Vice President for Academic Affairs

University of St. Thomas•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) is the Chief Academic Officer of the University, reporting directly to the President. The VPAA's primary responsibilities focus on stewardship of the University's academic mission in Catholic higher education, strategic development of academic programs, mission-focused faculty development, oversight of program quality/effectiveness and achievement of UST strategic goals for its academic programs. The VPAA serves as a key member of the University's leadership team. Stewardship and Strategic Role Responsibilities: Assure that all academic programs are aligned with the University's mission and grounded in the tradition of the Basilian Fathers and that they are effectively communicated to all constituents, integrated into the work of every program, and regularly reviewed and re-affirmed as needed. Support the UST President's strategic and operational priorities, integrating these into the University's academic mission and planning processes. Guide strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of UST's academic programs in alignment with the University's strategic goals. Facilitate the conditions and relationships that support creativity, innovation, formation, and development of faculty, staff, and students. Maintain and develop the internal and external partnerships that support the achievement of the University's academic mission. Support/Oversight Responsibilities – Deans and Faculty: Facilitate the strategic and operational effectiveness of the deans, department chairs, and faculty in alignment with the Catholic intellectual tradition. chair the Deans' Council and facilitate its role as a leadership body responsible for stewarding the mission, strategic development of academic programs, support for innovation within and across schools and programs, and the growth and sustainability of initiatives. Collaborate with the Faculty Senate leadership, Advisory Council, and established governance structures to ensure a faculty voice and effective shared governance decision-making and accountability. Oversee processes associated with dean/department chair/director status, including recruitment, appointment, contracts orientation, performance evaluation, grievance/complaints, promotion, and tenure. Oversee processes associated with faculty status, including recruitment, appointment, contracts orientation, performance evaluation, grievance/complaints, promotion, tenure sabbaticals, leave of absence, and designation of emeritus status. Facilitate the development and implementation of plans and resource distribution for faculty engagement in scholarship fostering, in particular, scholarship and dialog that address contemporary issues in light of Church teaching, the harmony of faith and reason, and the dignity of the human person. Create, implement, and evaluate processes and procedures essential to an effective and collaborative institution of Catholic higher education. Support/Oversight Responsibilities – Academic Programs: Support deans and faculty in monitoring and improving academic program quality and student learning outcomes. Collaborate with deans, faculty, staff, and colleagues in Finance, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Human Resources to develop and support programs that contribute to sustainable growth and high-quality learning outcomes. Oversee the development and orientation of deans, department chairs, and faculty in light of the Basilian heritage and the Church's teaching on higher education. Facilitate growth and enhancement of academic programs through support for sponsored research, grants, and partnerships. Serve as Dean of Graduate Studies. Support for UST President and Board of Directors: Provide leadership at the University level as a member of the President's Council and as liaison to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Directors and other Board committees as directed. Assure that academic program reports and proposals presented to the President and Board of Directors meet appropriate quality standards to support effective review, decision-making, and implementation of Board action. Administrative and Regulatory Responsibilities: Facilitate the work of deans, administrators, department chairs, faculty, and staff in assessing and continuously improving infrastructure, resources, and operations that support academic programs. Oversee resource acquisition and budget management in a manner consistent with Catholic social teaching. Assure compliance with regulatory requirements and reporting associated with academic programs for SACSCOC and specialty accreditations. Assure that academic and faculty policies relevant to the educational mission are developed in congruence with university and regulatory requirements, reviewed and updated regularly, and distributed and communicated clearly to faculty, staff, students, and the University community.

Responsibilities

Assure that all academic programs are aligned with the University's mission and grounded in the tradition of the Basilian Fathers
Support the UST President's strategic and operational priorities, integrating these into the University's academic mission and planning processes.
Guide strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of UST's academic programs in alignment with the University's strategic goals.
Facilitate the conditions and relationships that support creativity, innovation, formation, and development of faculty, staff, and students.
Maintain and develop the internal and external partnerships that support the achievement of the University's academic mission.
Facilitate the strategic and operational effectiveness of the deans, department chairs, and faculty in alignment with the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Chair the Deans' Council and facilitate its role as a leadership body responsible for stewarding the mission, strategic development of academic programs, support for innovation within and across schools and programs, and the growth and sustainability of initiatives.
Collaborate with the Faculty Senate leadership, Advisory Council, and established governance structures to ensure a faculty voice and effective shared governance decision-making and accountability.
Oversee processes associated with dean/department chair/director status, including recruitment, appointment, contracts orientation, performance evaluation, grievance/complaints, promotion, and tenure.
Oversee processes associated with faculty status, including recruitment, appointment, contracts orientation, performance evaluation, grievance/complaints, promotion, tenure sabbaticals, leave of absence, and designation of emeritus status.
Facilitate the development and implementation of plans and resource distribution for faculty engagement in scholarship fostering, in particular, scholarship and dialog that address contemporary issues in light of Church teaching, the harmony of faith and reason, and the dignity of the human person.
Create, implement, and evaluate processes and procedures essential to an effective and collaborative institution of Catholic higher education.
Support deans and faculty in monitoring and improving academic program quality and student learning outcomes.
Collaborate with deans, faculty, staff, and colleagues in Finance, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Human Resources to develop and support programs that contribute to sustainable growth and high-quality learning outcomes.
Oversee the development and orientation of deans, department chairs, and faculty in light of the Basilian heritage and the Church's teaching on higher education.
Facilitate growth and enhancement of academic programs through support for sponsored research, grants, and partnerships.
Serve as Dean of Graduate Studies.
Provide leadership at the University level as a member of the President's Council and as liaison to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Directors and other Board committees as directed.
Assure that academic program reports and proposals presented to the President and Board of Directors meet appropriate quality standards to support effective review, decision-making, and implementation of Board action.
Facilitate the work of deans, administrators, department chairs, faculty, and staff in assessing and continuously improving infrastructure, resources, and operations that support academic programs.
Oversee resource acquisition and budget management in a manner consistent with Catholic social teaching.
Assure compliance with regulatory requirements and reporting associated with academic programs for SACSCOC and specialty accreditations.
Assure that academic and faculty policies relevant to the educational mission are developed in congruence with university and regulatory requirements, reviewed and updated regularly, and distributed and communicated clearly to faculty, staff, students, and the University community.