Provost & VP, Academic Affairs

Santa Clara University • Santa Clara, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Santa Clara University seeks a new provost and vice president for academic affairs to serve as its chief academic officer. The provost will drive academic innovation, lead with strategic and inclusive vigor, and create a compelling vision for all aspects of academic life at the University. This will include ensuring high-quality academic programs, enhancing teaching and research, and making certain all educational programs reflect a social consciousness grounded in the Jesuit and Catholic tradition of educating the whole person — mind, body, and soul — and preparing students to create a more just, humane, and sustainable world. The new provost will join Santa Clara at a pivotal and transformational time in the University's history. Santa Clara is at the final stage of Santa Clara 2020, its integrated strategic plan, and will soon begin work on a new plan. It is in the midst of a $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign, Innovating with a Mission: The Campaign for Santa Clara University, that is propelling the University into the ranks as one of the leading Catholic universities in the United States. The campus is undertaking a period of tremendous capital expansion, including a new athletics center, residence hall, and the Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation — the new home for the sciences, engineering and mathematics. This is an exciting inflection point for Santa Clara, with many accomplishments behind it, and just as many opportunities that lie ahead. The new provost will play an essential role in shaping and defining the future of Santa Clara. Harnessing the insights and energy of administration, faculty, staff, and students, and working in close partnership with the president and the trustees, the provost will be expected to craft a dynamic vision for Santa Clara University's academic program, one that redefines values-based education focused on ethics and social justice by leveraging Santa Clara's Jesuit and Catholic identity amidst Silicon Valley's culture of innovation and entrepreneurism. This vision will be a core component of a new strategic plan; the provost will play a vital role in its creation. As a key member of the president's cabinet, the provost will work collaboratively with partners across campus to address a number of key issues of importance to the long-term health of the University and the wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students. The provost will achieve these objectives while creating a culture and environment of mutual trust and respect, openness, transparency, communication, and collaboration, and will demonstrate an abiding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The provost will be a servant leader who will engage, empower, and support the academic leadership team to achieve the University's ambitions. Reporting directly to the president, the provost will lead a group of accomplished academic leaders and senior administrators including the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Leavey School of Business, the School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, and the Jesuit School of Theology whose campus is located in Berkeley. Other University leaders reporting to the provost include the vice provost for academic affairs, the vice provost for planning and institutional effectiveness, the assistant provost for finance and administration, the assistant provost for strategic initiatives, and the executive directors of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. The new provost must be a seasoned academic administrator with leadership experience at the level of provost, dean, vice provost or equivalent; have earned a doctorate or terminal professional degree; and have a record of scholarly achievement that would merit appointment as full professor., a clear sense of the diverse challenges of a university with undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, and the skills required to promote individual and mutual strength among schools. Extraordinary leadership, communications, and strategic planning skills are essential for success, as is financial acumen and the ability to work collaboratively throughout the institution to foster a culture of mutual trust and respect, openness, and transparency. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated leadership in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree or equivalent.
• A record of professional accomplishment sufficient to be appointed as a tenured full professor and to provide a foundation for academic leadership of the University.
• Successful record of academic leadership at the level of dean, associate provost, provost or a similar position, working in close partnership with the other senior institutional leaders.
• Leads with integrity and serves as a strong, visible, and engaged leader to inspire the community and build consensus around an innovative vision for the academic program.
• Successful track record of recruiting, developing, supporting, and retaining strong leaders and of developing them into successful leadership teams.
• Demonstrated experience of building bridges across the institution and creating a culture of mutual trust and respect.
• A willingness to take risks and think creatively when solving problems.
• Strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.
• Ability to listen carefully and to invite and consider the concerns of all members of the University community.
• Communication skills and approach that can lead to inclusive, collaborative, transparent problem solving, and the ability to make community decisions in a clear, timely, and compelling way.
• Gravitas to represent and act as a spokesperson on behalf of Santa Clara University.
• Unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion among faculty, staff, and students and ensuring the campus community is welcoming to those of all races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement academic and University-wide strategic plans.
• The academic and institutional vision to address the challenges and opportunities in Santa Clara's new Carnegie classification.
• The ability to engage deep stakeholder consultation and to work effectively with faculty, staff, administration, and trustees.
• Knowledge of and experience in academic financial management.
• Ability to ensure transparency around the generation and allocation of resources, as well as an appreciation for new and emerging budget models.
• Familiarity with and an intuitive grasp of the University's Jesuit and Catholic character.
• Engagement with the Catholic intellectual tradition, which explores novel questions across disciplines, boldly engages new realities, wrestles with questions of faith and meaning in our time, connects education with the promotion of justice and care for the marginalized, and encourages dialogue between faith and reason, and which welcomes members of the community from all faith traditions and humanistic commitments.
• Demonstrated capability to serve as the public voice of the academic mission of the University internally and externally.
• Innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to further advance Santa Clara's relationship with Silicon Valley.
• Natural relationship builder with the experience or willingness to work with the donor community.
• Demonstrated ability to understand the broad range of academic areas represented at Santa Clara at undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels, and to encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations, especially within STEM.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership experience at the level of provost, dean, vice provost or equivalent.
• A clear sense of the diverse challenges of a university with undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, and the skills required to promote individual and mutual strength among schools.
• Financial acumen and the ability to work collaboratively throughout the institution to foster a culture of mutual trust and respect, openness, and transparency.
• Demonstrated leadership in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience or willingness to work with the donor community.

