The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, the state’s coordinating agency for Higher Education, is seeking an energetic leader with a vision to serve as its next Vice President for Academic Affairs. The successful candidate must be a person of passion, excitement, creativity and innovation prepared and eager to assume a highly visible academic leadership role within the state.
The individual must be able to collaborate with Council Board and senior leadership team members to analyze and contribute to the development of effective education policies; to supervise a professional academic affairs staff and oversee initiatives designed to implement policy recommendations; to work collaboratively with chief academic officers of Kentucky’s 4-year public universities and 2-year public community and technical college system to align institutional strengths with system-level aspirations; and, to partner with public schools, federal and state agencies, private associations, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders in an effort to realize Kentucky’s public agenda for postsecondary education that addresses the needs of students, citizens and their communities. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for coordinating an accessible, high quality, and engaged state-wide academic sector that operates effectively and efficiently.
Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include having an earned doctorate or equivalent; a minimum of seven years progressive academic administrative responsibilities with documentation of success; evidence of institutional-based academic experiences; and, a proven ability to supervise staff, develop and analyze policy, and communicate effectively. Preferred qualifications include having a clear understanding and appreciation for the type of diverse institutions that comprise Kentucky’s postsecondary education system; grant-writing skills and a knowledge of private foundations that support higher education initiatives; the ability to promote and market concepts and plans; and, an ability to excite others about the work and role of public higher education.
Salary: Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Interested applicants should electronically send only a letter of application specifically addressing the responsibilities and qualifications of the position; a curriculum vita or resume’ that includes complete personal contact information; and, the names, titles, and contact information for at least three primary references to:
Pat Sawyer
Director for Human Resources
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Patricia.Sawyer@ky.gov
The review of applications will begin May 8, 2009 and will continue until position is filled.
The Council is an equal opportunity employer.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Report directly to the President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and serve as a member of the agency’s senior leadership team
- Analyze and lead in the development of state-level education policy
- Supervise academic affairs professional staff involved in coordinating a diversity of statewide postsecondary education functions and initiatives supporting academic programs on college and university campuses such as STEM, developmental education, college readiness, regional stewardship, faculty development, state and local P-16 councils, teacher quality, adult learners, and several others
- Partner with chief academic officers to align institution-level visions, strengths and resources with those at the system-level
- Foster academic program collaborations between public postsecondary education institutions and the independent and proprietary sectors
- Link statewide academic initiatives with those of federal and state agencies, government offices, and private advocacy groups
- Oversee basic functions core to academic affairs such as new academic program approval, academic program productivity, course transfer, and student learning assessment reviews of public postsecondary education institutions
- Submit proposals for federal, state and private foundation funds to support academic affairs initiatives and manage the administration of grants awarded
- Administer state laws regarding the licensing of academic programs offered by independent and proprietary colleges and universities
- Understand the different roles of the 4-year research institutions, 4-year comprehensive universities, and 2-year community and technical colleges that comprise the Kentucky system of postsecondary education in coordinating collaborative statewide partnership initiatives
- Assist in the coordination of Council participation in statewide economic and workforce development programs
- Develop and implement academic affairs policies, programs and activities that foster distance education and integration of technology
- Review and assess the effectiveness of specific agency trust funds supporting academic affairs initiatives
- Provide recommendations for Council budget priorities in cooperation with senior leadership team members
- Serve as an active participant and assume leadership roles within national and regional groups and initiatives supporting Kentucky’s public agenda
- Maintain a visible presence on Kentucky’s public university and college campuses and develop on-going relationships with academic affairs leaders throughout the state
- Provide continual data and information to chief academic officers in an effort to keep them informed of new innovations and efforts that could benefit Kentucky
- Staff the Council of Chief Academic Officers