Dean, College of Business

Western Carolina University invites nominations and applications for the appointment of Dean of the College of Business. The Dean will have the opportunity to lead a college already enjoying a great deal of momentum to new levels of accomplishment and distinction.  The University is on an upward trajectory and this position offers the opportunity to play a defining role in shaping the future of the College of Business at Western Carolina University.

The University

Western Carolina University (WCU) is a premier regional comprehensive university with nationally and internationally recognized teacher-scholars dedicated to student learning.  Founded in 1889 as a teaching college, WCU is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, WCU deploys its resources statewide either singly or collaboratively with other institutions to address state needs.  The University offers courses in the arts, sciences, technologies, humanities, and professions through degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral levels.  Western Carolina offers the advantages of a large university while maintaining its small college atmosphere.  The University enrolls approximately 11,000 students and has an annual budget of some $180 million.

Located in Cullowhee, NC, 52 miles west of Asheville, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains and near the Blue Ridge Mountains, WCU has a commitment to the rich traditions of the Southern Highlands and Cherokee cultures.  Its Mountain Heritage Center, Cherokee Center, Highlands Biological Station, Craft Revival Project, and Mountain Heritage Day, which attracts thousands of people across the region, reflect this influence—at the same time providing irreplaceable educational resources for the region.  The campus covers approximately 600 acres.  WCU also operates an instructional site at Biltmore Park Towne Square in Asheville, where the university offers degree programs in nursing and engineering as well as graduate programs in accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship, and education.

As a regional comprehensive university, WCU is committed to serving constituents within its geographic domain by offering services and appropriate educational programs and experiences.  Wedded to its region, WCU strives to take advantage of its location by capitalizing on assets unique to the region.  As a result, WCU’s educational portfolio and services are strongly influenced by its location and the opportunities within it. 

WCU’s core geographical region is defined as the 17 western-most counties of North Carolina.  As such, it works most closely with educational, governmental, and business entities in this area.  Historically, WCU has provided educational programs and services to an extended region as far east as the I-77 corridor.  WCU will continue to serve its extended region when it fits within the University’s resources and programming.  Further, WCU has multiple programs that interact with its larger economic region extending from Atlanta in the west, Raleigh to the east, Knoxville to the north, and Greenville/Spartanburg to the south.  Although WCU has a defined region, it maintains a presence in national and international sites for educational purposes and training.  Western Carolina University received special designation as a Community Engaged University by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2008.

Awards

Western Carolina University has been honored in multiple areas demonstrating our commitment to our students, faculty, staff and our community.  WCU’s distinguished faculty includes national award-winning authors, nationally and internationally recognized experts, and winners of Emmy, O’Henry, and National Endowment for the Arts awards – to name a few.  WCU has been named a Top Green College by Princeton Review, is among the Top 5 for Undergraduate Research in the nation, and has been named by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance as a Best College Value.  Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine has named WCU the Number 1 Outdoor Adventure College for three years running.  The WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band is a Sudler Trophy recipient, having led the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl Parade.  WCU is ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the Top 12 Best Online Programs for the Military as well as #27 among institutions in the South for Best Colleges for Veterans.

Mission

Western Carolina University is a public regional institution of higher education whose mission is to create learning opportunities that incorporate teaching, research, service, and engagement through on campus, off campus, on-line and international experiences. The university focuses its undergraduate, master’s and three doctoral programs, educational outreach, research, creative, and cultural activities to sustain and improve individual lives and enhance economic and community development in Western Carolina and beyond.

Vision

The story of WCU is one deeply connected to the people of our region; we are rooted in our service to the people of Southern Appalachia and beyond. WCU belongs not just to our students and our faculty and staff, but to the whole community, for we are integrally connected to this region as its educational, economic, and cultural center. Our vision is to be a national model for student learning and engagement that embraces its responsibilities as a regionally engaged university.

Core Values

Western Carolina is committed to excellence in teaching and learning, collaboration with a respect for our communities, free and open interchange of ideas, responsible stewardship, organizational and environmental sustainability and cultural diversity and equal opportunity. These are the values that guide our approach to education and service daily.

