Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost

Montana State University Billings

Full time, year round, Board of Regents position

Search #8069APR

**Revised and Extended**

Montana State University Billings invites letters of interest and/or nomination for the position of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost.  The position is located at Montana State University Billings in Billings, Montana.

Montana State University Billings is a comprehensive, regional public university and is an affiliate of the Montana State University family of campuses and is firmly committed to supporting and strengthening Montana State University and the Montana University System by fostering strong inter-institutional relationships and making a solid commitment to collaboration, resource sharing, and partnerships.  The University is the third largest of the six four-year-plus units of the Montana University System.  The University consists of six academic colleges: the College of Allied Health Professions, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning, and the College of Technology.  Today, the University serves approximately 5,000 students across the six colleges.

Montana State University Billings offers pre-professional and certification programs and awards degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels.  MSU Billings also offers post-master’s (non-degree) supervisor endorsement programs in Reading K-12 and Special Education K-12.

Montana State University Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.  It is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for preparing elementary and secondary teachers and school counselors through the Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees and the Master of Science in Special Education degree.  MSU Billings is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and the Council on Rehabilitation Education.  College of Technology programs are approved by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and the Montana Board of Nursing.  MSU Billings has also achieved candidacy status for Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for its College of Business.

DESCRIPTION:      The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost reports directly to the Chancellor and serves as the Chief Academic Officer of the University.  The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs also serves as the University’s Chief Research Officer, Chief Graduate Programs Officer and as Chief Program Officer for E-Learning and International Studies Programs.  The Provost is responsible for all academic colleges, departments, instructional support units, and the Library.  The Provost oversees the University’s ongoing accreditation efforts, Continuous Quality Improvement Initiative (CQI), and Learning Outcome Initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support and facilitate the University-wide strategic planning process.
• Work collaboratively with the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the Chief Information Officer to develop, implement and maintain an academic and institutional effectiveness assessment system in order to support decision making, planning, improvement, growth, reporting and accreditability.
• The Provost is responsible for providing the type of academic leadership that embraces shared governance and collaboration and energizes the University community to advance ideas, innovations and outcomes while promoting the collective interests of faculty, staff and students.
• Provide the vision, leadership and oversight that effectively guides the development and advancement of an accomplished faculty and supports faculty and student research as well as graduate education.
• Support a collaborative environment that fosters and encourages the promotion of information sharing and creative thinking.
• Participate in University-wide and system-wide activities in all areas of academic-related responsibility.
• Provide the oversight and leadership that directs sound, responsible decision-making for the budget allocations and the fiscal affairs of the entire academic side of the University.  This includes budget planning, resource allocations to the academic units, resource re-allocations, and budgeting accountability.
• Supervise and provide all academic administration and make recommendation to the Chancellor concerning the appointment, retention, and advisement of all faculty.
• Ensure authentic academic excellence in teaching, programs, support programs and curriculum.
• Work with the academic deans in developing and implementing successful strategies to engage adult learners in post-secondary programs of study.
• Develop, maintain and oversee the progress of all academic programs and services that reflect the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Collaboratively plan, design and implement academic programs and services central to the University’s strategic initiatives to expand significantly our International Studies Programs, Graduate Programs and Research mission.
• Provide strategic counsel to the academic deans and directors to ensure each college or academic program develops its own increasingly unique mission within the context of the broader University mission and strategic plan.
• Guide and counsel the Chancellor and the Chancellor’s Cabinet on the issues, challenges, and opportunities related to the University’s two-year educational mission as well as to provide for the direction, growth and development of the College of Technology.
• Work collaboratively with the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs in providing direction, staffing, scheduling, and oversight of the Academic Support Centers (senior campus and College of Technology).
• Collaboratively develop, maintain, and direct the University’s multi-campus programs, services, and activities.
• Work with the Vice Chancellors and the Chancellor in enhancing the University’s ability to collaborate and interface with K-12 education, the Tribal Colleges, the Community Colleges and the Colleges of Technology within and outside the University System.
• Provide leadership that directs the College Deans to embrace an active role in securing philanthropic support for their respective Colleges, in cooperation with the MSU Billings Foundation.
• Be available for donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation as requested by the MSU Billings Foundation.
• To collaborate with, facilitate, and support new student learning initiatives that are cross-divisional and support student learning initiatives and outcomes that emphasize learning that occurs in and outside the classroom (service learning, cooperative education, civic engagement, etc.)
• To provide the leadership and oversight to ensure that all academic units, deans, faculty, and staff participate in and support the University’s ongoing emergency planning and response efforts in the context of our broader emergency planning and safety initiatives.
• To provide leadership, oversight, and direction in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the Chancellor for the University’s International Studies Program.
• To actively engage with and contribute to the University’s Enrollment Management Team, including:  setting enrollment goals for programs and colleges, setting enrollment goals for graduate studies programs, exploring and evaluating enrollment growth strategies, and the recruitment and retention of all students.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will have:

