Job Summary:

Nature of Work

The Vice President for Academic Affairs is the senior administrative officer representing academic affairs and reports directly to the President. He/she is charged with academic leadership of the College and promotes excellence in teaching and service across all academic programs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs directs and coordinates all academic activities. For all degree and certificate programs, the Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for ensuring compliance with academic accreditation requirements; advancing scholarly activity; and growing and supporting academic programs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs supervises the Deans of the Schools of Arts and Humanities, Business and Technology, Education and Behavioral Sciences, and Science, Health, and Criminal Justice; the Director of the Center for Faculty Development and Innovation; and Academic Affairs Project Coordinator. The VPAA also oversees Records and Registration, Academic Success Center, Library, Assessment and Accreditation, Service Learning, Graduate Program, Institutional Research, and Honors Program.The Vice President for Academic Affairs works closely with other vice presidents and administrators to support the College mission, vision and objectives, and to ensure institutional effectiveness.

Major leadership agenda priorities include:

1. Creating environments that provide academic leadership, supervision, and management.

• Responsible for the successful operation of all academic areas at the College. Represent academic affairs with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop an efficient process for developing and implementing academically-sound programs, which includes building a positive working relationship with the State College System office.
• Oversee and engage faculty in developing, evaluating, assessing, and revising curricula that support student achievement.
• Ensure compliance with the Higher Learning Commission and work with the Deans regarding the accreditation of program specific areas.
• Recruit and recommend to the President, with the advice of deans and college standing committees, appropriate faculty decisions such as appointments, salary, retention, promotion, tenure, and grievances and disciplinary actions.
• Participate in the negotiation of contracts for faculty.
• Work with academic deans to create and implement a faculty development agenda to meet the needs of faculty and program objectives.
• Monitor existing, emerging, and innovative technologies to improve teaching and learning as well as make appropriate recommendations for implementing such technology.
• Support and guide a robust continuing education program that includes online courses, hybrids, and off-site delivery.
• Ensure compliance with College and Board policies and procedures.
• Embrace the college-wide commitment to shared governance by working collaboratively with the Faculty, Professional Staff, and Student Senates.
• Create environments that promote the professional success and well-being of academic support staff, academic deans, and directors who comprise the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Promote partnerships with off-campus constituencies that enhance College and regional effectiveness which includes developing articulation agreements with other colleges and universities.

2. Advance Scholarly Activity and Service

• Enhance, promote, and support quality scholarly activity and service learning.
• Work with academic deans to clarify and promote the role that faculty scholarly activity plays throughout the College to support the achievement of institutional objectives.
• Encourage and facilitate pursuit of external funding, grants and contracts, and other resources that sustain scholarship and regional economic development.

Major leadership agenda priorities continued:

3. Support Student Success and Engagement

• Create and support a campus environment that celebrates a wide spectrum of perspectives, fostering an atmosphere of acceptance and collaboration.
• Create and maintain a strong international education program.
• Support NCAA Division II athletics and student life.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Student Affairs to develop, implement, and monitor a student success model that is strategic, and data driven.
• Provide academic input and support to the institutional undergraduate and graduate enrollment management efforts.
• Create, implement, and manage a robust Graduate Student Enrollment Management Plan in collaboration with the Vice President for Enrollment Management.

4. Provide Institutional Leadership, Planning, and Budgeting

• Support and participate in institutional governance and committee structure.
• Represent Wayne State’s academic programs to external organizations, groups, and individuals to promote and develop support for the College’s mission, vision, and goals.
• Serve as an active member of the President’s Administrative team and work in collaboration with these leaders to make strategic decisions that advance the College’s mission and vision.
• Collaborate with the President and Deans to identify priorities and when appropriate partner with the Chief Executive Officer of the Wayne State Foundation to secure philanthropic support for Wayne State College.
• Formulate and articulate sound policies and demonstrated ability to identify, resolve, and consult on a wide range of administrative and personnel issues with a clear sense of institutional needs and priorities.
• Ensure effective and transparent communication with constituents across the institution.
• Build collaborative relationships with the campus community and external stakeholders.
• Work with the other executive officers on development of the campus master plan, campus wide facilities planning efforts, and physical plant functions.
• Oversee development and implementation of academic strategic planning.
• Supervise the preparation and submission of annual budgets for areas of direct responsibility to ensure appropriate resource allocation to advance strategic priorities. Plan for long-term capital and operational resource needs; manage and monitor budgets on an ongoing basis.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD, EdD, or other terminal academic or professional degree from an accredited institution;
• At least five years of directly related professional experience with three or more years of experience in an academic administrative position in roles that required management of faculty, accreditation, strategy, and budgets; and,
• Prior faculty experience in higher education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with higher education curriculum planning and program assessment, including graduate education and oversight;
• Committed to working collaboratively with the campus leadership team to create and develop innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
• Understand the global nature of an institution and respects the various units that support student success.
• Knowledge and experience with alternative delivery systems such as ITV, online, and off-site delivery. Understanding of the evolving role of technology in higher education.
• High degree of energy, passion, initiative, organization, and attention to detail;
• Ability to plan and implement impactful strategic initiatives;
• Understand, appreciate, and commit to the mission of Wayne State College including dedication to serve first-generation students and traditionally underserved populations through an open-enrollment, inclusive environment;
• Dynamic and proactive leader who operates from a transparent communication model to foster collaboration and respect with faculty, student, and staff population.
• Committed to providing leadership to a student-centered comprehensive college and enhancing the quality of student learning at the graduate, undergraduate, and professional levels;
• Demonstrated commitment to collegiality and shared governance; experience with union environments;
• Experience with general studies, co-curricular and athletic programs;
• Budget and grant oversight experience;
• Proven record of working effectively with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external constituents; ability to navigate the college system and satellite campuses;
• Experience in state funded higher education administration; and,
• Experience in collective bargaining environment.

Compliance Requirements:

• Background Check
• Credit Check

About Us:

Wayne State College serves as a model of success for regional public higher education. Investments in infrastructure and facilities, expanded academic programs and partnerships, a whole-campus approach to recruitment and retention, and a commitment to strategic planning position the College as a strong member of the Nebraska State College System. More than 4,500 students rely on Wayne State for access to graduate and undergraduate degree programs in more than 130 programs of study each year, a role the College has proudly filled since its founding in 1891. Our goals are clear: continually improve retention and graduation rates, provide high-quality academic programs and campus facilities, support workforce and economic development in the region, maintain affordability and access, and manage resources for sustainability. We invite qualified applicants to join us in our important work.