Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategy

Widener University is currently seeking an innovative and strategic Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategy. Reporting to the Provost, the Vice Provost serves as a senior member of the Provosts Leadership Team and will develop and execute academic innovation through strategic priorities and initiatives. This role oversees academic program development and revitalization; curriculum and policy; faculty development; teaching and learning; assessment; and academic affairs personnel actions. Along with the Provost, the Vice Provost has responsibility for the administrative, academic, and financial operations of the academic and student affairs division.

Responsibilities:

• Create and manage a diverse portfolio of strategic priorities throughout the Division of Academic
• Collaborate with deans and faculty on undergraduate, graduate and online academic program development
• Serve as the primary liaison between academic faculty/staff and the Provost related to budget, personnel, academic partnerships and other related priorities
• Provide strong administrative leadership
• Negotiate and finalize agreements with academic partnerships (domestic and international)
• Serve as a liaison to CDO and HR regarding division recruitment strategy to increase size and diversity of faculty application pools and support efforts across the institution to retain diverse faculty
• Direct oversight of divisional budget, providing support to deans for strategic and holistic budget management
• Facilitate and endorse existing and emerging cross divisional and cross institutional partnerships
• Use data analytics to assess the enrollment, retention, and success of 80+ undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Strategize on attraction, selection and retention of a diverse faculty workforce
• Serve as academic liaison for Center for Civic and Global Engagement.
• Provide leadership to develop and revise graduate academic policies and standards that a rigorous and distinctive student experience, including policies related to admissions, retention and persistence. Approve exceptions to policies where appropriate.
• Directs the implementation of the graduate assistantship program.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Manage special projects as directed by the Provost.
• Represent the Office of the Provost on campus-wide committees as assigned.

Qualifications:

The Vice Provost will have earned a doctoral degree from an accredited institution and at least ten of progressive experience in academic leadership in higher education, and have a record of scholarship and service that merits appointment as a tenured, senior level faculty position. In addition to being an innovative and collegial leader, strong candidates will also bring many of the following qualities, skills, and experiences to the role:

• Academic credentials in teaching, research and University service appropriate for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to create vision; innovate; motivate; handle and delegate responsibilities, and to manage change and help focus University agenda on student success
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse constituencies to develop and implement a strategic vision.
• Creativity and passion to generate new programs and ideas coupled with the organizational and administrative skills to bring them to fruition.
• Clear understanding of how to evaluate and assess academic programs across a wide variety of programs and platforms, and familiarity with a variety of instructional models, ranging from in person to online to hybrid.
• Prior progressive experience leading and managing academic and staff personnel in a shared governance environment.
• A natural ability and desire to build trusting relationships with faculty and to facilitate shared governance.
• Proven ability to interact with all University constituencies, external stakeholders and the larger community. Exceptional skill in navigating the campus environment, establishing partnerships, and negotiating contractual or related agreements.
• Demonstrated department and divisional budgetary and personnel management skills and the ability to use data to make evidence-based decisions
• Demonstrated progressive academic leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience in administrative leadership in higher education
• Strong interpersonal skills, including written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals in a diverse university community.
• Must be able to build relationships across campus with faculty, staff and students.
• Experience with higher education accreditation policies and procedures
• Strong commitment to academic freedom and excellence
• Demonstrated commitment to obtaining and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce
• Experience with faculty governance at unit, school and university levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work in highly collaborative environment

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

Widener University requires all prospective employees to provide proof of taking the primary vaccination series against COVID-19 prior to employment or apply and be approved for a medical/religious exemption. Offers may be rescinded if the new employee does not provide proof of taking the primary vaccination series in a timely manner.

Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Wideners Flexible Work policy.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Wideners main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at

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