Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The University of Texas at El Paso

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a comprehensive research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education.  We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP is the only research-intensive doctoral university in the United States with a Mexican-American majority student population. UTEP has become a national model of a university that is creating and delivering academic and research programs of excellence while simultaneously serving a 21st century student demographic.

As a Carnegie R1 research university enrolling 25,000+ students, UTEP is a member of The University of Texas System (www.utsystem.edu). It primarily serves far West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Northern Mexico with 72 undergraduate programs, 74 master's programs, 23 doctoral degree programs, and a growing portfolio of online degrees. With a student body that is more than 80% Hispanic and an additional 5 percent from Mexico-UTEP reflects the demographic composition of the border community.

The University employs approximately 1,300 full- and part-time faculty members, with 95.3% of the tenured and tenure-track faculty holding doctoral degrees or the equivalent in their fields.  With a 36% Hispanic faculty composition, UTEP boasts one of the highest proportions of minority faculty among research universities in the United States.

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS

With nearly $100 million in total annual research expenditures, UTEP ranks third among University of Texas System academic institutions in federal research spending. Funding is received from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities and other agencies. More than 500 faculty and staff members engaged in research and sponsored projects last year, and a record number of 589 proposals were submitted, resulting in more than $110 million in new funding obligations (FY 2019). UTEP achievements include activities in traditional areas of strength-science and engineering-but extend far beyond. A broad range of research activities in academic departments and interdisciplinary research centers include the following:

  • Center for Environmental Resource Management
  • Center for Space Exploration, Technology, and Research
  • Materials Research and Technology Institute
  • Border Biomedical Research Center
  • Center for Law and Human Behavior
  • Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness
  • Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems
  • Center for Inland Desalination Systems
  • Cyber-ShARE Center of Excellence
  • Research Institute for Manufacturing and Engineering Systems
  • W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation

For a complete list of research programs, visit:  research.utep.edu
 
Celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence is nationally recognized for its work to transform and vertically integrate education for the region's young people. The Collaborative-consisting of UTEP, the El Paso Community College (EPCC), local school districts and business leaders-has become one of the must successful community partnerships for student success in the country, and has become the model for P-16 councils across the state and nation.

More than $60 million from the National Science Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and other foundations and governmental agencies have funded programs to transform teaching and learning in science, technology, mathematics and literacy. As a result of these efforts, El Paso area schools lead urban areas in Texas in the number of students graduating from high school and prepared for college.

CAMPUS SETTING

UTEP is located in El Paso, Texas. Named one of the safest cities with a population over 500,000 in the United States. El Paso allows students to live and study in the world's largest binational metropolitan area. El Paso is a growing community of 700,000 people, and with Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the combined metropolitan population of the two cities is more than 2.5 million. The community provides a variety of unique cultural and intellectual opportunities, and the mountainous desert environment of El Paso creates more than 300 days of sunshine per year and attractive living conditions. UTEP enhances the Paso del Norte region through a university budget of $355 million and 3,600 employees, and a University-related local business volume of $417 million.

Unique in campus architectural styles, and one of the most beautiful campuses in the west, UTEP's facilities are modeled after buildings in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The 420-acre campus is bustling with growth. The University has completed a number of significant construction and renovation projects including a major transformation of the campus core. UTEP students now enjoy new state-of-the- art facilities in chemistry, computer science, engineering, health sciences, and nursing. Recent construction is also enhancing quality of life by adding student housing, parking garages, and an expanded swimming and fitness center. A new $90 million interdisciplinary research building will be completed in 2020. The University library houses a vast collection, including more than 800,000 volumes, 260,000 government documents, 71,000 electronic journals and 1.6 million microforms. Rich cultural resources are available on the UTEP campus, including museums, archives, cinemas, dinner theatre, galleries, desert gardens, and concerts that enrich not only the University community but the surrounding region.

