Allston Burr Resident Dean of Harvard College

ABRD Role Description

The Allston Burr Resident Dean (ABRD) serves as both the academic dean and dean of students in one undergraduate House within the Harvard College residential system. The ABRD therefore oversees the academic progress and overall wellbeing of students in the House. The ABRD is a senior leader within the House, working closely with the Faculty Deans and House staff, and overseeing the Office of the Resident Dean for each House. The ABRD represents the students of their House at the Administrative Board and Honor Council and works with faculty, academic departments, and partner offices such as the Academic Resource Center and Disability Access Office on academic issues affecting individual students. The ABRD also works with Harvard University Health Services (HUHS), Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the Office of Undergraduate Education, Office of Student Services, and the Student Support Team on issues related to student support. Like the Faculty Deans, the ABRD contributes to the House community as a scholar and provides friendly guidance and support through meals in the House’s dining hall. The ABRD lives in residence on campus and is a regular presence at House events and holds weekly office hours.

This is a year-round, full-time, regular, administrative staff position with academic, teaching and advising requirements within the University. Allston Burr Resident Deans are appointed by, and report to, the Faculty Deans and the Dean of Harvard College or the Dean’s delegate.

Administrative

• Serves as the chief academic officer/academic dean as well as dean of students in the House, with responsibility for ensuring that all students make steady progress toward their degrees (somewhere between 450-550 students, depending on the House).
• Supervises the Academic Coordinator (AC) in the House; hires, trains, and oversees the work of the AC; conducts annual goal setting and performance review process for the AC. Ensures proper record keeping, confidentiality, and oversight of student files.
• When asked, serves as members of the boards run by the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct, including the Administrative Board of Harvard College, which meets weekly during the academic year and occasionally during the summer to review student petitions for exceptions to College rules, as well as unsatisfactory academic records and disciplinary incidents and the College’s Honor Council, which meets weekly during the academic year to review possible violations of the College’s Honor Code.
• Serves as the representative for students in the House when they have petitions or cases before the College’s Administrative Board or Honor Council.
• Plays a critical role in House disciplinary incidents and serves as a reference point for ensuring adherence to College policy within the House.
• Communicates with stakeholders beyond the College including parents, employers, treatment providers, and graduate and professional schools in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Serves as a voting member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and attends monthly Faculty meetings. ABRDs may also serve on Faculty committees that propose legislation for consideration at Faculty meetings.
• The ABRD is responsible for being up to date on College policies in the areas of academics as well as residential life, including the College’s Student Handbook, Title IX, emergency procedures, and other University protocols and policies like those overseen  by the Office for Community Support, Non-Discrimination, Rights and Responsibilities. 
• Serves in a cohort with other Resident Deans, including both other ABRDs and RDFs (Resident Deans of First-Year Students), and meets bi-weekly with the RD cohort; participates in both formal and informal mentoring relationships among RDs; and engages in regular trainings on academic policy, academic advising, and student affairs offered by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), the Dean of Students Office (DSO), and partner offices. 
• Serve on various OUE/DSO, College, and University committees as needed. 

Student Support

• Oversees holistic care for students in the House, addressing the academic, social, and personal dimensions of their Harvard College experience. This involves working closely with Faculty Deans and other House staff, the Dean of Students, the Administrative Board and Honor Council, HUHS, CAMHS, and colleagues in the Registrar’s Office, Office of Undergraduate Education, the Dean of Students Office, and partner offices, including the Academic Resource Center and Disability Access Office.
• Works with faculty and academic departments on issues affecting individual students, including cases where students may be making unsatisfactory progress in their courses or may be facing other challenges.
• Work to ensure that Agreements to Engage in Treatment are complete for those students who require one, working with the student and treatment providers and executing agreements on behalf of the College.
• Works with the Faculty Deans and tutors in managing both individual and community crisis situations and in-House disciplinary incidents. Works with the Senior Resident Dean and Assistant Dean for Student Support on supporting students in distress.
• Manages the on-call schedule for the House, often working with a senior tutor. Serves in a rotating on-call capacity by neighborhood with other ABRDs to provide support for serious student incidents and issues that may arise.
• As a Responsible Employee, the ABRD is conversant with University Title IX policies, promptly notifies the appropriate Title IX Resource Coordinator about possible sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct and liaises with Title IX Resource Coordinators to provide support to students. They also work with the College Local Designated Resources (LDRs) to support students navigating the University’s Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying policy processes. 

House Leadership

• Serves as a senior member of the House leadership team. Meets and communicates with the senior members of the House team, including the Faculty Deans, House Administrator, Building Manager, and Dining Hall Manager, to help set the vision and objectives for the House as a whole.
• Resides on campus and participates in House life, including taking regular meals in the dining halls, attending certain House events, and holding weekly office hours. The ABRD also plays a significant role in Commencement and sometimes presides at significant House events.
• Assists and advises the Faculty Deans in tutor hiring, reappointment, and termination and participates in annual tutor evaluation meetings.
• Via a dotted line, partners with the Faculty Deans to manage the resident tutors with respect to supporting individual student academic advising, student support and well-being and emergency response. Responsible for training resident tutors about College and House policies and protocol and overseeing the Tutors on Call. 
• Assists the Faculty Deans in planning the agenda for monthly House tutor meetings, often working with a senior tutor.
• The ABRD may carry out other duties specific to the House. Any additional House-specific duties should be developed in consultation with FDs and relevant College stakeholders.

Academic Teaching and Advising

• In partnership with the Faculty Deans, ABRDs are responsible for overseeing any medical school, graduate school, and fellowship endorsement letter College processes.
• In partnership with the House staff, responsible for supporting the sophomore transition to the House. Oversees the sophomore mentoring program, and budget, and supervises sophomore mentors in the House ensuring that all mentors are trained appropriately and fulfilling their roles as mentors.
• Assists the Faculty Deans and tutors with planning the orientation to the House for incoming students, including House-wide orientation meetings, educational programs, and activities to orient students to the life of the House.
• Teaches three courses over 5 years within the University and often contributes to the needs of an academic department in other ways, including advising senior theses and reading/research courses, as well as serving on departmental committees.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office setting.
• Required to work some nights and weekends, especially when on-call.

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting & using near vision for reading and computer use for extended periods of time.
• Lifting (approximately 20 to 30 pounds), bending, and other physical exertion.