Assistant Provost for Student Affairs #20200037
Position Title: Assistant Provost for Student Affairs
Primary Campus: St. Paul
Posting Number: 20200037-Staff
Position Summary
St. Catherine University (St. Kate’s) invites applications for a new Assistant Provost for Student Affairs.
Based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, St. Kate’s is home to a diverse group of nearly 5,000 students in a wide array of disciplines and degree levels. At its heart, the legacy of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs), informs every facet of this private Catholic university. The Assistant Provost for Student Affairs will lead based on values inspired by the Sisters, including those of community, spirituality, and social justice.
THE POSITION
The Assistant Provost for Student Affairs (AP) reports directly to the EVP and Provost, and provides vision, leadership, and strategic oversight to all areas of Student Affairs at St. Catherine University, including direct supervision to the main functional areas of the Student Affairs team. The Assistant Provost will oversee programs for students in the three colleges, College for Women, College for Adults, and the Graduate College. The Assistant Provost oversees the integration of student experiences within the University’s mission and academic vision, focusing specifically on student retention, persistence, and timely graduation. The Division of Student Affairs at St. Kate’s includes Access and Success, Disability Services (O’Neill Center), Health & Wellness, Counseling, Residence Life, Office of Student Affairs, Multicultural & International Programs & Services, Center for Spirituality & Social Justice, and Student Center & Activities.
The AP oversees the strategic direction, staff, and fiscal management of all Student Affairs units. The AP gathers, tracks, and analyzes data for undergraduate (traditional and adult) student success and develops innovative programs that promote and effectively impact undergraduate retention and graduation, and oversees the assessment of programs and activities carried out by Student Affairs units. The AP will also work on co-curricular programs as outlined in the new university’s Academic Master Plan. A strong candidate will be a transformative leader who is collaborative, innovative, data-driven, inclusive and who can be an agent of change and establish trusting relationships internally and externally with key stakeholders.
ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS
- Oversee the responsible planning, stewardship, management, and accountability of fiscal, capital, and human resources of Student Affairs, including reporting units;
- Provide leadership to ensure the effective coordination and integration of student affairs services with the university’s academic programs for all three colleges to achieve student development and learning outcomes and to support overall student growth and success;
- Develop and implement assessment strategies for Student Affairs, including learning outcomes, satisfaction review, and measurement tools to manage student learning in all three colleges;
- Partner with the academic deans and Director of Equity and Inclusion to create a sense of belonging for all students and to meet recruitment, retention and graduation goals;
- Assist in establishing, articulating, and assessing institutional goals for and outcomes of the student experience and advise leadership on policies and programs that may enhance student recruitment, retention, and graduation, particularly for the College for Women and College for Adults;
- Supervise wide range of programs to support student experiences for a diverse group of students (i.e., on-campus residential students, commuters, graduate and professional, international);
- Support professional development and ongoing education of Student Affairs staff;
- Provide leadership for the health and wellbeing of students, specifically mental health;
- Lead and support best practices for effective conflict resolution with students, understanding student mental health and well-being issues, maintaining formal student conduct and disciplinary mechanisms, and convening resources from multiple departments and constituencies to address complex student issues;
- Build effective working relationships with faculty to seek and understand the faculty perspective and maximize their participation/engagement in student affairs activities;
- Promote and support a high level of student participation and engagement in student and university governance and student organizations;
- Serve on University committees as appropriate;
AND other duties as assigned by the EVP/Provost.
Inclusive Excellence
The AP must have a demonstrated commitment to Inclusive Excellence. This includes a commitment to the core principles of diversity and inclusion with an explicit emphasis on equity and excellence in student learning. St. Kate’s is committed to making Inclusive Excellence a reality and has identified “Drive a Culture of Inclusive Excellence” as one of its six strategic priorities in the University’s strategic plan. Goal areas identified relate to the need to increase the diversity of the graduate student population and to increase the retention, persistence and graduation rates of students of color. Another goal area is to increase the number of faculty and staff of color by implementing new recruitment strategies and training for search committees. Furthermore, the plan calls for a focus on increasing the retention rate of faculty and staff of color with additional resources for ongoing professional development. Additional initiatives include the expansion of equity and inclusion-centered curricular content in specific courses and in each program of study. Finally, the plan has an explicit focus on the articulation and development of the essential skills students must possess to succeed in diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities, and defining how the educational program and co-curricular student experience will foster these outcomes. Required Qualifications
The new AP must have a Master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership, Student Affairs/College Personnel/Higher Education Administration, or related degree along with significant progressive senior level experience in in Student Affairs.
Preferred Qualifications
OTHER PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:
- Excellent management and supervisory skills, including experience supervising director-level or senior-level staff, and success in leading a team in collaborative strategic and operational planning;
- Demonstrated ability to oversee the development and implementation of effective policies;
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement program and project goals, objectives, procedures and work standards;
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and success in working with diverse constituencies to support an inclusive campus environment, including a track record of individual action and institutional leadership;
- Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and application;
- Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and promote collaboration within the unit and beyond, particularly as it relates to the interface between student development and undergraduate, graduate and adult education;
- Demonstrated ability to lead change and process improvements;
- Experience in campus crisis management and demonstrated knowledge and understanding of student mental health and well-being issues, student conduct and discipline, higher education case management, and relevant legal issues in higher education;
- Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with multiple and diverse constituents;
- Ability to make effective decisions quickly;
- AND the ability to manage multiple budgets.
EEO Statement
St. Catherine University is an equal opportunity employer. Our commitment to inclusion reflects the central value of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to “love of neighbor without distinction” and provides a learning and working environment that is enriched by the diversity of all our members. Individuals of religious, racial, ethnic, gender identity, nation of origin, or disability groups that have traditionally had less representation in higher education are encouraged to apply. Should you need an interview accommodation please contact us at hr@stkate.edu or 651-690-6565.
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
The Search Committee invites nominations and applications to be submitted to the search firm assisting St. Catherine University. Include a thoughtful letter of interest addressing, as appropriate, the issues and desired qualifications outlined in this profile, a current resume or CV showing relevant responsibilities and accomplishments, and the names and contact information of at least five references. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.
Posting Start Date 09/10/2020
Close Date 11/15/2020
Required Documents Optional Documents