Leadership Opportunities - Pages 3

• Work collaboratively to develop and execute an enrollment management plan that fosters an inclusive environment to support the growth and retention of a diverse student body across multiple learning platforms. The university has experienced enrollment challenges in recent years resulting from the changing demographic trends of the region as well as new and diverse perspectives on the value of higher education among stakeholders. It is imperative that the provost and vice president for academic affairs lead the development and execution of a strategic enrollment management plan that is focused not only on growth in numbers but also on state-of-the-art models for student success and retention. It is essential that efforts are aligned to support the whole student from their experiences in the classroom to co- curricular activities and experiential learning. As a part of a robust enrollment management strategy, it will be important to develop a modern advising system that honors faculty workload and expertise yet also incorporates the advantages offered by a professional advising staff with a focus on student success and the elimination of retention gaps between different student constituencies. With the goals of increasing enrollment and enhancing retention across multiple learning platforms, the provost and vice president for student affairs must: 1)possess an understanding of national and regional enrollment trends and the factors that contribute to successful growth including partnerships and alternative methods of education delivery; 2) have a lens of expansion to include more nontraditional learners, stackable credentials, and innovative instructional delivery models and degree pathways; and 3) work collaboratively to recruit a diverse student population with particular attention on expanding relationships and opportunities with the local Hispanic community.

• Recruit, retain and develop a committed and talented faculty. ESU’s faculty is its most valuable resource; they bring distinction to the university through excellence in teaching fueled by their own scholarly accomplishments and distinctive engagement with students. In pursuit of ESU’s highest aspirations, the provost and vice president for academic affairs will ensure that the university continues to recruit, support and retain a diverse faculty that strengthens the fabric of ESU and furthers the university’s distinctive education, research and commitment to the common good. A hallmark of the ESU faculty is its student-centered approach to teaching and learning and the offering of real-world experiences that best prepare students for success beyond college.

• Engage with university, local, and state constituents to enhance community connections and make a distinctive contribution to a thriving state economy. The provost and vice president for academic affairs must be attentive to the university’s internal communities and convey a visible commitment to building a holistic culture that unites students, faculty, staff, foundation trustees and other governance units in support of the university’s mission and core values. Likewise, strategic partnerships with businesses, non-profit organizations and units of local, regional and state government will play an important role in ESU’s future success. One prime opportunity for the region’s success will be an enhancement of partnerships and academic programming that is inclusive of the local K-12 schools and assists in building a more diverse student community at ESU. The next provost and vice president for academic affairs must be highly skilled in donor relations and expanding external support. Accomplishing this engagement will require a provost who is as comfortable working outside the university as within.

Emporia State University seeks an energetic, results-driven, innovative, culturally competent, and relationaloriented provost and vice president for academic affairs. The candidate must demonstrate an enthusiastic, sincere commitment to the mission of the university with the knowledge that ESU embraces four core values: excellence, respect, responsibility, and service.

The ideal candidate should be an excellent communicator, eager to engage with faculty, students, staff, and the larger community on a frequent and meaningful basis, and have a supportive, diverse, and inclusive style of critical thinking and decisive action. The candidate should also have significant financial management skills, a demonstrated commitment to transparent and participatory decision-making, a record of commitment to shared governance, and a dedication to the value of a regional university’s collaborative links with the communities it serves.

Qualifications and Attributes

Candidates for this position must have an earned doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to discipline and a demonstrated record of teaching, service, and research. Further, the individual should have an accomplished record of academic leadership, curriculum development, accreditation, faculty recruitment and retention, and management of operational and financial aspects of university academic affairs. The provost and vice president for academic affairs must support inclusive strategic planning that inspires the campus community to educate for the common good, promoting academic excellence and success throughout the institution. This individual must work collaboratively with the university president and other university leadership including academic deans, faculty, staff, and students to advance the academic mission of the university. The successful candidate should possess the following attributes:

Leadership

ȓ Ability and desire to navigate and lead Emporia State

University through complex planning and action to address the challenges of current and emerging trends in higher education; ȓ An engaging leadership style with the desire and skills to listen actively and carefully, assess fairly, innovate strategically, and build a shared commitment to a progressive agenda; ȓ An understanding of the need to achieve early, visible successes while implementing long-term projects and developing organizational infrastructure; ȓ A commitment to developing productive working relationships that fosters a sense of trust with schools/colleges and the school/college deans; ȓ An ability to demonstrate courage in making difficult strategic decisions and the willingness to embrace and manage change that leads to an enhanced vision for success; Academic Excellence

ȓ Ability to reimagine the recruitment and support of current and emerging student populations and execute on innovative strategies that support student success and retention; ȓ Understanding and knowledge of academic affairs issues and strategies, including instructional technology and how it advances teaching and learning; ȓ Encourages and inspires innovation in teaching and learning and curriculum/program development; ȓ Commitment to growing online learning, hybrid, and traditional, campus-based learning, recognizing all three models for learning are critical and oncampus vitality is essential; ȓ Commitment to the highest quality education and understanding of accreditation processes; ȓ Unfailing support of the public university’s access and affordability mission;