20-Year Prospect
As long as people need teaching, there will be a place for the Dean of Students.
But what about the advent of online education? People seem to do everything online from buying bikinis to finding spouses. Online education is growing and is expected to increase in the coming years. As more and more students choose this method of education, the position may shift a bit, but will still be just as important (source).
What might this look like for the virtual Dean of Students? You'll be spending even more time in front of a computer screen, trading the ringing of your phone for video conference call alerts.
Rest assured, though, whether online or on a bustling university campus, there will always be students who need a little help figuring out the next chapter they're opening.