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Arkansas Baptist College
Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Position Description
As Arkansas Baptist College builds on its strong tradition of student success, the College seeks a courageous, accomplished leader who will partner with the President, college leadership) chairpersons, faculty, staff, and students to build programs and advance strategic priorities in both academic and student affairs to support the richness and fullness of the student experience. To be successful in the role, the next Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will have a strong track record of leadership and accomplishments — in diverse settings — with experience building academic programs (both traditional and online: undergraduate; degree and certificate); leading and mentoring others; maintain attention to detail; supporting employee deveiopment; and providing nimble and flexible approaches to complex challenges.
With a steadfast commitment to its rnission of access and affordability, and deeply embedded culture of student success. ABC is positioned to grow and strengthen its fundraising base, by cultivating relationships with donors who share our values and goals. As liberal arts college within a vibrant region, ABC presents its new Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs with a myriad of opportunities for understanding and managing the complexities of relationships with external partners, influencers, and stakeholders, Recognizing common goals and shared values, the new Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will be able to identify opportunities for long-term partnerships in the Little Rock metropolitan area and beyondThe next Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will:
Partner with the campus community to drive college-wide initiatives reflecting the President’s vision for a values-driven teaching and learning community that is centered on personalizing the student experience; these initiatives also will address student needs for encouragement, support, and meaningful preparation for selecting a career path.
Work intentionally with colleagues and faculty to assess regional markets for and lead planning and development of opportunities for the creation of new undergraduate programs, especially interdisciplinary programs and other undergraduate degrees such as computer science and education.
Initiate discussions of a strategic balance between on-campus and online teaching and learning, for both near-term and long-term, carefully balancing the interests of faculty and outcomes for students, as well as responsible, cost effective use of fiscal, information technology: and space resources.
use of collaborative process to identify potential opportunities to reimagine the structure of the academic and student affairs units and balance centralization and decentralization of administration/processes/infrastructures — to better support members of these units; optimize legacy processes and approaches.
0 Develop an integrated approach to student life; transition the residential living programs into “living and learning communities.”
Support essential changes to the general education curriculum in response to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education requirements; examine and address needs as well as opportunities for cross-curricular degree and certificate programs and courses.
Support the chairpersons in their shared goals to build more internship and similar meaningful engagement opportunities for students through growth in community, business, non-profit and governmental partnerships; explore ways to enhance support for student career planning and transitioning.
Working with the Cabinet and campus budget managers, bring transparency and delegate appropriate authority within an emerging new ABC budget process.
Champion and build on the exceptional culture. pride and reputation of ABC in intentional ways, both large and small; represent ABC to advance understanding of its unique role in the region and find new ways to partner for mutual benefit, including revenue generating new degree or certificates, experiential learning and funding for ABC initiatives.
Build support for ABC by engaging in the full range of advancement functions, including cultivating partnerships and enhancing friend- and fundraising efforts.
ABC’s next Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will be an aspirational, values centered, and holistic leader who demonstrates authentic passions and strengths as follows:
Clearly communicates decisions from a ‘big picture’ context and demonstrates understanding of potential impacts on people and processes.
Meaningful experience organizing units to reflect current strengths and address future needs of academic and student affairs; place strong emphasis on alignment of people and processes that allow and effectively support individuais to do their best work.
A good listener; foster an environment of openness for safe, frank and respectful discussions in all settings; well-organized, assures responsiveness to others, makes timely decisions and gives clear explanations of them.
Astute in recognizing potential and talent in students, faculty, and staff, and enjoys sparking or nurturing leadership, creativity, and interests in an authentic way.
Aspires to lift up each student, with deep insights and empathy for the unique struggles of first-generation college students; skilled in building student pride and confidence in a natural, motivational and aspirational way; conveys reinforcing messages that the “sky is the limit” and within their reach;
Enjoys opportunities to get to know the campus community and understand the ABC teaching and learning environment; values and respects all voices and perspectives both within formal processes and in informal interactions.
Fosters and facilitates scholarly and creative activities across the schools and disciplines and promotes student engagement. with faculty in such activities.
