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Job Description


Executive Vice President and Provost

INTRODUCTION: 

The Executive Vice President and Provost will help lead Central Michigan University toward the fulfillment of its Vision Statement, which is: "CMU will be a nationally prominent university known for integrity, academic excellence, research and creative activity, and public service." 

Central Michigan University serves Michigan and the larger community as a doctoral/research-intensive public university focused on excellent teaching and student-focused learning. The University emphasizes an undergraduate program that maintains a balance between general education and specialization.  The University offers selected high quality graduate programs in traditional disciplines and professional fields.  Central Michigan University encourages research, scholarship and creative activity and promotes the scholarly pursuit and dissemination of new knowledge, artistic production and applied research. Through its support of research, the University enhances the learning opportunities of both its undergraduate and graduate students and promotes economic, cultural and social development.

The University’s sense of community is reflected through governance structures that allow broad-based participation, opportunities for close student-faculty interaction, and a rich array of residential and campus-based co-curricular activities. Through its partnerships and outreach efforts, the University promotes learning outside of the traditional classroom and enhances the general welfare of society. 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: 

The Executive Vice President and Provost is the Chief Academic Officer of the University, reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President’s Executive Committee.  The incumbent is the second in command senior officer for the University working with and coordinating the team of senior staff who are responsible for achieving the University’s major goals, which are established by the President and the Board of Trustees.  The Executive Vice President and Provost has final responsibility for the leadership of all academic division operations.

The Executive Vice President and Provost provides the leadership for Central Michigan University’s strategic planning for academic programs.  She/he ensures the development and enhancement of high quality baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral-level programs through ongoing program review and assessment, the raising of academic standards, and the expansion of research and other scholarship/creative activity. As an important part of this process, the Executive Vice President and Provost works directly and closely with the deans and development team to identify new sources of revenue to support existing programs, and to create and fund new programs, which are in keeping with the mission of the University. 

The Executive Vice President and Provost leads a multifunctional integrated academic division consisting of six academic colleges, the college of Graduate Studies, the offices of Academic Affairs, Academic Administration, Research and Sponsored Programs, Institutional Research, Information Technology, Institutional Diversity, Student Services and Enrollment Management.  Specific responsibilities include, among others, on-campus and off-campus undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education activities as well as the activities of the University Libraries, Admissions, Scholarships and Financial Aid, and Registrar’s offices.  The Executive Vice President and Provost is also responsible for the development, implementation, and assessment of the University’s programs and services that promote diversity, student development and enhance student life on the University campus.  The Executive Vice President and Provost also oversees the integration of technology that fosters progress toward state-of-the-art teaching facilities and an enhanced learning environment. 

The incumbent must possess the intellectual vision and energy necessary to lead a complex, major institution of higher education on its journey toward national prominence.  The incumbent must also possess an ability to successfully motivate a university-wide team at all levels, to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the University’s core values, and to demonstrate appropriate responsiveness to the needs and concerns of students, faculty, staff of a public doctoral university with 60 off campus locations. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: 

Functions as an at-will employee under the general supervision of the President of the University.  The incumbent will be evaluated annually by the President on the basis of goal accomplishment and leadership effectiveness. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: 

The Executive Vice President and Provost directly supervises the six college deans; the deans of Libraries, Graduate Studies, Extended Learning (ProfEd), and Student Services; the several vice provosts; assistant vice presidents; unit directors; and managerial, professional and support staff within the office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Earned doctorate in an academic discipline from an accredited institution

• Demonstrated record of distinguished research/scholarship and teaching, which will support the award of tenure at the rank of full professor

• Understanding of a broad range of academic scholarship

• Understanding of academic and student services administration

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity

• Substantial and successful executive and fiscal management experience

• Demonstrated ability to manage a complex academic organization and work effectively with colleagues across all units of the campus

• Demonstrated success as a creative leader and in securing external support of academic programs

• Highly motivated team player who possesses a high level of energy and who functions effectively in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Demonstrated sustained, inclusive and decisive leadership in higher education at the level of dean or higher

• Successful experiences, such as the following: leading strategic planning, substantive and decisive evaluation of academic programs, learning outcomes assessment and accreditation, developing interdisciplinary programs and the application of new technologies

• Demonstrated critical thinking skills

• Experience administering doctoral-level education and research

• Understanding of administration within a collective bargaining environment

• Ability to function effectively in external and internal environments with sound judgment in the context of politics, public relations, and academe

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Advises the President on all matters relating to the academic functions of the University.

• Provides academic and executive level leadership and supervision for all academic and student service programs, including undergraduate, graduate, extended degree and continuing education programs.

• Works with and coordinates the team of senior staff who will be responsible for achieving entire goals or goal components.

• Oversees the development and maintenance of quality in education and student service programs and operations consistent with goals and objectives of the University.

• Provides direction, leadership, and motivation for all faculty and staff within the academic division.

• Promotes excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and creative activity.

• Sets high standards for assessing the quality of programs, teaching of the curriculum and student learning.

• Stimulates the development, implementation and assessment of academic and long-range plans, including continuous assessment of the University's long-term enrollment plan, enhancement of student life on campus, advancement of diversity, and the integration of technological tools that will enhance a learning environment.

• Oversees the activities and programs of the six main campus academic colleges, the College of Graduate Studies, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, ProfEd, and registration offices, student services and enrollment management.

• Advances the University's commitment to diversity.

• Coordinates and manages the budget development of various colleges, student services and enrollment management, and prepares the annual divisional budget recommendations.

• Ensures that academic and student services, and enrollment programs and plans, including educational assumptions, are current and are integrated with the institutional mission statement, in consultation with others through the principles of shared governance.

• Establishes and maintains an effective divisional resource procurement plan that supports the recruitment and retention of highly qualified faculty, staff, students, and ensures that state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and technology are procured for the University.

• Ensures that the data necessary for academic planning and decision-making are available as needed.

• Identifies new sources of revenue to support existing programs, and provides leadership for the creation, and funding, of new programs, which foster the mission of the University.

• Reviews all evaluations and files regarding the reappointment, promotion, tenure or dismissal of faculty, and makes final decision.

• Becomes involved in, and takes leadership responsibility for, other tasks as assigned by the President and/or Board of Trustees.    

"CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity within its community. CMU does not discriminate in employment against persons based on age, color, disability, gender, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight (see http://www.cmich.edu/aaeo/)."