Associate Vice President, Student Success and Retention Innovation

The University of Arizona (UA), a world-renowned research institution, is seeking nominations and applications for the position of Associate Vice President, Student Success and Retention Innovation.

In recent years, the UA has invested in a wide range of programs to increase student access as well as student success, graduation and retention. This includes highly innovative programming, such as the university’s investment in predictive analytics infrastructure, which provides the institution real-time data around which it is developing outreach programs. It is thus an opportune time to join the university and bring even greater focus, synergy and coordination to ensuring the success of all students at the university. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Digital Learning and Student Engagement, the Associate Vice President will join a forward-thinking leadership team in the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management/Academic Achievement and Student Success. The new Associate Vice President will provide visionary leadership and enthusiastic support for impacting student success and retention innovation programs at all levels of the institution. This new leader will also foster strong relationships across campus and work in partnership with university leadership, faculty, staff and other colleagues to promote an environment in which all students thrive. Units reporting to the Associate Vice President include: Academic Success & Achievement, the Strategic Learning Alternative Techniques (SALT) Center and THINK TANK.

The UA is a distinctive, student-centered national research university and force for societal good and is willing to take calculated risks and engage students in new ways. The Associate Vice President will be an innovator, collaborator and strategist with a deep understanding of both the opportunities and challenges that are emerging in the rapidly changing higher education landscape and the many factors that impact student success, graduation and retention. The successful candidate will possess a proven record of impacting student persistence as a teacher, researcher or practitioner; progressive administrative experience; the ability to gain the confidence of faculty to catalyze support and enthusiasm for the goals of his/her area; and a record of successfully collaborating with a broad set of organizational leaders and constituents across units, departments and centers. A master’s degree is required; a Ph.D. or terminal degree is highly desired. The UA welcomes applicants with tenure or tenure-track faculty experience. For an extraordinary candidate a tenured faculty appointment will be considered.

Home of the fiercely proud Wildcats, the UA is a premier public research university, ranked among the best in the world. The UA is rooted in rich history and tradition. The university today is vibrant and thriving and on the cutting edge of education, discovery and impact – the opportunities at the University of Arizona are limitless. As the state’s land-grant university, the UA honors its threefold commitment to education, research and community service. With a population of 43,600 total students, the UA has a reputation as a global leader in the preparation of students for life beyond graduation. As a proud member of the American Association of Universities (AAU), the UA is at the forefront of research with a constant drive to advance the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships. Bringing more than $606 million in research investment each year, the UA ranks 21st among all public universities. Additional information may be found at the UA’s website: http://www.arizona.edu/. 

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Review of applications has begun and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should provide a resume, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile available at www.wittkieffer.com, and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to the University of Arizona’s consultants Amy Crutchfield and Kim Brettschneider at UA-AVPStudentSuccess@wittkieffer.com. The consultants can be reached by telephone through the desk of the assistant for the search, Laura Novak, at 630-575-6943.

The University of Arizona values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.