Vice President for Student Affairs

Vice President for Student Affairs

Office of Student Affairs, Rose Hill

Fordham University

 

Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City.  Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools. 

 

 

Position Summary

Reporting to the University President, the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) will lead a talented and dedicated team, working collaboratively to create a dynamic campus life that fosters personal growth, leadership development, and meaningful engagement. The VPSA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will guide efforts to ensure all students feel valued, heard, and represented within our academic community. Candidates should possess a passion for creating an inclusive campus environment extending to fostering partnerships and collaborations across various departments and stakeholders to promote a culture of respect, understanding, and belonging.

As a seasoned professional in higher education administration, the VPSA will bring a wealth of experience in student affairs and a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges facing today’s students. Candidates must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to nurturing the whole student, providing comprehensive support services, and cultivating a positive campus environment that enables students to thrive academically and personally.

This is a unique opportunity to leave an indelible mark on the lives of thousands of students, preparing them to be not only successful in their careers but also compassionate and engaged global citizens. We invite candidates to join our mission of shaping future leaders and contributing to a transformative educational experience at Fordham.

In addition to the University President, the VPSA will maintain working relationships with the other Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents who form the president’s Cabinet, the deans of the schools and colleges, and other members of the University’s leadership.

 

About President Tania Tetlow:

A Catholic who was born in New York and grew up in New Orleans, Tania Tetlow has deep family ties to the Jesuits and to Fordham, where her parents met as graduate students in the late 1960s. The first woman and the first layperson to be named president of Fordham University, she graduated cum laude from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies and is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree and was a Harry S. Truman Fellow.

Prior to beginning her tenure at Fordham on July 1, 2022, she was the first woman and first layperson to lead Loyola University New Orleans, where she had served as president since 2018. Before Loyola, Tetlow served as the Felder-Fayard Professor of Law at Tulane University, where she was also Senior Vice President and a key strategic advisor to President Michael Fitts. As a law professor, her research helped persuade the Department of Justice to reimagine its regulation of constitutional policing. She also directed Tulane’s Domestic Violence Law Clinic, for which she raised millions of dollars in federal grant funds.

 

About the Division of Student Affairs:

The purpose of Student Affairs work at Fordham University is to create a campus culture that reflects and advances the Roman Catholic tradition of moral and intellectual development pioneered and fostered by Jesuit colleges and universities. We seek to create, for and with our students, an intentional community that will set the highest standards of academic, social, moral, and spiritual excellence. This community must bring to life, in a meaningful way, the fundamental ideals of Jesuit education. The student, as an individual and as part of the community, will be the center of our efforts, and will be expected to fully participate in the education offered by full participation in the community.

We are a student-centered division. Student Affairs professionals recognize and honor the intrinsic value, dignity, rights, and responsibilities of each student whose development is entrusted to us. We seek to actively assist our students in the development of their God-given talents, we strive to nurture in each a growing sense and appreciation of self-worth and dignity as well as a recognition of these qualities in others. Personal care and attention to the development of the individual student, in and of itself, will not fully realize our long-term aspirations for our students. Work in Student Affairs pursues the greater goal of instilling in each student the moral values, social conscience, and ethical sense that form the soil upon which leadership in service to others is rooted.

To realize our vision of community and our aspirations for the students within it, we strive to recruit, select, and develop Student Affairs staff members who are willing and able to become living models of personal and professional integrity. These professionals are committed to the values formation demanded by our Jesuit ideals. Our community is one where people make a difference in the lives of others. The professionals responsible for the development and nurturing of this community must therefore be living examples of what we expect our students to become. We are willing to establish clear and high standards for ourselves and, in turn, for the students entrusted to our care. Our responsibility as a division to attend to the development of our students as future leaders demands no less of us.

