Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Overview

Widener University is currently seeking an innovative and strategic Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. The Vice Provost reports to the Provost and serves as a senior member of the Provost’s team, overseeing academic affairs operations, faculty affairs, and strategic planning. The role involves developing and executing strategic priorities, leading academic program development, curriculum policy, faculty development, assessment, and academic affairs personnel actions. The Vice Provost also supports the university strategy focused on fostering an inclusive community where all students, faculty, and staff feel accepted, respected, and supported.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provide strategic leadership and oversight for a comprehensive portfolio of Academic Affairs initiatives, including curriculum innovation, academic program assessment, and policy development to advance institutional excellence. Oversee implementation and assessment of strategic planning initiatives within Academic Affairs and across the university.
• Faculty & Student Success: Direct and enhance faculty development, student retention, and academic success initiatives in alignment with the university’s mission and strategic priorities. Partner with deans and faculty to design, develop, and strengthen undergraduate, graduate, and online academic programs that support student achievement and institutional growth.
• Administrative & Operational Oversight: Serve as the principal liaison between the Provost, deans, and academic faculty/staff on matters related to budgeting, personnel, academic partnerships, and other institutional priorities. Foster operational effectiveness, collaboration, and continuous improvement across Academic Affairs.
• Data & Decision‑Making: Leverage data analytics and institutional metrics to assess enrollment trends, retention outcomes, and student success across programs, informing strategic decision‑making and planning.
• Special Initiatives & Projects: Lead and manage strategic initiatives and special projects assigned by the Provost, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Committee Representation: Represent the Office of the Provost on university‑wide committees, task forces, and cross‑functional initiatives, fostering collaboration and advancing institutional goals.
• Policy Development & Accreditation: Partner to develop, implement, and continuously improve academic policies, procedures, and governance processes. Contribute to accreditation efforts, compliance initiatives, and program review activities to ensure adherence to regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Culture & Governance: Promote a culture of innovation, shared governance, diversity, equity, inclusion, and student‑centered decision‑making throughout Academic Affairs.
• Strategic Advice: Provide counsel and strategic support to the Provost on emerging higher education trends, organizational priorities, and opportunities for institutional advancement.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated history of progressive academic leadership in higher education.
• Record of teaching, scholarship, and service that merits appointment as a tenured faculty member.
• Leadership skills including vision creation, delegation, change management, and focus on student success.
• Creativity and passion for developing new programs and ideas, with organizational and administrative skills to bring them to fruition.
• Understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and their implications for teaching, learning, academic administration, student success, and institutional effectiveness.
• Proven experience in program evaluation and assessment across diverse instructional models (in‑person, online, hybrid).
• Experience overseeing complex projects, managing multiple priorities, and implementing strategic initiatives across diverse academic and administrative units.
• Experience in budget planning, resource allocation, personnel management, and operational oversight in a higher education environment.
• Proficiency in using data to make evidence‑based decisions.
• Experience with higher education accreditation policies and procedures.
• Preferred experience with online education, graduate education, and innovative academic delivery models.
• Record of strategic leadership, faculty and staff development, resource stewardship, academic innovation, and collaborative engagement to support student success and institutional effectiveness.
• Experience working effectively with diverse student, faculty, staff, alumni, and community populations.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to build relationships across campus.
• Strong commitment to academic freedom and excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in progressively responsible academic leadership positions, including experience as a dean or equivalent senior academic leader.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain talented faculty and staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, respect, professional growth, and high performance.
• Demonstrated success using data analytics, assessment, and evidence‑based decision‑making to inform strategy, evaluate outcomes, and improve institutional effectiveness.

#J-18808-Ljbffr…