Dean vs. Principal: Difference and Comparison
By Muazma Batool & Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 8, 2023
A dean typically oversees a specific academic division in a college or university, while a principal is the head of a school, primarily K-12.
Difference Between Dean and Principal
A dean is primarily associated with higher education institutions like colleges and universities. They are responsible for a specific academic department or division, ensuring the smooth functioning and management of the academic programs within their purview. On the other hand, a principal is primarily seen in K-12 educational institutions. They play a pivotal role in the day-to-day operations of the school, ensuring a conducive learning environment for students.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
In colleges or universities, a dean might work closely with department heads, professors, and students to establish academic standards, manage budgets, and handle grievances. They might also have a significant role in faculty recruitment, retention, and promotion. The principal, on the other hand, works with teachers, students, parents, and sometimes school boards. They look into administrative tasks, ensuring discipline, academic progress, and overall well-being of the students.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
When it comes to the hierarchical setup, a dean often reports to a provost or the president of a college or university. They may also work in tandem with other deans overseeing different departments. The principal, conversely, is typically the top authority figure in a school setting, sometimes reporting to a district superintendent or a school board.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 05, 2023
A dean's focus is narrower in the sense that they are concentrating on a particular academic division or department. Their decisions often revolve around higher education and advanced academic pursuits. A principal has a broader scope of responsibilities, encompassing everything from student safety to teacher performance and the general upkeep of the school environment.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 05, 2023
While both roles are leadership positions within educational institutions, their scopes and spheres of influence are distinct. A dean delves deep into academic intricacies, while a principal is a more overarching administrative role, ensuring the overall functionality of a school.
Levi
Sep 05, 2023
Dean vs. Principal Comparison Chart
Reporting
Often to a provost or university president
Often to a school board or district superintendent
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
Main Interactions
Professors, department heads, students
Teachers, students, parents
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 05, 2023
Primary Responsibilities
Managing academic programs, faculty recruitment, budgets
School administration, discipline, student and teacher welfare
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
Dean vs. Principal Definitions
◉Dean
An official overseeing a college or university division.
The dean of the arts faculty introduced the new courses for the semester.
Leo
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.
Wisdom is the principal thing.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A title given to someone who is the head of a faculty or department in a university.
Dr. Smith was appointed the dean of engineering.
Olivia
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid.
The bank will charge interest on the principal amount.
William
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A senior member of clergy, often in charge of a cathedral or chapter.
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The person with the highest authority in an educational institution.
The principal addressed the students during the morning assembly.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
(legal) A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf; or on whose behalf an agent or gestor in a negotiorum gestio acts.
When an attorney represents a client, the client is the principal who permits the attorney, the client′s agent, to act on the client′s behalf.
My principal sells metal shims.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
United States film actor whose moody rebellious roles made him a cult figure (1931-1955)
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A person in a position of leadership or authority in certain educational or organizational contexts.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The leading performer in a concert, play, or ballet.
She was the principal dancer in the ballet performance.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
Roman Catholic Church A priest appointed to oversee a group of parishes within a diocese.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A dignitary or presiding officer in certain church bodies, especially an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop, in charge of a chapter of canons.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
An administrative officer in charge of a college, faculty, or division in a university.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
(Architecture) Either of a pair of inclined timbers forming the sides of a triangular truss for a pitched roof.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, - as distinguished from an accessory.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A registrar or secretary of the faculty in a department of a college, as in a medical, or theological, or scientific department.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
a man who is the senior member of a group;
he is the dean of foreign correspondents
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The person having prime responsibility for an obligation as distinguished from one who acts as surety or as an endorser.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A recognized or influential figure in a particular field.
She was considered the dean of modern American poetry.
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
An officer of a college or high school who counsels students and supervises the enforcement of rules.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
(Ecclesiastical) The head of the chapter of canons governing a cathedral or collegiate church.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
The senior member of a body or group
the dean of the Washington diplomatic corps.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
One who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school, middle school, or high school.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
The chief or senior of a company on occasion of ceremony; as, the dean of the diplomatic corps; - so called by courtesy.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A main participant in a situation, especially a financial transaction.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
The senior member of some group of people.
dean of the diplomatic corps - a country's most senior ambassador
dean of the House - the longest-serving member of a legislature
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
An amount of capital originally borrowed or invested, as opposed to the interest paid or accruing on it.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The most significant part of an estate, as opposed to minor or incidental components.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
Primary; most important; first level in importance.
Smith is the principal architect of this design.
The principal cause of the failure was poor planning.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
A dignitary or presiding officer in certain ecclesiastical and lay bodies; esp., an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
(mathematics) Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that the function is single-valued.
Two is the principal square root of 4. Both −2 and +2 are square roots of 4.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
The collegiate officer in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, England, who, besides other duties, has regard to the moral condition of the college.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The construction that gives shape and strength to a roof, generally a truss of timber or iron; or, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Dean
The head or presiding officer in the faculty of some colleges or universities.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
One of the turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and centre of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; - distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary, or assistant.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
the educator who has executive authority for a school;
she sent unruly pupils to see the principal
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
the major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
most important element;
the chief aim of living
the main doors were of solid glass
the principal rivers of America
the principal example
policemen were primary targets
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A fundamental truth or proposition serving as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior.
Honesty is a principal virtue one should possess.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
Of, relating to, or being financial principal, or a principal in a financial transaction.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
A person having a leading or starring role in a performance, such as the first player in a section of an orchestra.
Muazma Batool
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.
A portion of your mortgage payment goes to reduce the principal, and the rest covers interest.
Muneeza Rehman
Aug 31, 2023
◉Principal
The person directly responsible for a crime.
He was the principal in the robbery case, while others were just accomplices.
Lucas
Aug 31, 2023
Dean vs. Principal Frequently Asked Questions
Who is higher, a dean or a professor?
A dean is typically higher in the administrative hierarchy than a professor, overseeing various aspects of a department or division.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
Can a dean expel a student?
While a dean may play a role in the disciplinary process, the power to expel a student often lies with a larger administrative body or process.
Henry
Sep 05, 2023
What is a dean in a university?
A dean is an official overseeing a specific academic division or department in a college or university.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
Are deans involved in teaching?
Some deans may teach courses, but their primary responsibilities are administrative.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
Is a principal an educator?
Yes, most principals start as educators or teachers and move up the administrative ladder to become principals.
Lucas
Sep 05, 2023
What does a school principal do?
A school principal oversees the day-to-day operations of a school, ensuring a conducive learning environment, maintaining discipline, and handling administrative tasks.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 05, 2023
Do universities have principals?
Typically, universities have presidents, provosts, or chancellors. Schools, especially K-12, have principals.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 05, 2023
How does one become a dean?
Becoming a dean often requires extensive experience in academia, a terminal degree, and sometimes additional administrative training or qualifications.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 05, 2023
Who does the principal report to?
A principal typically reports to a school board or a district superintendent.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
Is the role of a dean similar across all universities?
While the basic responsibilities might be similar, the specific duties and powers of a dean can vary across institutions and countries.
Muazma Batool
Sep 05, 2023
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