Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

California Polytechnic State University

Search for the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), a distinguished public undergraduate and Master’s level institution located in San Luis Obispo, California seeks a strategic, visionary and collaborative leader to serve as its next Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost/EVP). The Provost/EVP will be joining an energetic and creative President and senior leadership team and a campus community ready to come together to be inspired for the future, to play an integral role in helping the university solidify its academic vision to reach new heights of academic excellence. With an outstanding student body and a highly dedicated and talented faculty and staff, the university aspires to be the nation’s premier comprehensive polytechnic university, developing and inspiring whole system thinkers through teaching, scholarship, and the co-curricular experience to become the future leaders and innovators in California and the world. 

Founded in 1901 as one of 23 universities in the CSU system, Cal Poly is one of only five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation. Characterized by its “Learn by Doing” philosophy and unique teacher-scholar model, Cal Poly prepares its students to think critically, communicate effectively, contribute positively to society, and be lifelong learners.  As such, the institution has emerged as one of the leading public universities in not only the state of California, but in the entire country. For the 27th straight year, Cal Poly has been named the best public masters-level university in the West by both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes Top Colleges. Additionally, Business Insider magazine has determined that Cal Poly is among the top 40 public institutions in the country in terms of smartest students.

With “Learn by Doing” as a central pillar, the teacher-scholar model, a recently adopted strategic plan, and a historic $700-million comprehensive campaign underway, the new Provost/EVP will be joining the university at a pivotal time to guide the campus community into a new era of innovation and excellence. The Provost/EVP will be joining a collaborative and nimble community that is eager to create and execute new strategies around academic programs and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; student success; diversifying revenue streams; and sharing Cal Poly’s academic excellence with a broader audience. The Provost/EVP will have the opportunity to help define an academic vision that fosters an inclusive and interdisciplinary culture that promotes the success of all students, faculty, and staff and champions excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The Provost/EVP will be expected to balance strategic and visionary thinking with the detailed and pragmatic focus necessary to implement and achieve the vision to address the following opportunities:

  • Coalesce the campus around an academic vision that continues the campus’ current ascent
  • Further build and strengthen a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus culture and community based on the principle of Inclusive Excellence
  • Continue to celebrate and refine the teacher-scholar model while supporting faculty
  • Support academic student success and substantially advance the goals of the CSU’s 2025 Graduation Initiative
  • Develop and implement strategies for graduate programs and international collaborations
  • Strategically administer the academic budget and develop new resources to further strengthen infrastructure and the academic enterprise
  • Work closely with the President and senior leadership team to ensure seamless execution of campus priorities
  • Serve as an effective and respected representative and advocate for the campus within the CSU System, the San Luis Obispo community, and with other external stakeholders

Cal Poly has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/7190. To apply, visit http://jobs.calpoly.edu/sl/en-us/job/494199/provost-and-executive-vice-president-of-academic-affairs to complete the required online Cal Poly Management Employment Application. In addition, each applicant must provide as separate attachments to the online application a detailed curriculum vitae or resume, and a cover letter. The cover letter should address the applicant’s qualifications and experience for this position, including a personal statement of the applicant’s views on academic administration and the role and responsibilities of faculty, as well as the applicant’s experiences with and views on leadership, their management style, and diversity and inclusion in higher education. Please indicate Requisition Number 494199 on all attachments.

David Bellshaw, Lindsay Gold, and Jaime Morgen

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA  94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly’s commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.