Vice Provost for Academic Affairs University of Montana

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The University of Montana (UM) invites applications for the next Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (VPAA). We welcome and invite applications from interested individuals with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We encourage applications from and nominations of women, Native Americans, persons of color, persons with disabilities, veterans, and other individuals from underrepresented groups.

As the next VPAA, you will assist with all matters of academic administration, policy and planning, and will act on behalf of the Provost when they are not available. In concert with the Provost, the VPAA coordinates with the Office of the Commissioner for Higher Education (OCHE) about Montana University System (MUS) initiatives that impact the academic affairs sector, and they support the Provost in preparation for the MUS Board of Regents quarterly meetings, including attending the meetings of the MUS Chief Academic Officers and the Academic, Research & Student Affairs Committee (ARSA).

Areas reporting directly to the VPAA include the Franke Global Leadership Initiative and the Undergraduate Writing Proficiency Assessment Program. For their work relating to faculty development, the Office of Organizational Learning and Development has a dotted reporting line to the VPAA. The VPAA will manage the review process for curricula, academic programs, program accreditation, unit standards, centers and institutes, and faculty evaluation. The VPAA will represent the Provost’s Office on university standing committees, such as the Writing Assessment Committee and Faculty Senate committees, and will serve as UM’s liaison to the Montana University System for Common Course Numbering (CCN).

As the VPAA you will play a vital role in the university’s accreditation by serving as UM’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO). You will have oversight of annual reports and periodic additional reporting duties to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for the accreditation cycle commencing in May 2024. The VPAA, with the support of the Academic Policy Manager, will be charged with reporting substantive changes to NWCCU, and chairs the University Assessment and Accreditation Committee.

The VPAA will create highly functional, collaborative partnerships with the Vice Provost for Campus Life and Student Success and the Vice Provost for Educational Initiatives and Innovation on cross-cutting initiatives involving all three offices. The VPAA will also collaborate with the enrollment management team and will work with deans and department chairs to ensure course availability and capacity for incoming and returning students.

Additional specific duties for this role include:

Work closely with campus leaders on all academic- and faculty-related policies and processes, and serve as the Provost’s Office liaison to the Faculty Senate and as an ex-officio member of the following Faculty Senate Committees:

Academic Standards Curriculum Review Committee

Graduate Council

General Education

Writing Committee

Executive Committee of the Senate (by invitation)

The VPAA supports unit chairs/directors and deans in the development of curriculum proposals and their associated fiscal projections.

With the Provost, the VPAA determines the strategic direction of the curriculum, which is reflected in the annual Academic Priorities Statement and the list of forthcoming Requests to Plan;

Supervise the Academic Policy Manager, whose chief role is to coordinate and manage incoming curriculum and program proposals, program reviews, center and institute reviews, unit standards reviews, the faculty evaluation and sabbatical submission processes, and internal communications within and from the Provost’s Office;

Chair the University Conduct Board and the Academic Conduct Board and handle all instances of academic misconduct;

Manages and coordinates the committees for UM’s course evaluation procedures and academic administrator and faculty annual awards;

Provide strategic leadership in diversity and work to foster an inclusive culture that supports student success for our Native American students, including co-chairing the Native American Student Advisory Council and serving on the President’s Native American Advisory Council and OCHE’s American Indian/Minority Achievement Program Council;

Provide oversight, direction, and development of Academic Affairs initiatives, including but not limited to:

Academic calendar, including Summer and Winter Terms

Initiatives led by OCHE such as:

Co-requisites/Dev-Ed

Quotly

Cross-cutting initiatives such as Open Educational Resources, High Impact Practices, and other emerging emphases from UM’s Priorities for Action

DFW rates

Identification and promotion of national and international awards for faculty and scholars

General Education

Interdisciplinary programs

Memorandums of Understanding and connections with UM Affiliate campuses across the MUS

The VPAA is a highly visible and trusted campus presence, with strong interpersonal and communication skills and encourages collaboration and innovation. The VPAA will engage with faculty, staff, and students frequently to ensure consistent and responsive problem solving. The VPAA will create highly functional, collaborative partnerships between the University and the faculty by forging relationships that reinforce our commitment to academic excellence.

UM is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action

: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

Position Details

Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, MUS Contract and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package

including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Starting salary for this position is $150,000 per year commensurate with qualifications.

Required Qualifications

PhD or terminal degree and at least five (5) years of experience in a higher education setting

Considerable senior leadership skills demonstrating exceptional interpersonal, communication, management, problem solving, and decision-making abilities

Successful record of working with faculty

Commitment to advocating for academic freedom, scholarly excellence, collegiality, peer review, and shared governance

Broad intellectual interests and the ability to work with faculty and campus leaders across the diverse academic programs at UM

An open, inclusive, and collaborative leadership style

Ability to comprehensively analyze quantitative and qualitative data in the support of applying relevant information to programmatic improvement and successful initiative implementation

Ability to clearly articulate plans, policies, and intricately detailed strategies with clarity and precision

Demonstrated ability to work in a highly collaborative environment, fostering and developing working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders throughout the academic community

Ability to remain highly functional and productive while working in a time sensitive, deadline driven, high pressure environment.

Ability to maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with sensitive or proprietary information

Steadfast commitment to maintaining a diverse and inclusive institutional environment

Preferred Qualifications

Progressive leadership experience in higher education setting

About UM

and Missoula

The University of Montana is flagship, research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

University of Montana

Video: Mission First, People Always

UM on YouTube

City of Missoula

Video: There's This Place

Destination Missoula

Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce

The State of Montana

Visit Montana

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.

ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference.

Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.

References

*References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant.

Testing

Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions.

E mployment Eligibility.

All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

Company info

The University of Montana
Website : https://www.umt.edu