Aligns unit goals and resource allocations with ABCs vision and culture; committed to supporting/advocating for staff and faculty needs in fair, intentional, balanced and integrated ways.
A relationship and trust builder; brings an adaptable and inclusive communication style to work across and connect many kinds of units; builds understanding/acceptance of/consensus about difficult change; receptive to perspectives and ideas from all sources; values and cultivates creativity and innovation.
Accomplished in assuring a fair, discrimination free environment and fostering compliance with Title requirements; nurtures outcomes though collaboration and coordination, teamwork and best practices that foster diversity, equity and inclusion; mindful of all policies and laws that apply to ABC.
A Broad Range of Experience in Higher Education
Seeks to make a !asting contribution of ABC’s mission grounded in his/her own commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion and student success.
Is an engaging, enthusiastic, and seasoned loader who is accomplished in a broad spectrum of academic and student affairs programs.
Has had successful leadership roiest ideally at a private institution(s) and brings demonstrable values and accomplishments that are consistent with ABCs culture as a young, vibrant, open*access teaching institution.
Has experience collaborating with stakeholders to identify campus-wide academic technology needs and priorities and sponsoring the selection and implementation of responsive technology solutions for teaching. Learning, and other academic and student affairs administration functions.
Capable, comfortable, and courageous in leading and participating in thoughtful discussions of issues across the college and higher education more broadly, especially those that have potential to be impactful to ABC’s culture and strategic priorities.
Collaboratively leads planning and execution of a shared vision for creative and strategic teaching and learning initiatives; at the same time willing to seize unforeseen opportunities, including those that arise from obstacles along the way.
Has a philosophy that embraces and champions opportunities to expand appropriate uses of online education delivery.
Comf01tabIe with and energized by the work of advancement, including friend-raising, fund-raising, and building a culture of community and alumni engagement.
Action-oriented and skillful in resolving complex or challenging issues, as well as day-today management problems, from dual perspectives reflecting the best interests of the College and appropriate empowerment of and delegations to others; in such situations is mindful of the need for transparency and credible stakeholder input for identification/analysis of options as well as realistic and well-understood outcomes.
Has high expectations for self and others; encourages “stretch goals”; coaches and mentors growth in others with constructive feedback; honors and supports existing good practices and drives best practices; makes time to appreciate and celebrate individual growth as well as team accomplishments.
A positive disposition; a team player as well as a team builder; honest with a strong personal compass; open-minded yet data-driven; approachable, humble, warm and kind, compassionate and empathetic; confidence to delegate and note a microw manager; resilient, works hard but also enjoys life and has a good sense of humor.
The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will provide leadership, administration, and advocacy for the division. The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will work jointly with a diverse body of students, faculty and staff to create and maintain a climate that fosters academic excellence, student learning and development while enhancing a strong sense of community. The Vice President will have a commitment to inclusive excellence by meeting and supporting the needs of a diverse student body. This role serves as a strong advocate for students and employees within the division.
Serve as the Chief Academic Officer with the primary responsibility for Arkansas Baptist College academic mission.
Advocate for the mission and vision of the College and coordinate with other administrative entities within the college leadership.
Serve as the liaison between faculty and the President to ensure the vitality and educational effectiveness of all present and future academic programs and curriculum.
Work in coordination with the president and other vice presidents to bring about measurable improvements in key performance indicators for learning and student success.
Provide leadership for academic program planning and development, educational policy, program assessment, faculty evaluations and faculty development consistent with the mission and strategic plan of the College.
Collaborate with ail areas within Academic and Student Affairs and the Office of Business and Finance to develop an annual budget to allocate College resources in a manner consistent with academic mission and strategic plan.
Promote a spirit of collegiality among instructional departments and other divisional entities across campus.
Represents the College in a wide range of Advancement functions in support of marketing, public relations, community outreach, and resource development.
A doctoral or terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
Five (5) to Seven (7) years of relevant experience in progressive roles in higher education;
A record of teaching excellence, service, and scholarship;
Experience with accreditation, program reviews, and academic assessment processes and procedures;
Demonstrated experience with budget management;
Review of credentials to begin immediately with position open until filled.