Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Position: Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Regular/Contingent: Regular [12-Months]
Full or Part Time: Full Time
Open: 11/20/2020
Closing Open Until Filled
General Purpose of the Position
The position of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (SVPAA) is charged to lead Division of Academic Affairs to support and promote Leighton University’s mission. Academic Affairs supports faculty’s work, whose teaching, scholarship, and service bring academic programs and experiences to life. The office of Academic Affairs supports the spirit of shared governance with the University’s faculty to oversee all aspects of the curriculum and support curricular initiatives; academic policies and procedures; support for faculty scholarship and teaching; the administration of all academic schools, departments, the academic Library. Other responsibilities include the Registration Office as well as the overall institutional effectiveness and assessment efforts.
Nature and Scope
Reporting directly to the university president and working in close collaboration with other President’s cabinet members, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs serves as the University’s Chief Academic Officer. In the role, the incumbent defines and advances the University’s academic vision, provides leadership in achieving and refining the institution’s strategic plan’s goals, coordinates the development and implementation of curriculum and academic programs. Also, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs services and promotes faculty development and research activity, including the recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty, and leads efforts to ensure that the University is inclusive and advances diversity in the broadest sense.
Additionally, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs will play a key role in working with the President, the University’s community as the institution identifies and implements goals as part of its founding. The Senior Vice President will partner with constituencies across the University to enhance student success outcomes, including support for the financial allocations to this area. Moreover, the Senior Vice President is expected to lead a robust academic leadership team and further develop academic leaders throughout the institution. Further, the Senior Vice President effectively engages faculty, staff, and students in decision-making in ways that support Leighton’s commitment to shared governance.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Assure handbooks related to faculty governance and policies and governance remain current and updated.
- Champions teaching and faculty-driven decision-making in instruction, curriculum development, academic policy, and other faculty support aspects.
- Oversee the development and application of financial plans and policies to meet changing academic needs and effectively communicate with internal and external constituents.
- Profoundly understands and promotes the role and use of technology in the instructional environment.
- Provide leadership in strategic planning, academic planning, program development, fiscal and personnel management, and evaluation.
- Reviews grant opportunities and support applications for new grants; oversees grants within the Academic Affairs area.
- Develops future leaders while overseeing the academic programs as support by the deans and departmental chairpersons.
- Directs academic functions and activities to execute operations, achieve strategic goals, and increase efficiency.
- Leads administration of a broad and inclusive array of academic support units and services.
- Plans and allocates resources and participate in long-term planning efforts.
- Provides leadership for program reviews, including accreditation, and develop new academic programs in cooperation with the appropriate academic program development process.
- Provides the overall direction for recruitment and selection of all academic personnel; review and recommend appropriate action on appointment, retention, and tenure and faculty promotion.
- Serve as in the President’s Executive Cabinet representing academic functions supporting the division’s mission and values.
- Provides oversight of the assessment of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and university-wide accreditation.
- Works with the faculty to develop academic programs, including articulating standards and student learning outcomes, assessment protocols, and systematic data collection and review processes.
- Plan, coordinate, and purposefully administer the development and management of the budget for assigned academic areas; make recommendations to meet the educational and support needs of academic programs, students, and community.
- Oversee the development of the university catalog and schedules of classes.
- Other duties as supervisor shall be assigned.
Employment Standards
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Has the knowledge and commitment to distance learning, alternative scheduling, and planning to meet undergraduate, graduate, and distance learning students’ needs.
- A commitment to shared governance that includes a strong working relationship with faculty.
- A commitment to academic excellence, innovation, research, and meaningful engagement in community service.
- Evidence of commitment to educational equity, including the recruitment and development of a diverse faculty and staff.
- Have strong communication and interpersonal skills that effectively advocate for institutional achievement and successes, both internally and externally.
- Prepares and assemble agenda materials; review and proof documents, contracts, and resolutions for accuracy, completeness, and conformance to applicable rules and regulations.
Qualifications and Desirable Characteristics
- Earned terminal degree (doctorate preferred), including a record of distinction in teaching and research or creative activity.
- The ideal candidate should record significant academic leadership accomplishments, including success in program development and academic innovation.
- Knowledge of and experience in working with instructional technologies including associated platforms, including but not lnstructure Canvas.
- Experience as an academic leader with responsibilities in curriculum development, student learning outcomes assessment, faculty development, or career and workforce education.
Physical Demands and Work Setting
The environments herein represent those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job productively. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support the individual with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Environment: Work is primarily performed in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods viewing computer monitor; possible exposure to dissatisfied individuals.
Physical: Primary functions require some physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for continued periods; to occasionally bend, stoop, crouch kneel, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate standard office equipment which requires repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard, and to verbally and audibly communicate with others in the exchange of information and messages.
Vision: Reasonable ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Hearing: Reasonable ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Leighton University is an Equal Opportunity Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or other protected categories.
This position description in no way directly states or implies that the duties performed by the employee occupying the position are limited to those identified here. The employee will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by the supervisor.