Dean, College of Engineering

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), a distinguished public undergraduate and master’s level institution located in San Luis Obispo, California, seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as its next Dean of the College of Engineering (CENG). The CENG offers a wide range of highly-ranked programs across engineering and computer science that provide students with an outstanding applied education through its renowned “Learn by Doing” philosophy. The dean will build on the College’s success while supporting Cal Poly’s distinct mission, values, and clear vision of being the nation’s premier comprehensive polytechnic university that develops and inspires whole systems thinkers to serve California and the world.

For over a century, Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy has prepared students to be leaders and problem solvers in an increasingly complex world. The CENG is central to this mission, allowing their students to innovate, design, and create sustainable solutions to real-world challenges. The College offers 14 bachelor’s and 11 master’s degree programs across engineering and computer science disciplines, all of which offer a hands-on approach to learning and allow students to gain impactful practical and scholarly experiences that prepare them to successfully work and solve global challenges.

The dean will be joining Cal Poly at an opportune time, as the College has a solid foundation to build upon, and the dean will ensure the College continues on its impressive trajectory of academic and inclusive excellence. As the University evolves in the coming years through significant change, including projected enrollment growth and achieving Title V federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the dean will play an important role in attracting and retaining talented students, faculty, and staff who reflect the demographics of California; securing the facilities, support structures, and other financial and operational resources necessary to support growth and CENG and Cal Poly’s aspirations; and maintaining the work with faculty and industry to continue to meet workforce needs and best support Cal Poly’s “Learn by Doing” approach. The dean will be astute in leading the College during a time of change at the University by providing a sense of stability while also encouraging innovation to continue CENG’s strong momentum and success.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

The College of Engineering (CENG) is known as a leader in engineering education because of its Learn by Doing, hands-on approach. The College includes approximately 5,900 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students who are enrolled in 14 bachelor’s and 11 master’s degree programs, most of which are ABET accredited. With an emphasis on applied learning and problem-solving, the College’s in-demand graduates are heavily recruited by some of the best-known companies in the world including Apple, Boeing, Cisco, Google, Tesla Motors in addition to state and federal agencies.

The College offers a robust and diverse array of highly-ranked engineering and computer science departments and programs, including Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science & Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, General Engineering, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as additional graduate programs in Engineering Management, Fire Protection Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine. Undergraduate students can opt to pursue a blended program in several CENG disciplines, providing an accelerated route to a graduate degree. CENG recently unveiled the Noyce School of Applied Computing (Noyce School), a new interdisciplinary school combining three departments under one umbrella: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science & Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering, further developing the concept of applied computing and strengthening collaborations across the College. Interdisciplinary engineering programs can also be found outside of CENG, including Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies, Architectural Engineering, and Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering.

Student success is paramount to the College of Engineering, and the College aims to provide an excellent education that empowers all students to innovate, design, and create sustainable solutions to real-world challenges. As part of this mission, CENG is committed to universal student success and home to the Multicultural Engineering Program and Women’s Engineering Program, which help to recruit, support, and ensure the success of all students in engineering in addition to the College’s robust advising model. Students also participate in real-world engineering problem solving through internships, design competitions, class projects, and the senior project capstone design experience. Campus facilities include more than 80 state-of-the-art laboratories, providing students unparalleled access to advanced technological systems. The College also hosts 55 engineering clubs and organizations to encourage an engaged and supported student body.

To ensure that the curriculum and experience within CENG effectively prepare students for the work force, the College maintains close relationships with industry partners and maintains trust with major employers. The Dean’s Advisory Council, a group of leaders in business, industry, government, research, and engineering education, lend their resources, brainpower, and diversity of thought to support the College in fulfilling its mission and goals. The 17 council members assist the dean and the College in providing advice, advocacy, and success.

The College has embarked on important initiatives outlined within the recently completed 2023-2028 College of Engineering Strategic Plan, which integrates feedback from more than 1,600 stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners. Through the plan, the College reaffirms the enduring commitment to provide an exceptional Learn by Doing hands-on education for the success of all students, while adding a focus on creativity, innovation, sustainability, and making a positive impact on society.

Current Context

In October 2021, the University began the process of converting from a quarter calendar to a semester calendar system. This transition will occur at the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. The conversion presents an opportunity to achieve greater pedagogical depth, rethink how to balance teaching and research for faculty, review and discuss the curriculum, and simplify academic pathways for transfer students. As part of this transition, the campus is currently in the process of finalizing curriculum proposals and performing curricular review. After Cal Poly converts to a semester calendar, the entire California State University system will be operating on semesters.

