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[afm_man]

Would faculty be opposed to having an associate dean from a different college (say an associate dean for sciences filled by an engineering faculty)?

I know this is sort of blind but I can see pros and cons but am wondering if faculty would be opposed.

[zharkov]

It depends on (a) the culture of the school and (b) on the specific role and responsibility of said admin.  On my view, an AD should be generally familiar with the curriculum and discipline, but need not be an expert, or close to it. 



 

[ucprof]

In my UC the AD is largely dealing with behind the scene financial stuff and is typically not making executive decisions. 

[brixton]

At many schools AD's play the role of "seeing eye dog" for a new or overworked Dean.  For that reason, if they're in-house, they know the busy intersections, and dangerous corners (to stick with a rather lame metaphor).  This is particularly true for small colleges, where there can be unknown political swamps (I'm drifting from the metaphor, I know. If your seeing eye dog is leading you through a swamp, you've got problems!) and puzzling traditions.