Vice President for Academic Affairs

OVERVIEW OF COLLEGE

Founded in 1986, St. Charles Community College (SCC) has a reputation as one of the best two-year colleges in the state of Missouri. With extraordinary faculty and staff, SCC serves a student population of more than 10,000 and a general population of more than 350,000 throughout St. Charles County and beyond. SCC's main campus, located in Cottleville, is a beautiful 12-building campus which has won architectural awards for its innovative, contemporary "educational village" design. The college has a second location in Dardenne Prairie, featuring a state-of-the-art nursing and allied health program. The success of SCC is rooted in the mission of serving our community by "focusing on academic excellence, student success, workforce advancement, and life-long learning within a global society. We celebrate diversity and we enrich the economic and cultural vitality of the region by providing an accessible, comprehensive, and supportive environment for teaching and learning."

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION

Position requires an innovative, student-centered leader to serve as the next Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA). This position serves as the chief academic officer for the college, providing vision and innovative leadership needed to advance the college's academic enterprise while creating a positive learning environment for students. This key leadership position will be responsible for expanding and enhancing all credit and non-credit educational programs, including dual credit, online, and workforce technical programming and outreach. 

Reporting directly to the President, the VPAA serves as a member of the Cabinet, contributing to the development of new programs, budget and strategic planning, and articulation and advancement of the long-range vision for academic affairs and the college.  The VPAA oversees all accreditation reporting requirements and plays a key role in developing and sustaining partnerships with business, industry, and educational and community leaders. As the chief academic officer, this position works collaboratively with faculty and staff to assess and improve innovative learning strategies that support student retention and success. As an executive officer of the college, the VPAA will work closely with the President to advance a positive, student-centered culture that meets the goals of the institution while demonstrating behaviors consistent with college values.

This position is responsible for helping select, develop, and cultivate an innovative, diverse faculty focused on student persistence, retention and success. In collaboration with faculty, this individual will identify and respond to trends in higher education, particularly related to the use of technology and data to inform practices.  The VPAA oversees a team of administrative professionals, including Assistant Vice Presidents, Deans, and Directors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide experienced leadership to all areas associated with academic affairs, including the development of short-and long-range planning goals that meet the needs of the students and the communities served.
• Demonstrate a passion for education and student-centered learning and serve as a champion for creating a state-of-the art learning environment that meets the needs of our diverse students.
• Oversee the recruitment and selection of diverse faculty and staff, and oversee evaluation and professional development of faculty, staff and administrators.
• Develop and administer multiple budgets in a manner that promotes fiscal stability, ensures efficiencies, and aligns planning to resources.
• Advances the college's Pathways model, including providing leadership needed to revise class schedules, catalog and other key academic reports and documents that meet the goals and priorities of Pathways and contributes to the retention and success of students.
• Demonstrate collaborative leadership which is inclusive of varying viewpoints, which values diversity, and which honors shared governance.
• Provide leadership to the evaluation of program effectiveness, including identifying strategies for closing funding and enrollment gaps as needed.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication and use of technology to produce professional presentations and reports.
• Manage the curriculum development and approval process, ensuring that decisions align with the needs of students and help advance the Pathways model
• Identify and develop new programs that meet the needs of business and industry.
• Provide leadership needed to strengthen and grow on-line education.
• Create and sustain meaningful relationships with educational partners by developing articulation agreements and other partnerships needed to ensure a smooth transition for students. Ensure the growth and success of dual credit programs.
• Demonstrate ability to delegate effectively while maintaining an environment of accountability.
• Responsible for maintaining accreditation requirements for the college and for certain academic programs; create reports needed for external agencies.
• Manage resources and planning appropriately to enhance and expand programs that meet the needs of the communities served.
• Identify and help develop grant-funding opportunities.
• Create an environment that values employee professional development and responsible risk-taking.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills and leadership needed to solve issues in a timely manner, to formulate sound recommendations, and to support the goals of the college.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The candidate must have a master's degree and four years or more of progressively responsible, full-time leadership experience at a Dean's or Director's level or above within an educational environment. The candidate should have an in-depth understanding of the community college mission and the role of an academic affairs program within higher education. Experience overseeing a budget, developing and achieving departmental goals, and supervising full-time employees is required. Should have knowledge of accreditation requirements and state regulations and be familiar with the Pathways model. Must demonstrate knowledge and/or experience of diversity, inclusion, and equity within an educational setting. Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The desired qualifications include a doctorate with five years or more of academic administrative experience, preferably at the community college level.  Higher education teaching experience is desired.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application package should also include a cover letter (not to exceed five pages) that addresses how your experiences align with the expectations of the position, a resume, and five professional references.  References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant. To assure consideration, all application material should be received by February 28, 2020.  The search committee will begin reviewing applications in March.

For additional information about this position, please contact SCC's Human Resource Office at 636-922-8476.

St. Charles Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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