3 minute read
The Opportunity
Emporia State University (ESU) is an intensely personal, welcoming campus community. With a highly engaged student-centered learning environment, ESU is committed to providing expanded access to a high-quality education that elevates economic opportunity and contributes significantly to the vitality of a diverse society. Founded in 1863 as Kansas Normal School, Emporia State University (ESU) is the only public institution in Kansas named a “College of Distinction” because of the real-world, high-impact learning that ensures students are career ready. The ESU campus, online, and hybrid-served student population of 2,948 undergraduate and 2,667 graduate students is guided by an accomplished faculty, staff, and administrative team numbering 738. The university budget is $96.8 million. A vibrant living and learning environment invites students statewide, nationally, and globally to be a part of the campus community and its close-knit university-city relationship.
• Serve as an important member of the President’s Leadership Team and as a critical representative of Emporia State with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). The next provost for ESU must be prepared to lead and manage in an accelerated environment of change. Like many regional universities, ESU has encountered the headwinds of declining enrollments and budget shortfalls while continuing to deliver a high quality, high touch education for its students. In partnership with KBOR, ESU is making strides to become a key contributor to the Board’s Strategic Plan, Building A Future. The next provost will be expected to lead and manage the academic enterprise, coordinate academic programming and innovation with the president and his leadership team and serve as one of the president’s primary liaisons with KBOR.
• Reimagine Emporia State’s academic programming and space utilization to support student growth and learning and contribute to a bold and strategic vision for the future.
ESU must continue to capitalize on its nationally renowned Teachers College and its creative approaches to teacher education while also expanding opportunities in new marketdemand academic programming throughout the university’s four colleges and schools. The provost must demonstrate courage in making difficult strategic decisions to ensure ESU thrives in the everchanging landscape of higher education. In partnership with the Kansas Board of Regents, ESU has been engaged with the RPK Group to assess current academic programming and offer solutions that will benefit students and future employers as well as meet the budgetary demands of the university. ESU is well positioned to create new and innovative academic programs as well as reimagine its building and grounds to continue its service to students and families seeking a cutting-edge education in a highly supportive university community.
• Provide trusted leadership built upon meaningful engagement and a transparent approach to change management.
The provost and vice president for academic affairs will devote time, energy and sensitivity to establishing strong relationships and gaining the trust and respect of senior leadership, faculty, staff, students and the broader community. They must lead by example, listening and learning from colleagues, and personally setting the tone for civil discourse. Grounded in a solutions-oriented approach to complex decision making, the provost and vice president for academic affairs is expected to seek input from invested stakeholders, make decisions fairly and take decisive action to ensure ESU remains a leader in graduating students who are career ready. While change is an expected and necessary component for growth, the provost and vice president for academic affairs must have the ability to process multiple positions on issues, seek solutions based upon trusted input, and effectively explain how and why decisions are made when complete and seamless reconciliation is not possible. Success in this position is as much about building relationships and establishing trust in the community as it is about academic leadership and expertise. Engagement, transparency, respect, and trust will be hallmarks of a successful tenure as the academic leader of the university.
