Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), a distinguished public research university, seeks applications and nominations for an Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who exhibits bold vision, high energy, and commitment to excellence, creativity, and innovation in academia. The Executive Vice Chancellor functions in the capacity of the university’s provost, is the academic leader for the campus and is the responsible authority in the absence of the Chancellor.

The University

UNL, chartered by the Nebraska Legislature in 1869, is the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska system; it serves as both the Land-Grant and comprehensive public research university of the state of Nebraska. UNL is one of four universities of the University of Nebraska system and works cooperatively with the three other campuses—the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a predominantly undergraduate campus; the University of Nebraska at Omaha, housing both undergraduate and graduate programs; and health professions training and biomedical research is located at the University of Nebraska Medical Center located in Omaha and Lincoln, as well as other campuses across the state—and central administration to provide for its student body and all Nebraskans the widest array of disciplines, areas of expertise, and specialized facilities of any institution within the state. Nearly 26,000 students matriculate through UNL's nine colleges: Architecture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, Hixson-Lied Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Law. UNL offers 175 undergraduate majors, 71 master's degree programs, 46 doctoral programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Education and Doctor of Musical Arts. Seven professional degree programs and two educational specialist programs are available.

UNL is listed in the Carnegie Classification system as a research university with very high research activity, is one of the nation's leading public teaching institutions, and a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities. The university is a member of the Big Ten conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, and was fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 2017. UNL researchers achieved a record $308 million in total research expenditures for the 2018 fiscal year, a key growth indicator that reflects advancements in agriculture, education, materials research and virology — all high-priority research areas. This represented a 2 percent increase over the previous year’s record of $302 million. Over the past decade, Nebraska has achieved a 25 percent increase in total research expenditures. The university’s goal is to approach $450 million in total research expenditures by 2025.

The university received $265 million in externally sponsored awards in fiscal year 2018. Of that, $171 million was sponsored by federal agencies, a 12 percent increase from the previous fiscal year and a 49 percent increase over the past decade. The university’s top sources for federal funding include the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Position Summary

The Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is the academic leader for the campus with the mission of achieving excellence across all parameters. The Executive Vice Chancellor reports directly to the Chancellor and serves as the chief academic officer in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). The UNL academic deans, other than those in IANR, report directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor. Those deans represent the College of Architecture; the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Business; the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts; the College of Education and Human Sciences; the College of Engineering; the College of Journalism and Mass Communications; the College of Law; Graduate Studies; and University Libraries. The Executive Vice Chancellor works in cooperation with the Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources who has oversight of the academic deans in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the Agricultural Research Division, and Nebraska Extension. The Executive Vice Chancellor is responsible for the administration, coordination, and development of general policies and functions applicable to academic programs and working with the Academic Deans, will assure pursuit of excellence through oversight of undergraduate teaching and learning; student affairs; diversity and inclusion; graduate mentoring; faculty development, promotion and tenure; and by developing innovative academic initiatives that will be recognized as unique signature strengths.

The new Executive Vice Chancellor will join UNL at a pivotal moment in the institutions’ history. On the occasion of its sesquicentennial, Chancellor Ronnie Green announced the university’s 25-year vision (“N150 Vision”) and a team is developing the first five-year (N2025) strategic plan, to be launched in early 2020 to further elevate the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to even greater national stature. The University is pursuing an aggressive agenda to become nationally preeminent and a distinctive Big Ten University by 2025. Specific goals of this agenda include increasing enrollment, growing research expenditures, enhancing student retention and graduation rates, increasing the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty, and increasing the number of faculty receiving national recognition and awards for their research and creative activity. The next Executive Vice Chancellor will play a critical role in achieving these goals and in making strategic decisions about resources associated with success.

Qualifications and Characteristics

The successful candidate must have a record of outstanding scholarship and teaching that allows full professor rank and tenure in one of UNL’s academic departments. The candidate will have an administrative record at a relevant institution that demonstrates strong collaborative academic management experience, creative and strategic thinking, sound judgment, excellent analytic skills, and the ability and courage to make difficult but informed decisions. Additionally, excellent listening, communications, and interpersonal skills with an ability to inspire, energize, and engage faculty, staff, and students toward a vision that embraces innovation in teaching and student success, along with research and creative activity. The desired candidate also will understand the needs of a comprehensive public research university and will be prepared to advocate for the public service mission as defined by a 21st century-leading Land-Grant institution.

To learn more about UNL and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs search, please visit https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/evcaa-search.

Application and Nomination Process

UNL invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, nominations and applications should be submitted before August 1, 2019 electronically (Word or PDF files preferred) and in confidence, to:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner

Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates

Email: apsearch@storbeckpimentel.com

Refer to code “UNL-EVCAA” in subject line

Applications should include a detailed resume, a statement summarizing the applicant's personal vision and relevant leadership experience, as well as preferred contact information. All candidate information will be held in strict confidence until the final stage of the search at which time the express permission of finalists will be obtained before making their candidacy public. Candidates are urged to review all information and documents posted on the search web site. We actively encourage applications from and nominations of women and other protected group members.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work and learning environment free from discrimination and harassment. UNL is dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and included. UNL does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities and employment. UNL complies with all local, state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination, including Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. To view UNL’s full nondiscrimination statement, please visit: http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.