Academics

WCU provides more than 115 undergraduate majors and concentrations and more than 60 graduate programs through its six colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, Fine and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences, and Engineering and Technology.  Approximately 57 percent of all classes have fewer than 30 students, and the student/faculty ratio is 16 to 1. In addition, Western Carolina’s Honors College coordinates courses and events in every area of student, the Graduate School coordinates the admission process, funding support and awarding of degrees to graduate students, and Hunter Library provides academic support for all academic units.

The College of Business

Proudly accredited by AACSB International, the College of Business is dedicated to preparing today's students to be tomorrow's business leaders in a wide variety of fields. Its 54 faculty members are dedicated to creating a learning environment of excellence with a personal touch as they teach and develop each department’s dynamic curriculum.  The College currently has over 1,400 full time undergraduate students, and 70 full time graduate students. 

The College is home to three different schools of study: The School of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Law; The School of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, and Hospitality & Tourism; and The School of Economics, Management, and Project Management. 

In addition, the College of Business operates the Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation(CEI), which facilitates public-private partnerships that bring together business owners, faculty, and students who have a desire to grow an idea into a business; and the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise (CSFE), which provides economics research and thought leadership focused on issues in economic development in the region, the State, and beyond.  Western Carolina also staffs the Asheville and Cullowhee offices of North Carolina’s Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), which is the business and technology extension service of the University of North Carolina System.

Undergraduate Degrees are offered through the following programs:

 The College offers the following graduate degrees:

 

The College offers the following online degrees:

Responsibilities of the Dean

The Dean of the College of Business reports to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and, as a member of the Provost Council, works closely with other deans and members of the Academic Affairs staff.  The Dean will be responsible for continuing to advance and strengthen degree programs; foster excellence in research, teaching and engagement; promote local, regional, national and global visibility; continue the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship; increase the School’s financial resources; and effectively manage the School’s budget.  The Dean should promote a culturally aware and diverse work environment that promotes growth, collaboration, and shared governance The Dean will supervise program assessments, as well as work collaboratively with others in creating and implementing a long-range strategic vision and plan for the School.  The Dean will be responsible for the continuous improvement of degree programs in order to maintain AACSB International accreditation.  The Dean will have responsibility for selecting, evaluating, promoting and retaining high quality faculty/staff.   

It is important that the Dean be able to:

  • increase public recognition and support for the College as a contributor to the vitality and well-being of the region and the State;
  • lead fundraising initiatives and create, sustain, and build relationships with multiple and diverse external constituencies;
  • promote a culturally aware and welcoming environment with a strong commitment to recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff, and students
  • strengthen the relationships between the College and alumni, business leaders in Cullowhee, and surrounding communities;
  • sustain and further support the excellence of the faculty;
  • promote the College’s students as opportunities to add value to organizations through internships, projects, and full-time hiring;
  • understand the needs of students in a residential setting while promoting opportunities and activities for their personal and academic growth;
    • serve as a highly strategic partner to faculty and staff in developing new distance and online learning initiatives; and
    • establish priorities for investing in current, as well as new academic programs.  

 

Qualifications

Western Carolina University is seeking a dynamic Dean with unquestioned character and integrity.  The Dean should have exemplary academic qualifications (as defined by AACSB International) in one of the disciplines of the School, including an earned terminal degree and a record of outstanding achievement necessary for appointment as a tenured full professor in the College.  The Dean should have the experience and skill sets to build relationships, garner and provide resources, and form collaborative partnerships.  Building on its current success, the College is seeking a dynamic and proven leader with effective change management skills to continue to grow the College. In addition, the Dean should have a willingness to commit to the region and provide leadership to its vitality.  As the primary spokesperson for the College, the new Dean must have effective communication and public relations skills.  The Dean must be collaborative, consultative, and transparent in his or her decision-making process.  The Dean should have a demonstrated commitment to student success, faculty excellence in teaching and research, institutional diversity, and community outreach.  Preference will be given to those candidates with previous AACSB International accreditation experience.  

Procedures for Candidacy

To ensure optimal consideration please submit materials by August 24, 2018.  Application materials should include a letter addressing how the candidate’s experience matches the position requirements and an updated curriculum vitae.

Nominations, applications, and inquiries of interest may be sent in confidence to the College’s executive recruitment consultants:

Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner

Chelsie Whitelock, Senior Associate

Buffkin/Baker

10 Cadillac Drive, Suite 190

Brentwood, TN 37027

martin@buffkinbaker.com

chelsie@buffkinbaker.com