Vice President of Academic Affairs

Job Scope

The Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) serves as a senior, visionary academic leader of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and is committed to the community college mission. As the academic leader, the VPAA leads all full-time and adjunct faculty and academic staff; creates an atmosphere of quality and innovation; leads curricular and programming development with faculty, is collaborative, supportive, and an excellent communicator.

Essential Job Responsibilities

1. Serve on President’s Cabinet as a visionary, collaborative academic and College leader.
2. Lead, support, and evaluate all full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, and academic staff.
3. Provide leadership over all academic programming; ensure that programming is of the highest quality.
4. Interface with faculty and program advisory committees (if applicable) to evaluate and improve current curriculum and programs and to create new programming that supports community needs.
5. Ensure compliance with College, state, and accreditation standards.
6. Ensure that the College provides robust dual credit opportunities while maintaining high quality college-level programming and meeting NACEP accrediting standards.
7. Provide leadership for quality improvement initiatives within Academic Services, including but not limited to academic assessment and program review.
8. Supervise the process of academic assessment at the course and program levels.
9. Participate in strategic and operational planning; lead the development of operational objectives for the academic area.
10. In cooperation with Student Services, develop new and maintain appropriate academic partnerships with other educational post-secondary institutions.
11. Communicate and develop positive relationships with regional high school superintendents and principals.
12. Respond to student and instructor academic concerns.
13. Plan and provide professional development for faculty and academic staff; effectively utilize internal experts to provide in-house training.
14. Ensure compliance with the faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement. Work with the faculty union to discuss and potentially resolve any contractional concerns.
15. Collaborate with the Information Technology Department to provide instructors with appropriate and contemporary instructional technologies.
16. Develop, implement, and oversee the Academic Affairs budget.
17. Work with Faculty Division Chairs and academic staff to create a class schedule for all academic terms.
18. Collaborate with faculty and academic staff to determine appropriate qualifications of faculty and assign faculty to classes to teach.
19. Ensure effective utilization of grant resources to support academic needs.
20. Participate in the shared governance process; serve as a resource for faculty and staff on academic policy matters.
21. Regularly meet with faculty Division Chairs to ensure quality communication.
22. Regularly meet with the VPSS to ensure communication across organizational units.
23. Serve as the College’s academic representative at the state level.
24. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Direct Reports to the Vice President of Academic Affairs

• Assistant to Vice President of Academic Affairs
• Dean of Faculty
• Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
• Instructional Designer 

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education: Master’s degree required; doctoral degree strongly preferred.

Experience & Knowledge:

• • Commitment to and appreciation of the community college mission.
  • Three years minimum higher education administrative experience required, but five or more years of higher education administrative experience preferred.
  • Working experience at a community college is strongly preferred.
  • Direct supervisory experience over academic areas preferred.
  • Working experience with a unionized workforce is strongly preferred.
  • College teaching experience strongly preferred.
  • Knowledge of continuous quality improvement management principles and practices.
  • Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
  • Experience with an online learning platform and delivery.
  • Superior written and oral communication skills required. 

Computer Skills: Knowledge of basic Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with Student Information Systems and Learning Management Systems.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: State Criminal Background Check

Physical Demands: Frequent sitting. Must be able to talk, hear, and operate a computer. Occasional lifting up to 10 lbs. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: Typical office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level.

Location: Richland Campus

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday with the possibility of a hybrid schedule of in-office & remote work.

Start Date: The start date is flexible, but the successful candidate must be able to start by January 2023.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 19, 2022

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, fully completed employment applications received by the deadline with all required application materials will receive guaranteed priority consideration.

Application materials required for full consideration:

• Employment Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume

 To Apply: Click here for the Employment Application.

Please note that employment applications referencing ‘see resume’ or similar phrases are considered incomplete and may not be considered. For guaranteed priority consideration, applicants must submit a fully completed employment application with all required application materials by the deadline.

Please do not call to inquire about the status of your application. Only those candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted.

Administrator Benefits: The College offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision coverage to full-time employees and their dependents. Benefits package also includes short-term/long-term disability, retirement, life insurance, generous paid time off, and 11 paid holidays.

Please do not fax or mail any documentation. Official College transcripts are required upon hire.

Employment is contingent upon submission and satisfactory review of any background check clearances as may be required by Pennsylvania Act 153. Please refer to our Pre-Employment Background Check Information page for more detailed information.

Successful candidate must be authorized to work in the United States and not require work authorization sponsorship by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College for any position now or in the future.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College promotes a drug-free workplace.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.