Looking ahead, enrollment is expected to grow in the coming years to support CSU system goals and to align with system-wide financial incentives while meeting or exceeding Governor Newsom’s funding compact goals. Cal Poly also has the goal of achieving recognition as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) soon. The most recent campus master plan calls for growing the maximum student headcount on campus to approximately 25,000 by 2035. This growth will be supported by the introduction of Year-Round Operations (YRO), which will be implemented in the 2027-2028 academic year. YRO will allow new students to matriculate during the summer and spring terms in addition to the traditional fall term. Cal Poly also intends, as part of YRO, to engage as many continuing students as possible in credit-bearing high-impact practices (e.g., study abroad and internships) during both their off-term and on-term semesters.

In November 2024, the California State University Board of Trustees voted to integrate Cal Poly and the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), a previously separate CSU campus. The integration process is underway, and effective July 1, 2025, the two institutions will operate as a single university, Cal Poly. A 92-acre Cal Poly, Solano campus will house the Cal Poly Maritime Academy.

THE ROLE OF THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Reporting directly to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, the dean will act as the lead academic and administrative officer for the College. The dean devises and executes strategic planning and visioning for the College and fosters an organizational culture that enables the recruitment and retention of talented faculty, staff, and students. This includes reaffirming Cal Poly’s teacher-scholar model by supporting faculty in their integration of teaching, scholarship, professional engagement, and service commitments to the university, college, and industry. The dean is responsible for the quality of academic programs and managing the fiscal, human, and physical resources and facilities of CENG. As the main spokesperson for the College, the dean will build deeper connections internally with leaders across the University and alumni, and externally with industry and government officials. This will ensure close alignment around academic and industry needs and foster mutually beneficial partnerships across the University and externally in support of CENG, Academic Affairs, and university-wide goals and objectives.

The dean oversees an administrative team composed of 3 directors, 3 associate deans, an assistant dean, 9 department heads, and a manager and manages a complex budget of $56 million. The CENG includes approximately 187 tenure-track faculty, 216 lecturers, and 46 staff.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE DEAN

The new dean will be joining a highly reputable College that has a very solid foundation, values collaboration and communication, and prides itself on a talented and ambitious faculty, staff, and students who are all committed to making an even greater impact. The dean will be expected to leverage the strong academic offerings within the College; the deep talents and enthusiasm of faculty, staff, administrators, and students; their impressive reputation with industry partners; and the outstanding potential for increased fundraising support from industry and alumni to continue the College on its impressive trajectory. In doing so, the dean will address the following opportunities and challenges:

• Lead the College’s visioning and planning for continued excellence and prominence
• Build and deepen partnerships that support the success of the College and its students
• Thoughtfully manage CENG’s complex infrastructure while creatively augmenting resources through fundraising
• Support a high-performing College of dedicated and ambitious faculty and staff
• Serve as a strategic university partner at Cal Poly and in the CSU system to support university-wide goals and initiatives

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The next dean will have a distinguished record of achievement in at least one of the engineering disciplines represented in the College of Engineering and credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor, including a terminal degree. The dean will also have an eagerness to engage with industry leaders to build meaningful partnerships and support; a demonstrated commitment to student success and applied research; and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively across Cal Poly.

The ideal candidate will also possess many of the following qualifications and characteristics:

• A leadership style that inspires and fosters communication, collaboration, community building, and mutually beneficial partnerships
• Experience in the continuous implementation of university-wide and unit strategic planning through teamwork and resource development
• Demonstrated experience supporting faculty teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activities, especially within an applied learning and research context
• Demonstrated commitment to the importance of hands-on experiences for students and enthusiasm for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy and the CSU’s mission
• Demonstrated commitment to and/or record of being a good university citizen and working towards shared goals with a variety of university partners
• Experience fostering interdisciplinary collaborations for innovation and student success
• Demonstrated ability to manage resources effectively in a complex environment, an aptitude for fundraising, and the ability to develop partnerships and secure external support for programs, facilities, and personnel
• Understanding of the value of industry relations and a clear commitment to maintaining and enhancing relationships with a wide array of industry partners
• Success in resolving personnel issues in a complex and/or unionized environment
• Excellent communication skills in a wide range of settings

COMPENSATION AND LOCATION

The anticipated salary range for the position is $290-310K. Cal Poly is located in San Luis Obispo, California, which has a population of over 46,000, and is an area with an extraordinary quality of life and a temperate, Mediterranean climate that is comfortable year-round. The economy is based largely on agriculture and tourism and the region is known for producing world-class wine.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Advertised: Feb 28 2025 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:

Closing Date/Time:

• 

• California Polytechnic State University

• 805-756-2236

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