 

Essential Functions         

• Provides visionary leadership and direction for the Division of Student Affairs, setting long-term strategic goals and initiatives that align with Fordham’s Catholic and Jesuit mission and values.
• Oversees and promotes a vibrant campus life that fosters personal growth, leadership development, and student engagement. Develops and implements programs, activities, and services that contribute to the holistic development of students, starting with orientation and extending throughout a student’s career.
• Oversees student affairs-related areas on three University campuses: a traditional 85-acre campus in the Bronx and a one-city block campus in midtown Manhattan – both with on-campus residential living space; and a non-residential campus in Westchester County.
• Actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the University by operating in an anti-racist framework. Collaborates with campus stakeholders to develop and implement initiatives that support underrepresented students and create a sense of belonging for all.
• Provides strategic direction and leadership for various student support services that enhance student success, retention, and well-being, including counseling and psychological services, health services, career development, intercampus transportation, and disability services.
• Oversees the development and enforcement of educational student conduct policies and delivers a fair and consistent disciplinary process that aligns with the University’s values and principles.
• Oversees education, prevention, and response efforts related to sexual misconduct, gender equity, and Title IX reports in which students are involved.
• Supervises the University’s partnership with an external food service provider, ensuring that the food service and facilities provided meet Fordham’s standards for quality, affordability, and exceptional service.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders to develop and implement emergency response protocols and risk management strategies, ensuring the safety and security of students during critical incidents, including serving as a member of the President’s Emergency Management Team.
• Manages the budget for the Division of Student Affairs and its revenue centers to optimize resources, delivers exceptional services and programs to students, and contributes to the sound financial foundation of the University.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with faculty, staff, student leaders, and external partners to create a seamless support network for students and fosters a sense of community within the University.
• Collaborates with other University leaders and departments to align student affairs initiatives with the overall University strategy, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and creating a cohesive campus community.
• Implements data-driven approaches to assess the effectiveness of student affairs programs and services, using outcomes to make continuous improvements and enhance the student experience.
• Encourages and supports professional development opportunities for staff within the Division of Student Affairs, ensuring a high level of expertise and competence.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

 

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

 

Required Qualifications   

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, counseling, student affairs, or a related field is required.
• 10+ years in progressively responsible experience in student affairs, with at least 5 years of experience in a leadership capacity overseeing a diverse range of student support services and programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within a higher education setting.
• Proven leadership and strategic planning skills, with the ability to develop and execute innovative programs and initiatives that enhance the student experience and foster a positive campus community.
• In-depth understanding of Title IX, federal and state laws, and regulations and best practices related to education, prevention, and response to sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence on college campuses.
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and compliance requirements about student affairs and higher education, including Title IX and Clery Act regulations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of student development theory and the ability to apply this knowledge to create a supportive and enriching environment for students’ personal and academic growth.
• Ability to problem-solve and act decisively in a fast-paced environment where there is often no clear best answer and in which ambiguity is a constant.
• Experience in crisis management and the ability to effectively lead and support the campus community during emergency situations and critical incidents.
• Knowledge of current issues and trends in higher education, particularly related to student affairs, mental health, wellness, and best practices in student support services.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies, including students and families, faculty, staff, and external partners.
• Leadership and management skills: the ability to organize, motivate, and inspire. The ideal candidate will know how to bring together diverse teams, encourage those teams to do their best work, and recognize and reward shared successes.
• Experience in working with fellow high-level leaders in cross-functional teams. The Vice President should be able to work on a peer-to-peer level with the President, fellow Vice Presidents, trustees, and other significant alumni and donors.
• A commitment to doing work that seeks to advance the greater good of society. The ideal candidate will have a desire to be involved in the community and the world and will feel personal resonance with Fordham’s mission to educate students as people of competence, conscience, compassion, and commitment to the service of the human family.
• This is a full-time, in-person position primarily based out of our Rose Hill (Bronx) campus. Candidates must be willing to travel to all campuses as needed.
• Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education

 

Preferred Qualifications  

• A terminal degree in higher education administration, counseling, student affairs, or a related field.

 

Minimum Starting Salary: $285,000

Maximum Starting Salary: $325,000

 

Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

 

 

• Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents  A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan. As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers. As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.   University employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.

 

Hybrid Policy:        

Please review the Hybrid Policy here.

https://www.fordham.edu/human-resources/policies-guides-and-agreements/hybridremote-work-policy-for-administrators/

 

           

FLSA CATEGORY: Exempt

START DATE: ASAP

 

APPLY HERE: https://careers.fordham.edu/postings/5806,

 

 

ABOUT FORDHAM

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its 9 colleges and schools.  It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom. 

 

Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories