Job Description
CLASS TITLE: Vice President Academic Affairs CODE: 9500
SUPERSEDES: (new) ISSUED: 01/2013
BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY
The Vice President for Academic Affairs is the chief academic officer of the university, provides visionary and transformational leadership, serves as staff to the president and the Board of Curators on all academic matters, and provides university- wide leadership in academic and strategic planning, academic programs, research and economic development, faculty development and faculty affairs, student access and success, instructional technology and delivery, international strategic initiatives, institutional assessment, research and planning. The position works closely with campus provosts, research officers and student affairs on policy issues affecting the university, represents the university with external entities on academic matters, and serves with chancellors and other vice presidents as a general officer of the university. The vice president is a conduit to local, state and federal agencies to ensure research and economic development initiatives aid the growth of Missouri’s economy and enable and lead Missouri’s transformation toward a knowledge-based economy dependent upon innovation and entrepreneurship.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES
Provide leadership and vision in strategic planning efforts, including implementation and assessment, to fulfill the overall university mission and state higher education priorities.
Provide policy and strategic leadership over the university’s efforts to expand its regional, national and international standing as a major source of new intelligence and with a focus on areas of competitive excellence.
Actively promote university initiatives that support its partnership with the state in maintaining the economic viability of Missouri’s future.
Provide leadership in the development and implementation of innovative learning systems of the university.
In collaboration with campuses, promote initiatives involving the hiring and retention of underrepresented faculty, and the enrollment and success of underrepresented students.
Foster successful programming that supports faculty and student engagement, academic success for faculty and students at the university.
Understand and be intentional in balancing and exemplifying the importance of faculty productivity, accountability, academic freedom and shared governance.
Coordinate campus leadership in academic planning through: assessment of state, public interest and employer needs regarding existing and new academic programs, review of current academic programs.
Successfully promote the university’s cooperative programs across the system and in partnership with other state institutions of higher education.
Promote active support for faculty by all university administrative departments and senior leadership to optimize research efficiencies and minimize administrative burdens and resolve issues perceived as hindering potential research or its funding.
Provide leadership and general oversight for the university’s international and globalization program efforts.
Advise all university leadership, Board of Curators, and state and national higher education leaders on matters affecting public policy, trends and financial support for higher education.
Collaborate with other vice presidents, especially the Vice President for Finance and Administration to align strategic priorities and to achieve university goals.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
General direction is provided by the university president.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Direction is provided to senior leadership positions responsible for academic affairs, research and economic development. Through these management positions, oversees activities of a large professional and administrative support staff and the fiscal control of operating expenses.
QUALIFICATIONS
Earned doctorate or other terminal degree.
Ability to obtain an academic appointment within the University of Missouri System.
Senior level administrative experience (as a dean, provost, chancellor, president or similar position, preferred) within a complex large institution, with successful leadership over diverse groups
Leadership of transformational change, preferably within academic realms
Leadership of research and economic development teams that have experienced significant growth
Comprehensive and current understanding of the needs and purposes of a major public research university with land grant responsibilities
Extramural research funding experience
Outstanding communication skills
Ability to facilitate conversations and collaborate so as to bring forth creative ideas that lead to transformational change across the system and four campuses
Well versed in the importance of strategic planning and has actively led/participated in a recent strategic planning process
Implemented new strategies to improve student outcomes
Developed and implemented tactics that have resulted in more efficient academic, research and economic development results
Process driven individual who has experience in defining key metrics and goals which result in improved performance in the teaching, research, service and economic development missions
Higher education visionary and is willing to take risks
This document is a general description of typical job duties, responsibilities and qualifications of employees holding the associated job title. Additional duties, specific qualifications and work emphasis may vary between individual positions.
Reviewed 2013-02-25.