Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Illinois State University (ISU) seeks a seasoned leader with deep administrative and academic experience to serve as its next vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Founded in 1857, Illinois State is the oldest public university in the state. Located in Normal, 125 miles southwest of Chicago, ISU hosts a diverse community of scholars committed to fostering a small-college atmosphere with large-university opportunities. Illinois State's mission is based on a shared set of core values: individualized attention, integrity, learning and scholarship, collaboration, respect, diversity and inclusion, and civic engagement. Students at Illinois State find rigorous academic programs that challenge them to be their best and a welcoming and supportive campus atmosphere that helps them grow and mature as scholars, citizens, and leaders. It has a total enrollment of 20,878 students (18,250 undergraduate and 2,628 graduate) situated on a 1,111 acre campus.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Illinois State in America’s 100 top public national universities. The University's retention rate remains among the highest in the nation at over 78.6%, and the high graduation rate (69.1%) is well above the national average. In 2019, the University welcomed its largest and most diverse freshman class in 33 years. Illinois State's campus reflects the nation's changing demographics with one quarter of the student population coming from underrepresented groups. In addition, the University has been named a "Great College to Work For" for the fifth consecutive year by The Chronicle of Higher Education—the only four-year, public university in Illinois on the list.

The incoming provost will serve as ISU's chief academic officer, supporting the implementation of the University's academic mission and providing curricular and administrative leadership within a stable, forward-looking, and multicultural academic environment. The provost provides leadership to all deans and academic administrators for the purpose of assessing, planning, and budgeting the academic enterprise of the campus. While maintaining the institution's commitment to fostering a small-college environment, the provost should keep student learning and success at the forefront, while also supporting an increase in research, creative activity, and scholarship. Chief among the provost’s responsibilities will be working effectively with the president and senior leadership to execute the University's new strategic plan. The provost will collaborate with campus leadership to identify and implement transformational initiatives that will further strengthen the University and community.

The provost will be an engaged, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader with a demonstrated commitment to faculty excellence and student success. The provost will be an institutional advocate and effective communicator with both internal and external constituencies. A strong appreciation of and commitment to Illinois State's mission and values is essential. The next provost should have earned academic credentials that merit appointment as a tenured full professor, including a distinguished academic record in teaching, scholarship, and research. A proven record of broad, progressive, and substantive administrative leadership at the level of dean, associate provost, provost, or similar position will be essential. For more information, please visit www.wittkieffer.com.

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by December 20, 2019. Candidates should provide, as three separate documents, a curriculum vitae, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile, 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 Illinois State University’s consultants Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Alejandra Gillette-Teran at IllinoisStateProvost@wittkieffer.com. The consultants can be reached through the office of Hillary Hmura at 630-575-6959.

Illinois State University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding affirmative action, nondiscrimination, and anti-harassment. Illinois State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, order of protection, gender identity and expression, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, unfavorable military discharge, or status as a veteran in employment, educational programs and activities, or admissions.