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in higher education or a related setting, including supervision of professional staff and responsibility for operational or strategic leadership.
• Experience in Restorative Practices/Justice, student learning outcome implementation and assessment, budget management, student records and information systems are highly preferred.
• Knowledge of national trends and best practices in student affairs.
• Counseling and advising skills appropriate to student needs.

   

University Job Title:

Res Hall Assoc III

   

Job Family:

Student Services

   

Level:

G

   

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

   

Pay Range:

$62,400.00 - $75,870.00

   

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

   

Company:

Endowed

   

Contact Name:

Caleb Yu

   

Contact Email:

[email protected]

   

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• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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2026-11-12