Assistant Provost for Student Affairs

Assistant Provost for Student Affairs

St. Catherine University (St. Kate’s) invites applications for a newly created leadership position: Assistant Provost for Student Affairs (AP). 

 

Based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, St. Kate’s is home to a diverse group of nearly 5,000 students in a wide array of disciplines and degree levels. At its heart, the legacy of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs), informs every facet of this private Catholic university. The Assistant Provost for Student Affairs will lead based on values inspired by the Sisters, including those of community, spirituality, and social justice.

 

THE POSITION

The Assistant Provost for Student Affairs reports directly to the EVP and Provost, and provides vision, leadership, and strategic oversight to all areas of Student Affairs at St. Catherine University, including direct supervision to the main functional areas of the Student Affairs team. The Assistant Provost will oversee programs for students in the three colleges, College for Women, College for Adults, and the Graduate College. The Assistant Provost oversees the integration of student experiences within the University’s mission and academic vision, focusing specifically on student retention, persistence, and timely graduation. The Division of Student Affairs at St. Kate’s includes Access and Success, Disability Services (O’Neill Center), Health & Wellness, Counseling, Residence Life, Office of Student Affairs, Multicultural & International Programs & Services, Center for Spirituality & Social Justice, and Student Center & Activities.

 

The AP oversees the strategic direction, staff, and fiscal management of all Student Affairs units. The AP gathers, tracks, and analyzes data for undergraduate (traditional and adult) student success and develop innovative and programs that promote and effectively impact undergraduate retention and graduation, and oversees the assessment of programs and activities carried out by Student Affairs units. The AP will also work on co-curricular program as outlined in the new university’s Academic Master Plan. A strong candidate will be a transformative leader who is collaborative, innovative, data-driven, change agent, inclusive and can establish trusting relationships internally and externally with key stakeholders.

 

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

  • Oversee responsible planning, stewardship, management, and accountability of fiscal, capital, and human resources of Student Affairs, including reporting units;
  • Provide leadership to ensure the effective coordination and integration of student affairs services with the University’s academic programsfor all three colleges to achieve student development and learning outcomes and to support overall student growth and success;
  • Develop and implement assessment strategies for Student Affairs, including learning outcomes, satisfaction review, and measurement tools to manage student learning in all three colleges;
  • Partner with the academic deans and Director of Equity and Inclusion to create a sense of belonging for students as well as meeting recruitment, retention and graduation goals;
  • Assist in establishing, articulating, and assessing institutional goals for and outcomes of the student experience and advise leadership on policies and programs that may enhance student recruitment, retention, and graduation, particularly for the College for Women and College for Adults;
  • Supervise wide range of programs to support student experiences for a diverse group of students (i.e., on-campus residential students, commuters, graduate and professional, international);
  • Support professional development and ongoing education of Student Affairs staff;
  • Provide leadership for the health and wellbeing of students, specifically mental health;
  • Lead and support best practices for effective conflict resolution with students, understanding student mental health and well-being issues, maintaining formal student conduct and disciplinary mechanisms, and convening resources from multiple departments and constituencies to address complex student issues;
  • Build effective working relationships with faculty to seek and understand the faculty perspective and maximize their participation/engagement in student affairs activities;
  • Promote and support a high level of student participation and engagement in student and university governance and student organizations;
  • Serve on University committees as appropriate;
  • other duties as assigned by the EVP/Provost.

 

Inclusive Excellence

The AP must have a demonstrated commitment to Inclusive Excellence. This includes a

commitment to the core principles of diversity and inclusion with an explicit emphasis on equity

and excellence in student learning. St. Kate’s is committed to making Inclusive Excellence a reality and has identified “Drive a Culture of Inclusive Excellence” as one of its six strategic priorities in the University’s strategic plan. Goal areas identified relate to the need to increase the diversity of the graduate student population and to increase the retention, persistence and graduation rates of students of color.  Another goal area is to increase the number of faculty and staff of color by implementing new recruitment strategies and training for search committees. Furthermore, the plan calls for a focus on increase the retention rate of faculty and staff of color with additional resources for ongoing professional development. Additional initiatives include the expansion of equity and inclusion-centered curricular content in specific courses and in each program of study. Finally, the plan has an explicit focus on the articulation and development of the essential skills students must possess to succeed in diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities, and defining how the educational program and co-curricular student experience will foster these outcomes.

 

 

The new AP must have a Master's degree in Educational Policy and Leadership, Student Affairs/College Personnel/Higher Education Administration, or related degree along with significant progressive senior level experience in in Student Affairs.

 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL QUALFICATIONS INCLUDE:

  • Excellent management and supervisory skills, including experience supervising director-level or senior-level staff, and success in leading a team in collaborative strategic and operational planning;
  • Demonstrated a
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and implement program and project goals, objectives, procedures and work standards;
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity and success in working with diverse constituencies to support an inclusive campus environment, including a track record of individual action and institutional leadership;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and application;
  • Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and promote collaboration within the unit and beyond, particularly as it relates to the interface between student development and undergraduate, graduate and adult education;
  • Demonstrated ability to lead change and process improvements;
  • Experience in campus crisis management and demonstrated knowledge and understanding of student mental health and well-being issues, student conduct and discipline, higher education case management, and relevant legal issues in higher education;
  • Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with multiple and diverse constituents;
  • Ability to make effective decisions quickly;
  • ability to manage multiple budgets.

 

 

ABOUT ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY

Formerly the College of St. Catherine, St. Kate’s was founded in St. Paul in 1905 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, under the leadership of Mother Seraphine Ireland with Mother Antonia McHugh, who served as the first dean and president. Founded in 17th-century France, the Sisters of St. Joseph are committed to doing “all of which woman is capable, and which will most benefit the dear neighbor.” The Sisters’ social justice mission of loving God and neighbor without distinction anchors their commitment to respond to the needs of the time. The University is named for St. Catherine of Alexandria, the 4th-century Egyptian philosopher, who suffered martyrdom for her faith.

 

St. Kate’s is a nationally recognized university with the College for Women at its core. It is one of the most comprehensive Catholic universities in the United States, offering access to an education in over 80 academic programs ranging from professional certificates to post-graduate degrees in the liberal arts and professional programs. In 2009, St. Kate’s moved from college to university status, retaining its tradition of academic excellence while expanding its structure to three colleges and three schools. The three schools are the School of Humanities, Arts and Sciences (SHAS), School of Business, and the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health (HSSH), each of which serves students in the College for Women (one of the largest Catholic colleges for women in the nation), the Graduate College, and the College for Adults. The University’s commitment to inclusive excellence encourages students across schools and colleges to incorporate global learning and experiences into their education. St. Kate’s is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

 

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

The Search Committee invites nominations and applications (A thoughtful letter of interest, addressing, as appropriate, the issues and desired qualifications outlined in this profile, current resume or CV showing relevant responsibilities and accomplishments, and the names and contact information of at least five references) to be submitted to the search firm assisting St. Catherine University. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. The Search Committee prefers that all nominations and applications be submitted to the search firm prior to October 16, 2020.

 

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President

Grant Higgison, Principal

Parker Executive Search

Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 || Atlanta, GA 30328

(770) 804-1996 x 118

Pwilliams@parkersearch.com || Ghiggison@parkersearch.com

 

St. Catherine University is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees, according to all applicable equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies and agencies. In keeping this commitment, it is the policy of St. Catherine University to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, marital status, familial status, public assistance status, local human rights commission activity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a qualified protected veteran.