Vice President of Student Affairs

About GateWay Community College

Established in 1968, GateWay Community College is a fully accredited public institution of higher education in Phoenix, Ariz., whose mission is to provide access to higher education for diverse students and communities. Outstanding features of the college include its student focus, consistency in offering high-demand quality educational programs, reputation for excellence in teaching and learning, effective methods for assessing student academic achievement, and leadership in areas of entrepreneurship with strong community, business and industry partnerships.

One of ten regionally accredited colleges in the award-winning Maricopa County Community College District, GateWay serves more than 9,800 students annually throughout six locations conveniently located across the Valley. Proudly branded as a workforce development college, GateWay offers more than 160 degree, certificate and trade, technical and workforce training options through credit, non-credit and clock-hour programs as well as general education for transfer to four-year universities. GateWay strives to fit each learner’s life, budget and goals for the future, proudly embodying the motto, “Education that works, so you learn more, live better.”

GateWay Community College has built a legacy of innovation, pioneering vision and responsiveness to community needs with many firsts: the first technical college in Arizona, first to use community advisory committees; first to tailor courses to the needs of business and industry; first to offer classes at off-campus locations; and first to install computer technology.

It employs 406 full-time faculty and staff, and the average class size for the credit-hour student population is 16.6. Designated as both a Hispanic Serving Institution and Minority Serving Institution, GateWay has one of the most diverse student bodies in the Maricopa Community College district. More than 46% of students indicate Hispanic heritage and better than half of the student population represents more than 40 countries. The average age of a student is 27, with 77% of the credit-hour population and 40% of the clock-hour population enrolled part-time.

Beyond accessibility, affordability, and high-quality programs, GateWay’s academic programs and student support services are designed to serve a part-time, adult student population.

Collectively, four campuses and two facilities make up GateWay’s full college system. The campuses include:

Washington Campus -GateWay’s main campus, which in addition to housing the bulk of its degree, certificate and trade, technical and workforce training options, offers a variety of Student Services. These include a Career Center, Childcare, Library and Computer Labs, Counseling Services, Disability Resources, Learning Center and Veteran Services. The Maricopa Small Business Development Center operates here, offering its services to community members.

Central City – here, students can study trades including Collision Repair Technician, Electrical Technician, HVAC Commercial and Residential, Apprentice Meat Cutting, Precision Machining and Welding, Boasts a full-service Butcher Shop & Deli that provides the public the opportunity to purchase the freshest-cut meat.

18th Street - a three-story facility on the campus of the former St. Luke's Hospital that offers healthcare programs and services. It is home of the Healthcare United at GateWay (HUG) Clinic, a pro bono clinic where students, with instructor supervision, perform physical therapy, respiratory care and ultrasound guidance and services. A Safe Patient Handling (SaPHE Lab) trains students as well as professionals in the healthcare and nursing industry.

SouthWest Skill Center - clock-hour programs in the healthcare professions that allow for quick entry into the workforce, including EMT, Medical Assistant and Medical Billing/Coding.

The other facilities include:

Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation - serving Arizona small businesses and entrepreneurs since 2012, the CEI has helped its clients create 764 jobs and generate $160 million in sales revenue in the last seven years alone. With extensive business coaching and mentorship, clients have raised more than $117.5 million in private equity capital, grant funding and awards. GateWay is the only community college in the Maricopa system with such a facility on campus.

Phoenix Forge – a community makerspace that provides access to tools and equipment for prototyping (such as 3D printers) or working with metal, wood, electronics/robotics, textiles and glass. Partners include Arizona State University, the City of Phoenix, GateWay Community College, Maricopa Community Colleges, the U.S. Economic Development Administration and APS.

GateWay is proud of its strong community ties and offers a variety of other outreach programs, including GateWay Early College High School (GWECHS); the Johnson Controls Institute; salon and spa services; workforce development partnerships; and proactive ties with neighborhood schools utilizing service learning/volunteer activities.

On campus, GateWay students have a variety of options for getting involved, including joining more than 50 clubs and organizations, playing competitive or small group sports, or participating in a service learning program. GateWay is the only community college in the Maricopa system with a light rail stop on campus.

For more information visit www.gatewaycc.edu

About the Position

GateWay Community College invites applications and nominations immediately for the position of Vice President of Student Affairs, which will begin no later than July 1, 2022.

The Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) reports directly to the college president, is part of the president’s leadership team, and is responsible for leading the student affairs function at the college.

The position has four direct reports and oversees a division of more than 100 employees, managing a budget of approximately $9 million. The VPSA oversees Achieving a College Education (ACE), academic advising, admissions, registration & records, Adult Basic Education (ABE) Transition Services, assessment, athletics, career services, counseling and adult re-entry, veteran’s services, disability resources & services, international student services, outreach & recruitment, student financial services, student life & leadership, student support services, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Center, TRiO, and a range of compliance matters including student conduct, ADA and Title IX.

GateWay Community College is seeking to attract candidates who want to help us continue building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. GateWay Community College understands that diversity is integral to excellence. We honor diverse experiences and perspectives, strive to create welcoming, inclusive, respectful learning environments, and promote access, opportunity and justice.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who reflect and demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of, the diverse communities and populations that make Arizona a rich and vibrant place to live and work. When you join the team at GateWay, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice built on broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at GateWay, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Vision, Mission, Goals, and Values.

This position is a non-classified position that will have a contract. Any internal hires waive their rights to classified employment by accepting the position.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Strategic Enrollment Management

Now recognized as the innovative, entrepreneurial, and occupational college, there are significant opportunities to grow enrollment of adult students interested in high-demand technical and workforce programs, streamline admission and registration, improve retention and graduation, and achieve a holistic student success experience. The vice president collaborates with college leadership and other Maricopa Community Colleges vice presidents in an institutional-level enrollment management plan. Student Affairs further drives strategic enrollment management by integrating the function with alternative delivery schedules and modalities targeting part-time students, expanding the use of scholarships and financial aid as a retention tool, strengthening college recruitment efforts that move students through the enrollment pipeline quickly and partnering with academic affairs to determine the feasibility of new programs that are designed to meet the needs of business and industry.

Workforce Innovations

Maricopa Community Colleges are in the midst of many important initiatives to increase accountability, focus on student success, and improve operational efficiencies. GateWay’s sharp focus on the workforce needs of the surrounding area will require a visionary VPSA to build and strengthen the partnership between academic and student affairs. This will include instructional programming that offers innovative delivery, scheduling options, and individualized student support to guide the college in new directions that benefit students and the community.

Student Success

GateWay is known for its excellent high-demand occupational education programs, caring faculty and staff, and innovative and entrepreneurial approach to decision-making that focuses on students. In a post Covid-19 educational environment, there is an opportunity to develop intentional and strategic initiatives that increase student engagement through accessible, seamless, and timely advising, career services, student on-boarding, one-stop registration, financial aid, assessment, compliance and other services that facilitate student success. The First Year Experience is structured to meet students’ individual needs, connecting them to campus and facilitating a smooth transition to college. Resources and programs that help these students ensure success and navigate this transition include: student services, student support programs, and a new student orientation.

Collaboration and Empowerment

The vice president leads a talented team of student affairs professionals who are focused on the needs of a diverse student body. A forward-thinking and intentional leader who listens; communicates clearly and often; develops and articulates an inspired student affairs vision that is relevant and nimble; empowers and mentors staff to grow professionally; champions a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion; exhibits sound judgment and unbiased decision-making processes; utilizes institutional research and data metrics to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of student services;  and collaborates across functional areas within the college while being an effective ambassador and advocate at the District level will be most effective.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate in a related field from a regionally accredited institution
• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, a portion of which includes a leadership position such as Dean or Vice President
• Comprehensive community college experience with strength in occupational education and work force development
• Teaching experience in the community college environment
• Multi-campus and/or complex system experience
• Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities characterized by transparency, authenticity, integrity, respect, and inclusiveness
• Student affairs subject matter expert – strong knowledge of compliance to include disability resources, Title IX, financial aid, and adjudication of student conduct matters
• Successful and sustained track record of increasing enrollment using a variety of approaches
• Strategic planning and budget experience, data-informed decision-maker
• Guided Pathways or other similar ‘field of interest’ approach experience
• Grant management experience, understanding of TRiO, Title V, NSF, etc.
• Research and data analysis experience to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of all student services
• Experience working with and appreciation of diverse student and employee populations
• Experience in promoting technical and workforce programs to students and community stakeholders
• Experience engaging in courageous conversations that challenge the status quo, resulting in strategy designed to improve operational efficiency and student success
• Experience managing change, improving morale, celebrating wins and sharing student affairs successes with others
• Articulate in written and verbal formats
• Independent thinker combined with being collaborative, a good listener, approachable and visible with good communication skills
• Exhibits exceptional communication and listening skills, displays empathy and high emotional intelligence, builds trusting relationships, team spirit, and good sense of humor
• Possess visionary, authentic leadership skills; able to mentor, support and develop talent, hold people accountable and achieve results
• Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development in leadership and student services
• Demonstrate how to enhance existing external partnerships and develop new relationships through community engagement

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Non-Academic Pathway

• Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution in education or related discipline
• Four years of progressively responsible management and/or leadership experience in student affairs that includes two years of supervisory experience such as program management, project management, budget development and management related to student affairs, staff supervision, policy development, administration, evaluation and compliance
• Equivalency allowed for Non-Academic area
• Evidence of support of and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

OR

Academic Pathway

• Master's Degree in a teaching field related to area(s) of assignment
• Four years of experience in an academic leadership and/or supervisory role in higher education and three years of teaching that include curriculum/coursework development. Examples of academic leadership/supervisory experience includes:  division/department chair, project management, policy development, administration, evaluation and compliance, committee leadership, program director, and shared governance. 
• No equivalency allowed
• Evidence of support of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Position Responsibilities

• Provides collaborative leadership, strategic planning, supervision, budget development and management for all student affairs units across all locations and athletics to promote student success
• Supervises research activities concerned with the evaluation, improvement and monitoring of student affairs programs
• Serves as the Title IX Coordinator and ADA Compliance Officer and ensures compliance with Title IX and ADA regulations
• Maintains and ensures currency of the student handbook
• Develops and implements student discipline procedures, and consults with administrators and faculty to resolve student disciplinary issues to assure procedural fairness
• Maintains an ongoing awareness of college-wide efforts by administrators, department chairs, faculty and staff to improve student persistence, retention, and completion
• In collaboration with other college vice presidents, leads, develops and expands short and long-term institutional-level strategic enrollment management planning to reach college enrollment targets
• Strengthens and expands college recruitment and enrollment strategies to increase student headcount and credit hours
• Researches, develops, recommends, administers and evaluates policies, procedures, best practices, technology applications, and data analytics to ensure goal achievement related to enrollment, persistence and completion
• Develops strategies to maximize financial aid programs for student success
• Provides leadership to implement a comprehensive culture of student success in the out-of-class environment through the integration of student success/learning outcomes into all programs
• Plans, develops and implements student learning outcomes assessment program across the student affairs division including program review
• Utilizes student success data (CCSSE, Noel-Levitz, etc.) to improve college environment and programs
• Oversees developmentally based student code of conduct and judicial services
• Serves as a student affairs liaison and develops and promotes good public relation contacts with the community and other governmental officials
• Promotes and encourages cooperative working relationships with K-12 school districts, charter schools, and business, industry and community
• Represents college on district-wide councils, committees and ad hoc groups
• May act on behalf of the college president in the president’s absence
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Provides oversight of GateWay's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Center

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), known widely as the Maricopa Community Colleges and Maricopa, is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. It serves more than 175,000 students annually each year in Maricopa County, Ariz., offering transfer education toward completion of a four-year degree, in addition to occupational and technical education, credit and non-credit programs, certificates and adult education courses. Maricopa is recognized as one of the most innovative community college systems in the country and enjoys a range of awards and accolades to include recognition as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes; eight colleges named to The Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges; recognition for its commitment to student success; and a continued exemplary financial position. For more information visit www.maricopa.edu

To view the Position Profile, go to https://www.highereducationleadershipsearch.com/searches

To apply for this position, visit https://www.highereducationleadershipsearch.com/candidate-portal-form.

To nominate someone for this position, e-mail: nominations@highereducationleadershipsearch.com

Martha Lavender, Ph.D. will be assisting GateWay Community College with the search. If you have questions or would like to have a confidential conversation about the position, call 256-239-2305 or e-mail mlavender@highereducationleadershipsearch.com

This position is open until filled with Best Consideration of April 15 for Initial Candidate Review.

The salary is commensurate with level of education and experience.

GateWay Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and specifically invites applications from women, minorities, veterans and people with disabilities.