Responsibilities

• Drive academic innovation, lead with strategic and inclusive vigor, and create a compelling vision for all aspects of academic life at the University.
• Ensure high-quality academic programs, enhance teaching and research.
• Make certain all educational programs reflect a social consciousness grounded in the Jesuit and Catholic tradition of educating the whole person — mind, body, and soul — and preparing students to create a more just, humane, and sustainable world.
• Craft a dynamic vision for Santa Clara University's academic program, one that redefines values-based education focused on ethics and social justice by leveraging Santa Clara's Jesuit and Catholic identity amidst Silicon Valley's culture of innovation and entrepreneurism.
• Play a vital role in the creation of a new strategic plan.
• Work collaboratively with partners across campus to address key issues of importance to the long-term health of the University and the wellbeing of its faculty, staff, and students.
• Achieve objectives while creating a culture and environment of mutual trust and respect, openness, transparency, communication, and collaboration.
• Demonstrate an abiding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Engage, empower, and support the academic leadership team to achieve the University's ambitions.
• Lead a group of accomplished academic leaders and senior administrators including the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Leavey School of Business, the School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, and the Jesuit School of Theology.
• Oversee dozens of offices and programs, including faculty development, research initiatives, core curriculum, and assessment of student learning.
• Oversee the Global Engagement Office, Drahmann Academic Advising Center, Career Center, Honors Program, Diversity and Inclusion, Registrar’s Office, de Saisset Museum, University Library, Residential Learning Communities, Cowell Health Center, Summer Sessions, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Institutional Research, Information Technology, Student Life, Campus Recreation, LEAD Scholars, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, and Writing Center.
• Ensure that curricular and co-curricular programs are aligned resulting in a student experience where education inside and outside of the classroom is fully integrated.
• Advance Santa Clara's academic distinction, leading the academic community in its efforts to innovate, realize the University's ambitions, and build upon the character of Jesuit and Catholic higher education.
• Develop and support a compelling academic vision for Santa Clara University that is grounded in its Jesuit and Catholic mission and values.
• Lead on innovation in pedagogy to meet the needs and learning styles of this generation of students, including an openness to online education and blended learning.
• More fully realize interdisciplinary opportunities on campus.
• Expand relationships with the Silicon Valley community.
• Partner closely with the president and others to shape the University's vision and goals for a more robust relationship with Silicon Valley.
• Lead in creating entrepreneurial opportunities grounded in the Jesuit charism and play a visible and active role engaging with leaders in the Valley.
• Partner with the president, trustees, and others to participate actively in and support the University's fundraising efforts by building relationships and working closely with Santa Clara's donor community.
• Lead the implementation of any recommendations that come through the accreditation review.
• Participate in the Mission Priority Examen to reflect on who the University is and who it wants to become as a Jesuit and Catholic university.
• Effect inclusive and decisive leadership in working with faculty, administration, and trustees to make significant and timely progress on critical issues facing Santa Clara University.
• Be an active participant in shaping the conversation and resolving issues regarding the University's business model, including the role of online education, the decline of humanities programs and curriculum nationally, the development of new degree and certificate programs relevant for Silicon Valley companies, incentivizing and supporting innovation, engaging with Silicon Valley, investment in co-curricular programs to further strengthen an integrated education, enrollment growth, the short- and long-term impact of demographic shifts nationally and within California, the composition of the student body including the international student population, and the percentage of students who receive Pell grants and need-based financial aid.
• Explore new ways to diversify the University's revenue streams and participate actively in fundraising for new initiatives that will support its evolving academic model.
• Address compensation and housing issues, including the potential unionization of non-continuing faculty and ensuring competitive compensation and benefits.
• Play an essential role in ensuring that all of the University's talented faculty and staff continue to receive the recognition, respect, and appreciation they deserve.
• Bring both a personal and professional commitment to ensure steady and real progress in diversity and inclusion, working with partners across campus.
• Guide and support the development of new foundation STEM curricula, integrative project-based courses, capstones, senior design projects, undergraduate research opportunities, and other high-impact forms of experiential learning, with the support of interdisciplinary faculty communities.
• Define the vision for the future of teaching and research within the STEM departments and bring innovation as Santa Clara continues to elevate its status in cutting-edge science innovation and education.
• Support the deans of engineering and arts and sciences to manage the transition thoughtfully and skillfully toward a new shared service model, establish new policies and procedures, create strategies that facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, and work creatively with faculty to imagine and execute a new STEM vision for the future.
• Reinvigorate the campus culture, creating one that is grounded in mutual trust and respect, and strengthen relationships among faculty, staff, and administration.
• Engage the campus in difficult conversations and lead the individuals involved and the community toward resolution through openness, transparency, and mutual respect.
• Build, develop, and empower the academic leadership team and promote strong teamwork, collaboration, inclusion, and communication to further strengthen their individual and collective impact on the University.
• Work with and through the shared governance system in order to promote trust, respect, and transparency.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Rewarding professional opportunities
• Equity adjustments in salaries
• Funding for promotions
• Adjustments to staff compensation to make salaries more competitive
• Affordable housing opportunities (expanded transitional rental housing options, enhanced rental assistance program, shared-equity, down-payment program)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree