Administrative Assignments

The Associate Director is an administrative assignment of workload and is appointed by the Director after consultation with the FAC. The appointment is for a three (3) year term and is renewable.  The Director will establish the 3-year rotation schedule, and will announce to the faculty when the 3-year term will expire.  The Associate Director is reviewed annually by the Director, and may be released from the role at his/her sole discretion.

The Associate Director’s duties and responsibilities shall include but are not limited to the following:

a.    Serving as chief administrative officer of the School in the absence of the Director.

b.    Working with the Director and School faculty to facilitate and determine optimized operational procedures for all Study Away Programs.

c.    Providing leadership and support for the department accreditation and assessment reporting requirements.

d.    Maintaining and updating the departmental Faculty Handbook, as appropriate.

e.    Serving as direct support for the Industry Liaison / Industry Management position.

f.    Recruitment planning for all Study Away Programs in consultation with all Study Away program leaders.

g.    Scheduling Study Away classes as requested by the School Curriculum Committee.

h.    Assist in securing and hiring approved part-time faculty for all Study Away programs and in consultation with the Director, School Curriculum Committee, and FAC.

i.    Facilitating the completion of necessary forms, processes, and record-keeping including: Office of Global Education, Deposit Agreements, Student Visas, and KSUF forms.

j.    Budget development, presentation, and approval for the Study Away Programs, not including the NYC Studio.

k.    Facilitating and coordinating the upkeep and maintenance of the Studio and Lab spaces and equipment.

l.    Facilitating the “team leader” coordination each semester for courses with multiple sections.

m.    Performing other tasks and duties as assigned or delegated by the Director, including knowing and following all KSU procedures in all areas of operation.

The Graduate Studies Coordinator is an administrative assignment of workload and is appointed by the Director after consultation with the FAC and/or the Graduate Studies Committee (hereinafter “GSC”) and the Graduate Faculty.  The appointment is for a three (3) year term and is renewable.  The Director will establish the 3-year rotation schedule, and will announce to the faculty when the 3-year term will expire.  The Graduate Coordinator must be a full member of the Graduate Faculty holding the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The Graduate Studies Coordinator is reviewed annually by the Director, and may be terminated at his/her sole discretion.  

The Graduate Studies Coordinator’s duties and responsibilities shall include but are not limited to the following:

a.    Overseeing the development of the School’s graduate program(s).

b.    Overseeing and coordinating admissions into the School’s graduate program(s).

c.    Recommending to the Director, with the advice of the GSC, the awarding of graduate assistantships and teaching fellowships.

d.    Serving as School liaison to the College Graduate Coordinating Council, the Division of Research and Graduate Studies, and working in conjunction with the College Dean in charge of Graduate Affairs.

e.    Overseeing performance evaluations of graduate assistants assigned to teaching and research appointments.

f.    Implementing the current policies of the School's graduate program(s) and the current policies of the College.

g.    Maintaining and processing graduate student records and informing students of their standing and progress toward degrees.

h.    Initiating and coordinating changes and improvements in graduate curricula, requirements, and program(s). i.    Serving as the chair of the departmental Curriculum Committee in alternate years.

j.    Chairing meetings of the Graduate Faculty.

k.    Serving as advisor for the School's Graduate Student Council.

l.    Approving individual investigations and special topics courses at the graduate level.

m.    Performing other duties and tasks as assigned or delegated by the Director, including knowing and following all KSU procedures in all areas of operation.

The Undergraduate Program Coordinator is an administrative assignment of workload and is appointed by the Director after consultation with the Faculty Advisory Committee (hereinafter “FAC”).  The appointment is for a three (3) year term and is renewable. The Director will establish the 3-year rotation schedule, and will announce to the faculty when the 3-year term will expire.  The Undergraduate Program Coordinator is reviewed annually by the Director, and may be terminated at his/her sole discretion.  

    The Undergraduate Program Coordinator’s duties and responsibilities shall include but are not limited to the following:

a.    Preparing the schedule of classes, in consultation with the Director and faculty.

b.    Assisting in the assignment of instructors to courses.

c.    Overseeing the Academic Advising team in FDM.

d.    Serving as direct support for the students in terms of academic support.

e.    Serving as liaison to program counselors in the various Colleges and Schools.

f.    Approving course substitutions, individual investigations and transfer or transient credit.

g.    Serving as chair of the department Curriculum Committee in alternate years.

h.    Serving as the departmental representative on the College Curriculum Committee (“CCC”).

i.    Serving as chair of the Student Academic Complaint Committee.
j.    Performing other duties and tasks as assigned or delegated by the Director, including knowing and following all KSU procedures in all areas of operation.

The Florence Program On-Site Coordinator (hereinafter “KSUF Coordinator”) is an administrative assignment that is assigned to a local part-time member teaching for the School at the Kent State University Florence (KSUF) Campus on an “as needed basis.”  The role is appointed by the Director after consultation with the FAC.  The appointment is for a three (3) year term and is renewable. The KSUF Coordinator is reviewed annually by the Director, and may be terminated in consultation with KSUF Director.  

The KSUF Coordinator’s duties and responsibilities shall include but are not limited to the following:

a.    Planning and coordinating KSUF Fashion programs, in consultation with The Director and KSUF Director.

b.    Assist in securing and hiring approved part-time faculty for the KSUF campus in consultation with the Director, School Curriculum Committee and FAC.

c.    Assisting the Associate Director in preparing the schedule of fashion design and merchandising courses to be offered at the Kent State University Florence Campus.

d.    Providing School and industry-specific academic support for students attending the KSUF campus.

e.    Developing and maintaining a sense of the overall curriculum in the School as a means to support student inquiries and concerns specific to the KSUF experience.

f.    Supporting communications and understanding of the textiles and fashion knowledge as a means to connect School students to the Italian fashion industries.

g.    Maintaining open communication with the School’s Faculty to facilitate similar academic equality and content between the Kent and KSUF facilities.

h.    Serving as a facilitator, as needed, to connect KSUF part-time faculty with students.

i.    Performing other duties and tasks as assigned or delegated by the Director or FSUF Director, including knowing and following all KSU procedures in all areas of operation.

The Industry Liaison / Internship Manager (hereinafter “ILIM”) plans and directs all operational and administrative activities related to connecting Fashion School students with supplemental experiential educational opportunities including:  internships, co-ops, job shadowing, international business experiences, and mentoring programs.  The ILIM reports directly to and is accountable to the Director, School of Fashion Design and Merchandising.  The ILIM is appointed by the Director and is a full-time position, reviewed annually by the Director.

The Industry Liaison/Internship Manager’s duties and responsibilities shall include but are not limited to the following:

a.    Establishing goals, objectives and strategies to develop and implement programs and services that connect students and business experiences (internships, shadowing, mentoring programs, etc.).

b.    Developing linkages in conjunction with KSU Career Services, external organizations, professional associations and community groups throughout the region to support program development.

c.    Overseeing the promotion, marketing, and communication on all aspects of the program by strategically planning the development and distribution of various materials.

d.    Coordinating special event programming related to industry programs and projects.

e.    Providing direct oversight for students enrolled in internship experiences in consultation with Fashion School Faculty.

f.    Developing and updating internship pages to the Fashion School website.

g.    Performing other duties and tasks as assigned or delegated by the Director, including knowing and following all KSU procedures in all areas of operation.

Appointments to ad-hoc faculty administrative assignments of workload are made by the Director after consultation with the FAC.  Appointments will be dependent upon the specific requirements of the assignment and an individual’s qualifications for the assignment.