Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

University of Virginia’s College at Wise

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) is a public, four-year residential liberal arts college located in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia. Prior to its establishment in 1954, there existed no public colleges in Virginia, west of Radford. As a result, postsecondary and higher education was out of reach for individuals and families living in Virginia’s mountainous western and southwestern regions. What started as an ambitious dream of local citizens has since blossomed into one of the nation’s best public liberal arts colleges.

With proven academics, thriving student life, and a picturesque campus, UVA Wise provides students with learning experiences that offer opportunities to develop the insight, competence, sensitivity, and integrity necessary for living enriched lives and for enriching the lives of others. UVA Wise prides itself on being a diverse community of people who believe that information can be transformed into knowledge and that teaching and learning create a foundation for wisdom. Proud of its Appalachian heritage, the College continues to honor its commitment of service to Southwest Virginia, the nation, and the world – guided by a legacy of teaching and scholarly excellence and by a dedication to quality in both the arts and sciences and professional programs.

Position Overview

The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) is a full-time, 12-month position, reporting directly to the Chancellor. Leading a team of Student Affairs professionals, the VCSA ensures an open, equitable, and inclusive process for access to educational programs, oversees budgets serving as resources for Student Affairs-related programming, maintains integrity of and appropriate access to educational records, and plans and executes a comprehensive student engagement/development program for all students.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Serves as a member of the Chancellor’s Senior Staff and Cabinet;
• Provides the overall vision and leadership for Student Affairs and ensures coordination of programs and services;
• Creates a dynamic and productive environment for a group of experienced and diverse Student Affairs professionals within the Division of Student Affairs with direct supervision of: the Dean of Students (including Housing and Residence Life and Student Conduct and Responsibility); the Director of Student Engagement (including new student orientation, freshman extended orientation, parent and family engagement, and the New Student Advising Corps); and, the Director of the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center (including Student Recreation, Greek Life, Student Activities, and Conference and Events);
• Participates in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, integrated student life program that is supported by a clear mission statement for the Division and achievable department goals;
• Provides direct oversight for multiple operating budgets;
• Builds partnerships with colleagues across the campus community to enhance a comprehensive student experience which will assist with ensuring the highest quality student experience maximizing student persistence to graduation;
• Plans, creates, administers, and assesses existing Student Affairs programs, while developing innovative methods for providing services, for engaging staff in short- and long-range strategic planning, and for implementing successful outreach efforts to students and their families;
• Works closely with Campus Police and the Dean of Students to ensure consistency regarding policy implementation and enforcement;
• Serves as a member of the Crisis Management Team;
• Works collaboratively with the Chancellor and members of her senior leadership team for long-range planning including space needs, budgets, capital expenses, and facilities related to student life as well as enrollment and retention goals;
• Reviews yearly professional development needs and opportunities for the Student Affairs team and recommends appropriate opportunities as needed;
• Serves as liaison between the College and the University General Counsel’s Office in potential legal matters associated with student conduct and others matters potentially impacting student life;
• Partners with the College’s leadership team, faculty, students, and staff to pursue opportunities to strengthen the College’s efforts to be an inclusive community marked by respect, responsibility, and acceptance;
• Works with the Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to design and implement innovative strategies leading to student success in a welcoming and authentically-diverse community of learning and social interaction in which all perspectives are valued and to ensure all mandated programming regarding Title IX and the Clery Act is provided for both the Student Affairs team and for students;
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Chancellor.

Professional and Personal Qualifications                          

• Master’s degree required, doctorate preferred in Student Personnel Services, Educational Leadership, Counseling or School Psychology in Counseling, or a related field; or, comparable experience, as in significant experience leading a complex organization that is accountable and responsive to diverse stakeholders.
• Ten to 15+ years of progressively-responsible administrative experience in higher education, preferably in student affairs/student development.
• High energy, strong collegiality, and a positive demeanor.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in managing all aspects of a student conduct process.
• Exceptional judgment and the ability to make decisions and recommendations with the highest levels of integrity, fairness, and ethical standards.
• Demonstrated experience in fostering team building and the ability to engage and motivate the full talents of a diverse staff, inspiring the trust and confidence of the entire campus community
• Superior interpersonal skills and demonstrated strong transformational leadership, communication, marketing, planning and organizational skills consistent with those required to direct a complex organization coupled with experience in budget management and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated ability to project a strong positive image of the College through public speaking and personal interaction with parents, faculty, staff, students, and others.
• Enthusiasm about working in an environment that encourages and empowers students, and the belief that with the right support, students are highly capable of leading.
• Experience and comfort with both making difficult, high-profile decisions under pressure and advising those who do and a demonstrated ability to apply strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills and train and evaluate performance, taking corrective action as needed and dealing with stressful situations while maintaining composure.
• Shared commitment to the College’s values of inclusion and respect for all and understanding of the needs of a diverse and rapidly changing student body.
• Ability to establish collegial relationships within and outside the College and to work collaboratively and effectively on matters of policy across multiple offices and units at the College and the ability to relate to a wide variety of constituencies, including students, parents, faculty, staff, donors, and alumni, and to appreciate the concerns of each group.
• Significant experience formulating policy about matters affecting students and their general welfare based on an educational vision that is grounded in how students learn, develop, and deal with conflicts and differences and a strong understanding of academic issues and how student programs enhance the overall academic experience.
• An understanding of state and federal programs, agencies and laws that specifically address higher education and student issues and including a working knowledge of FERPA, Title IV, Title IX, and the Clery Act.
• Extensive knowledge of current trends in higher education for student programming and implementation of effective practices and programs that assist in increasing the College’s rates of student engagement, retention and graduation.

Application Process

The Search Committee invites applications, inquiries, and nominations for this position. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact details of at least five professional references. Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled and review of applications will begin immediately. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit materials (electronic submissions preferred) prior to March 19, 2021 to the search firm assisting UVA Wise.

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President

Julie Palmer Johnson, Research Associate

Parker Executive Search

pwilliams@parkersearch.com || jjohnson@parkersearch.com

(770) 804-1996 x 121

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.