• an earned doctorate;
• an understanding of and commitment to public higher education;
• hold the distinguished academic credentials befitting the responsibilities of this position;
• at least five years of proven academic leadership experience with progressively greater responsibilities in an organization of similar or greater complexity;
• a proven record of successful organizational strategic planning and proven ability to formulate/prioritize goals and complete them in a timely manner;
• evidence of resourceful leadership and judicious administrative and decision-making experience;
• strong public speaking and presentation skills;
• sound fiscal and budgetary management skills and experience;
• an open, collaborative management style, a record of indisputable fairness and integrity; and a high political acumen and sensitivity to the public expectations of a comprehensive public university;
• possess a deep understanding and appreciation for contemporary undergraduate and graduate education and a strong record of academic leadership and innovation in teaching, research and scholarly activity and public service;
• experience in the cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of private philanthropic donors;
• strong record of scholarly activity including research, publications, and grant funding;
• experience in providing leadership and direction for the continuing growth, expansion, and transition of the College of Technology into a comprehensive two-year focused college within the University;
• knowledge, experience, and understanding of an urban university, including experience with adult education, workforce development, lifelong learning, satellite centers, community outreach, and academic programs and services for commuter students;
• knowledge of and experience with developing, implementing, and maintaining strategic enrollment management plans for student recruitment and retention;
• a strong commitment to diversity as well as understanding of the challenges, issues, and opportunities presented by a rapidly changing pattern of population demographics and future enrollments and staffing patterns;
• knowledge and understanding necessary to lead, guide, and implement the applications of new and emerging instructional technologies in ways to embrace student learning outcomes, improve the quality of students learning experiences, and increase academic quality while achieving instructional efficiencies;
• strong record of support for shared governance, the importance of a strong peer review and evaluation process, and a commitment to protecting and providing academic freedom;
• successful experience and a commitment to fund raising and development as they relate to the continuing efforts of the MSU Billings Foundation and the University to build and strengthen endowments, enhance scholarship support, and create private/public partnerships to strengthen the financial infrastructure of the University; and
• knowledge of the issues, challenges, and opportunities presented to the University in an environment where students, at every level, have a meaningfully stronger dependence upon technology for communication, interaction, learning, and participation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
• Success with developing partnerships and cooperative programs across academic areas.
• Knowledge of current and long-term trends in higher education.
• Experience with international education programs and service.
• Experience with e-learning and curricular innovation and program development.

REVIEW DATE:      The review of applications will begin May 19, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. 

APPLY:  To receive full consideration, candidates are asked to submit the following

(1) a current Curriculum Vita, (2) a Cover Letter addressing the position’s responsibility and qualifications/skills and how your experiences and qualifications correspond, (3) a List of five (5) Professional References with contact information (including telephone numbers and email addresses), (4) an Authorization for Background Check Form to the address below.  ** It is also recommended to provide a (one page) statement of leadership philosophy, and a brief description (one page) of your commitment to innovation and creativity in academics.**

(Written requests for confidentiality will be honored, except the name and title of the finalists will be released.  For this position, an offer is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including work history, criminal history, credit listing and academic history.)

            Human Resources Office/EEO-AA Office

                                                Montana State University Billings

                                                1500 University Drive

                                                Billings, MT 59101-0298

                                                Phone:  (406) 657-2278; FAX:  (406) 657-2120

                                                http://www.msubillings.edu

                                                employment@msubillings.edu

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.

(In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.)

In accordance with The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the MSU Billings Crime Statistics of Specified Crimes is available for applicant review online at http://www.msubillings.edu/security, or can be accessed in the Human Resources Office, Student Union Building, Rm 255.

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS IS AN ADA/AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Qualified women, persons from minority groups, persons with disabilities, and persons with eligible veteran status are encouraged to apply.

Contact Human Resources Office, MSU-Billings, for more information regarding preference or accommodation (406/657-2278/TTY).

NOTICE

NOTE TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS

Thank you for your interest in employment at Montana State University Billings!  We welcome your application materials and appreciate your desire to work at MSU Billings. 

The screening committee will begin its review of all applications after the review date listed on the vacancy announcement.  Once the screening committee has completed its review of the applications, a list of finalists will be identified and invited for phone or personal interview.  The review process takes a minimum of one week after the posted review date.  Applicants who are not selected for an interview will be notified in writing once the recruitment process has concluded.

We recommend that you make and keep a copy of all materials you submit in the application process, as we are not able to return them to you nor will we be able to make a copy for you at a later date.

Persons with disabilities can request accommodations in the hiring and employment processes by contacting Human Resources at (406) 657-2278.

Please contact us if you have questions about our recruitment/screening process. 

Thanks again for your interest!