Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

About La Salle University:

When the Brothers of the Christian Schools founded La Salle College in 1863, they looked to their founder and the universal patron saint of educators, for inspiration and guidance. Beginning with this act of faith, La Salle became the first institution of higher education in the world to bear the name of St. John Baptist de La Salle. Even as La Salle has grown into a university to meet the changing needs of our students and our times, our Lasallian Catholic heritage remains a constant, nurturing our institution into a community rooted in the Catholic intellectual and social teaching traditions. These traditions inspire us to integrate scholarship from across the various academic fields in an effort to understand the world around us in ways that bring people closer in relationship to the transcendent. Today, La Salle University remains committed to the values of the Gospel and the founding story and vision of St. La Salle. Those values remain integral to how we understand our Catholic identity and informs us in how we continue our Lasallian educational mission.

Position Summary:

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs reports directly to the President of the University having primary responsibility for all academic programs serving as the chief academic officer of La Salle University.  The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs also has an essential role in promoting the Lasallian character of the University’s academic programs and in assisting the President in ensuring and nurturing the University’s Catholic identity.

The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs oversees curriculum, academic standards, program creation and retirement, faculty development, instructional and learning supports, budgets, and the configuration of the master schedule. The fundamental concerns are with teaching, learning, and research that embodies and expresses the educational values and goals of the University. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs also structures recommendations for shared governance providing direction on academic and educational matters to the President, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

  • Collaborates with the faculty, the President, and the Board of Trustees to ensure all academic programs and services reflect La Salle’s mission and core values. 
  • Assists the President in communicating and garnering levels of support, by serving as an advocate for the mission and goals of the University among its various constituencies.
  • In partnership with the President and Vice President of Finance & Administration, identifies, evaluates, develops, and supports implementation of new programs that will serve to enhance the overall effectiveness and financial strength of the University.
  • Responsible for executing the academic dimensions and objectives of Momentum 2022, the University’s strategic plan.
  • Formulates and strategizes, along with the other appropriate administrators and areas of the University, the educational policy of the University. This includes development of new policies and major revisions of academic procedures.
  • Responsible for Title IX compliance in matters related to academic programming.
  • Leads a transparent and forward-looking budgeting process for Academic Affairs that aims high, projects clear outcomes for expenditures, and evaluates achievements in the context of cost effectiveness.
  • Administers the academic programs which have been established and approved by the President and Board of Trustees. This entails coordinating the various academic divisions of the University and developing and maintaining appropriate support and planning structures.
  • Directs the administration of the faculty tenure and promotion review process.
  • Serves as a voting member of the University Council and attends meetings of the Board of Trustees serving as the primary liaison to the Academic Affairs committee.
  • In consultation with the Academic Affairs Committee, recommends to the President and publishes the University’s Academic Calendar.
  • Develops existing programs, analyzing outcomes, recommending present and future needs, and devising new academic programs to enhance the University’s educational mission.
  • Recommends full-time appointments to the faculty to the President after appropriate consultation with the academic Deans and departments.
  • Supervises the preparation of budget requests and administers or delegates administration of the approved academic and faculty development budgets for the area.
  • Participates in the work of the planning and budgeting bodies of the University as designated by the President.
  • Recommends the appointment of professional staff in the academic area and approves appointments to the non-professional staff in the area.
  • Receives the recommendations of the appropriate committees for awarding of Christian Brothers’ Scholarships, University Scholarships, Community Academic Opportunity Program grants, and Diversity grants.

Secondary Responsibilities: (include but are not limited to)

  • All other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the President.

Supervisees (by title):

  • Dean of Arts & Sciences
  • Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences
  • Dean of the School of Business
  • Dean & University Librarian
  • Assistant to the Provost
  • Associate Provost for Faculty & Academic Affairs
  • Assistant Provost (2)
  • Assistant Vice President for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness
  • University Registrar
  • Director, University Honors Programs
  • Director, Distributed Learning & Educational Technology
  • Director and Chief Curator, Art Museum
  • Director, Undergraduate Research (Secondary position for faculty member)
  • Co-Chairs, Core Implementation Committee (Secondary positions for 2 faculty members)

Minimum Qualifications: (Education/Training and Experience)

Preferred:

  • Earned doctorate, tenured status, and demonstrated accomplishment as a scholar and teacher.
  • Knowledge of and commitment to communicate the Lasallian Catholic mission and identity of the University to faculty, staff, and students so as to promote the values and goals of Lasallian Catholic higher education in teaching, learning, and scholarship. Distinguished record of leadership and interpersonal skills necessary to inspire and guide academic programs to a high level of excellence.
  • Successful senior administrative experience that provide a strong foundation for the complex and wide-ranging responsibilities.
  • Demonstrated commitment to shared governance in planning and managing change, and the skills to promote a sense of shared commitment in others to change.
  • Detail-oriented with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively interact with people of diverse backgrounds.
  • Ability to appreciate and support the diverse needs of different aspects of the institution, including undergraduate and graduate programs, liberal arts and professional programs, on-campus and distance learning programs.
  • Profound successful experience both in building and supporting diversity in all aspects of campus life.
  • Highlighted experience in the development and implementation of innovative organizational initiatives
  • An ability to build relationships and connections across schools and disciplines, to motivate and energize others to work together, and understand and encourage diverse viewpoints and approaches.
  • Demonstrates experience managing a complex budget and planning and evaluating achievements in the context of cost effectiveness.

Application Procedure:

The Provost Search Committee invites nominations, applications (a letter of interest, resume/CV, and the names and contact information of five or more references) or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting La Salle University.  Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted to the search firm prior to December 30, 2019.  For additional information, please contact:

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President
DeLaina Sarden, Research Associate
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2900 | Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770-804-1996 x109 or x119
pwilliams@parkersearch.com | dsarden@parkersearch.com

La Salle University is a diverse community dedicated in the tradition of the Christian Brothers, and is concerned for both the ultimate values and the individual values of its faculty, employees, and students. Accordingly, in support of this values-driven mission, the University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, religion, sex, age (40 years and older), disability, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual preference or orientation, marital status, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any prohibited basis, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification which justifies a differentiation. This commitment applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, discharge, and any term or condition of employment and extends to participation in all educational programs and activities of La Salle University. Employment is based upon an applicant’s ability to meet the established requirements for employment. All employment decisions will be made in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local antidiscrimination laws.