Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education (AVCUE)

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education (AVCUE) at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) works collaboratively with members of the senior academic administrative team to foster and maintain excellence in undergraduate education. They serve as the chief advisor to the VCAA/Provost, Deans, and Faculty on all issues and initiatives related to undergraduate education. This person is responsible for the administrative coordination of undergraduate education and institutional accreditation and reports to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost.

 

About UIS: Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves approximately 4,000 students across a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The academic curriculum offers students a strong liberal arts core, a wide range of professional programs, and close faculty interaction. Making the most of its location in the state capital, UIS is broadly engaged in public policy and service. Its diverse student body includes traditional, non-traditional, and international students. Twenty-five percent of majors are in 17 undergraduate and graduate online degree programs and the campus has received several national awards for its implementation of online learning. UIS faculty are committed teachers, active scholars, and professionals in service to society. The University emphasizes excellence in teaching, and faculty are also expected to provide a balance of scholarship and service activities to meet requirements for tenure and promotion. US News & World Report America’s Best Colleges has ranked UIS the No. 1 public regional university in Illinois and No. 4 in the Midwest (2020, 2021).

 

You are encouraged to visit the university web page at http://www.uis.edu, and to link to the UIS Job Board to view the detailed posting and application instructions.

 

Typical Responsibilities:

• Serves as an institutional advocate for excellence in undergraduate education and in interactions with internal constituencies, University of Illinois administration, and external stakeholders at local, regional, national, and international levels; maintains expertise on current and emerging trends and/or technologies related to undergraduate education, including assessing feasibility and effectiveness of utilization at UIS; disseminates information to faculty on national standards and best practices in higher education and undergraduate teaching and learning; serves as institutional representative to regional and national higher education organizations. 10%
   
• As director of the Office of Undergraduate Education, provides leadership on matters of undergraduate educational policy and academic planning, including administrative oversight of the undergraduate program review process, serving as Provost's liaison to the Undergraduate Council as an ex-officio member, and providing advice to and consulting with Deans and college-level committees. 10%
   
• Provides administrative oversight for selected Academic Affairs units and personnel related to undergraduate education, including the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE)  Speaker Series, Freshmen Seminar, and the Center for Academic Success & Advising (CASA) as well as administrative oversight for general education and the ECCE curriculum, including working with Deans and department chairs on course scheduling and staffing needs, designing and implementing assessment plans, conducting faculty development workshops, and serving as an ex-officio member of the General Education Council. 10%
   
• Exercises review and approval authority for student petitions and appeals regarding exceptions to academic policy at the undergraduate level, and assists in the resolution of undergraduate student concerns and grievances. 5%
   
• Responsible for updating and disseminating academic policies related to undergraduate education, including relevant sections of the UIS Catalog, and for approving new courses, course changes, and catalog copy at the undergraduate level; provides Academic Affairs leadership for articulation and transfer issues, including serving as campus liaison to the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) and coordinating the submission of courses to IAI for approval. 10%
   
• In collaboration with Deans, department chairs, and other staff in the Provost's Office, provides administrative oversight for development of new undergraduate program requests and curriculum changes and submission of undergraduate program actions to the Board of Trustees and the Board of Higher Education. 10%
   
• Represents the Office of Undergraduate Education and the needs of undergraduate students in Provost’s Leadership Team meetings, Deans & Directors Council, as an ex-officio member of the Committee for the Assessment of Student Learning, and other administrative meetings as needed; serves as a member of the Campus Behavioral Intervention Team, and the Institutional Data Analysis Group; chairs the Provost's Office Merit Scholarship Committee, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Assistance; represents the VCAA/Provost in all meetings and matters as requested; prepares necessary reports and documents related to undergraduate education for internal and external purposes, as required by the Provost/VCAA and appropriate agencies, and convenes committees and panels necessary to deal with various undergraduate education issues. 10%
   
• Provides leadership on undergraduate retention initiatives, including the supervision, staffing, scheduling, and assessment of student success courses and faculty development related to these retention efforts; serves as a liaison to and coordinates activities with the Division of Student Affairs on matters relating to services for undergraduates, such as childcare, health services, housing, and international student concerns. 10%
   
• Responsible for institutional accreditation, assessment, and academic program review: Ensures ongoing compliance with HLC accreditation policies and standards, oversees institutional accreditation and quality assurance initiatives, and works closely with deans and academic unit administrators to ensure appropriate measures are used in assessment practices to inform decision making and continuous improvement. 20%
   
• Working in coordination with UIS Office of Research & Sponsored Programs and the Office of Advancement, pursues opportunities for external support of activities related to undergraduate education. 5%
   

Environmental demands: Position involves extended periods of computer use and delivery of presentations.

  The successful candidate will possess:

• A PhD or equivalent terminal academic degree from an accredited university with academic credentials and experience sufficient to qualify for appointment as a tenured associate or full professor in one of UIS’ academic departments.
• A record of excellence in teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate students.
• A record of high quality scholarship.
• Demonstrated knowledge of national trends and best practices related to undergraduate education.
• Successful experience in academic leadership roles involving undergraduate education, preferably at a campus or institutional level
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with policy development and evaluation.
• Proven project management and implementation skills.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse faculty, staff, students, administration, agencies, etc.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming university community.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• A demonstrated capacity for sound independent decision-making and an ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a fast-paced administrative environment.
  
  

Minimum salary: $110,000

 

To Apply: Navigate to the UIS Job Board at https://jobs.uis.edu/job-board/job-details?jobID=150984&job=associate-vice-chancellor-for-undergraduate-education/, select the "Apply for Position" button below the job description, create or update your profile, complete the online application, and upload a cover letter addressing the responsibilities of the position, current curriculum vita, and the names and contact information (email address and phone number) for three professional references. Only those applicants who complete the online application and upload all required materials by the January 10, 2022 application deadline will be considered; incomplete applications will not be evaluated. To maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the search process, applicants are asked to upload their own materials. Formal review of applications will begin January 15, 2022, and continue until the position is filled or the search terminated.

 

UIS is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer; veterans, persons with disabilities, women and minorities are encouraged to apply.