Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Continued Search)

Western Kentucky University - Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Continued Search)

About Western Kentucky University:

Western Kentucky University (WKU) announces a search for an accomplished, dynamic, and visionary academic leader for the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. WKU seeks an individual strongly committed to advancing the academic mission of a student-centered, applied-research institution and fostering the scholarship, teaching, and professional development of the faculty.

WKU was founded in 1906 and is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky; the fastest growing city in the Commonwealth. Bowling Green, located about 110 miles south of Louisville and 65 miles north of Nashville, is a refugee resettlement site, creating an ethnically and racially diverse city of approximately 67,000 people. More than 85 different languages are spoken in and around Bowling Green and people from approximately 35 nationalities call the area home. The university's population of approximately 17,500 students includes 32% first-generation university, 18% underrepresented minority, and 1% international students.  Designated a national university by US News, WKU is student-centered and focuses on applied research that expands knowledge; improves learning; and serves the region, state, and nation. At the heart of our mission, WKU seeks to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our diverse and evolving communities.

WKU academic programs are offered through five academic colleges: Arts and Letters; Business; Education and Behavioral Sciences; Health and Human Services; and Science and Engineering; as well as special university units; including, the Mahurin Honors College and the Gatton Academy for Math and Science in Kentucky. Additionally, WKU serves the communities of Elizabethtown/Fort Knox, Glasgow, and Owensboro through its regional campuses. WKU also has a robust online enrollment and provides nationally-ranked online degrees and certificate programs.

Job Description:

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs reports directly to the President and serves as the chief academic officer of the University. The Provost oversees the creation, implementation, and advancement of the University's academic mission. The Provost is responsible for the academic integrity of the University and fostering a challenging and stimulating intellectual environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are customary for this position, but are not to be construed as all- inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted or assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

• Provides leadership in all areas relating to academic affairs;
• Recruits, retains and mentors academic leadership;
• Provides leadership in the implementation of the University's strategic plan and budget model to include setting strategic, operational and financial direction of the University;
• Provides leadership in curricular transformation of the university in partnership with the faculty;
• Provides leadership in the qualitative enhancement of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs;
• Demonstrates strategic leadership on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for faculty, staff and students;
• Leads, strengthens, and supports shared governance;
• Identifies, develops and maintains multidisciplinary connections across the University;
• Identifies and pursues new extramural funding opportunities;
• Identifies and engages in activities to increase research funding opportunities through partnerships and community engagement;
• Leads the continuous alignment between academic affairs and student affairs for effective and efficient student recruitment and enrollment management;
• Serves on various university, community, post-secondary and legislative committees and boards representing institutional interests; and
• Performs other related duties as requested by the President.

Skills Considered Essential for Success

• Demonstrates experience and leadership in planning and administration of human, fiscal, and facility resources;
• Demonstrates a high degree of personal and professional integrity;
• Demonstrates commitment to fairness, human rights, and social responsibility;
• Demonstrates abilities to be a strategic leader in building diversity among the study body, faculty, and staff, and to create an equitable and inclusive university community;
• Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal communication skills and ability to interact effectively, transparently, and decisively with academic leadership, faculty, staff and students;
• Demonstrates success with strategic planning, budgeting, and an understanding of RCM budget models;
• Demonstrates a track-record of fundraising success;
• Demonstrates the ability to perform under pressure and throughout extended working hours; and 
• Demonstrates the ability to exercise sound judgment, decisiveness and to perform effectively in a leadership capacity.

Requirements:

Proven record of academic leadership with a distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service;

Earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree in an academic discipline offered by the University with qualifications meriting appointment at the rank of professor with tenure; and

Significant academic leadership experience at the level of academic dean or higher.

Additional Information:

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/University ADA Services (EEO). To request an accommodation, report/express a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU''s Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Mr. Joshua Hayes, EEO Director/Title IX Investigator/University ADA Coordinator, via email at joshua.hayes@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5121.

The University is also required to investigate complaints of sex and gender-based harassment, also a form of discrimination, and has designated the Title IX Coordinator as the individual responsible for coordinating the investigation and response to such complaints. The Title IX Coordinator for the University is Ms. Deborah Wilkins, who can be contacted via email at deborah.wilkins@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-5396. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU''s https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php

Application Instructions:

This is a continuation of the search originally initiated on October 23, 2020. Review of candidates will continue until the position is filled. The following items must be submitted through this electronic talent management system by visiting wku.edu/provostsearch.

• Letter of Intent
• Curriculum Vitae
• Philosophy of Academic Leadership

Names and contact information of at least three professional references will be collected during the application process. Reference letters will be requested by the Search and Screen Committee through an online process at a later date.

You will receive email confirmation once you have successfully completed the application process.