Athletics are an important part of the campus culture. The 52,000 seat Sun Bowl Stadium and the 12,200 seat Don Haskins Center are homes to the UTEP football and basketball teams. UTEP competes in NCAA Division 1-A and is a member of Conference USA.

Job Description:

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs oversees the University curriculum, faculty appointments, and other academically related areas at a Carnegie R1 Research University committed to serving a traditionally under-represented, majority Latino/a student population. The Provost provides visionary leadership to promote and foster excellence in all aspects of the University's mission. This includes an unwavering commitment to increasing access to excellent higher education where members of the faculty advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the El Paso region.

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs has general charge and responsibility for the supervision and management of all academic colleges, schools, departments, and programs at a Carnegie R1 Research University, to include:

  • recommending all members of the faculty for appointment, promotion, tenure, retention, non-retention, or dismissal for cause;
  • planning, development, and evaluation of academic programs;
  • fostering the development of new teaching methods;
  • serving co-leadership role with the Vice President for Student Affairs to develop, implement and evaluate The University of Texas at El Paso's student success initiative, the UTEP Edge;
  • recommending additions and alterations to the physical plant that are needed for academic purposes;
  • serving as chair of the Council of Deans;
  • coordinating internal administrative review and external regulatory or accreditory consideration of academic policies, plans and programs;
  • maintaining academic standards of The University of Texas at El Paso and of appropriate accrediting bodies;
  • other academic and administrative responsibilities as may be assigned by the President.

Participates in the University Cabinet responsible for executive leadership of the University.

Advises the President on all matters related to Academic Affairs and university administration generally.

Supervises all matters relating to curriculum and instruction, including outreach, evening and summer courses, scheduling, and overloads.

Demonstrates a commitment to inclusive and collaborative leadership with a passion for serving a traditionally under-represented, majority Latino/a student population. 

Represents the University at public events in the absence of the President.

Oversees faculty and academic staff recruitment and development activities.

Recommends to the President and, through her, to the Regents, all academic appointments, tenure, and promotion matters and ensures that such processes comply with the terms of faculty bargaining agreements.

Oversees development and implementation of academic planning.

Establishes priorities and plans for program development, faculty recruitment, and development.

Provides academic input to institutional enrollment management efforts.

Coordinates periodic academic program review, accreditation, and works with Deans and Chairs in the review, study, and development of curriculum and in the improvement of instruction.

Develops and ensures adherence to the academic affairs budget and participates in the development of the budget for the University as a whole.

Requirements:

Minimum qualifications include an earned doctorate from an accredited institution of higher education and the qualifications necessary to hold a tenured position with the academic rank of professor in an appropriate department of the University.  

The successful applicant also will have significant senior level academic and administrative leadership experience, strong academic credentials in teaching, scholarship, and service and the ability to participate effectively and successfully in external resource development and foster collaborative relationships.

Desired Qualifications:

  • An outstanding record of research and teaching meriting the rank of professor with tenure
  • Administrative expertise (including budget and facilities oversight) in a sizeable organization with diverse stakeholders
  • Demonstrated leadership in recruiting, developing, and retaining faculty and staff
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • An understanding of an academic community in a national research university serving a 21st century student demographic
  • Evidence of developing successful collaborations and building collegial relations among faculty, students, staff, and administration

Application Instructions:

Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.  For best consideration, please submit materials by December 1, 2019.  Application materials must include (1) a letter addressing how experiences match the position requirements and direction of the University, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) contact information for at least five references.

To apply, please visit www.utep.edu/employment.

Nominations are accepted (www.utep.edu/provostsearch).

Confidential inquiries and/or requests for information should be sent to:

Dr. Gary Edens
Vice President for Student Affairs
Search Committee Chair
The University of Texas of El Paso 
Phone: 915-747-5076
or submitted via e-mail to:  provostsearch@utep.edu

In keeping with its Access and Excellence mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all.  
 
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity in employment or the provision of services.