Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

There's now an official UM School of Law Dean Search page. Complete with a Position Description.

Here are some of the things the Dean will do:

• Strengthen institutional excellence and selectivity
• Enhance the recognition of the school’s quality and strengths
• Attract and retain promising scholars of the first rank.
• Continue to build and develop areas of strength in teaching and scholarship
• Strengthen excellence in both scholarship and classroom teaching
• Creatively support, enhance and promote faculty productivity
• Focus on ways to enhance the student experience at the Law School
• Fundraise, with a particular focus on relieving the financial burden on students and enhancing scholarship, teaching, and innovative programs
• Work with faculty and University leadership to finalize and implement the Law School’s Strategic Plan
• Maintain the excellence of the academic program in conjunction with the faculty, and provide leadership on innovative curriculum development, academic standards and program initiatives
• Offer students the diversity and richness of a large law school while providing a flexible, student-centered education with a commitment to excellence
• Encourage and support faculty scholarship, teaching excellence, and service
• Cultivate collegial and constructive relations with and among faculty
• Enhance diversity of the faculty, staff and student ranks
• Ensure that library and information resources continue to support the academic program and faculty scholarship, and explore new avenues for the fruitful deployment of technology in law studies

And that's not even the whole list.

And here are some additional “Desirable Characteristics”:

The Dean should be an accomplished scholar who is highly regarded by the legal academy. She or he should have enthusiasm for the Law School’s future and appreciation for its history; institutional and intellectual ambition, energy and judgment; leadership skills, including political sensitivity, an effective personal style, and the ability to foster collegiality and engagement.

The Dean helps set the overall tone for the school. The Dean will have:

• The ability to attract, retain and develop outstanding faculty, administrators and staff
• The ability to promote successful change in response to emerging challenges
• An appreciation for the assets of the Law School and the ability to build its future by their effective utilization
• The capacity to manage and develop a complex academic enterprise
• A global vision with the ability to be an advocate for continued growth and excellence in the academic program
• The ability to promote scholarly enthusiasm and productivity
• A commitment to a collegial model of governance and the ability to cultivate respect for and demands of faculty and staff roles
• The ability to nurture a strong sense of community among faculty, staff, students and alumni
• An appreciation for and commitment to encourage student service in the community and legal careers geared to public service
• A commitment to diversity that will reinforce the Law School’s historic position as a school of opportunity
• A commitment to fund-raising with the interpersonal and communication skills necessary to interact persuasively with the philanthropic community, to solicit and steward both governmental and private support from alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, friends, foundations, law firms and corporations
• Excellent communication skills
• A high level of energy which motivates others, inspires enthusiasm and reflects the forward momentum of the Law School

Walking on water is also optional.