Vice Provost Academic Excellence & Stud Succ in Frankfort, Kentucky at Kentucky State University
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Job Description
TITLE: Vice Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success
DEPARTMENT: Academic Affairs
REPORTS TO: Provost and Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs
EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time
EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:
The Vice Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success serves as a senior academic leader within the Office of the Provost, providing temporary leadership and oversight for academic quality, faculty affairs, and student success initiatives. This role advances a culture of academic excellence, student engagement, retention, and degree completion aligned with the University’s strategic priorities.
The Vice Provost provides leadership for faculty affairs, including recruitment, retention, promotion and tenure processes, faculty performance assessment, professional development, and policy compliance. The position ensures academic standards are maintained while fostering innovation in teaching, learning, scholarship, and community engagement.
This role provides direct oversight of student success initiatives within Academic Affairs, including the First- and Second-Year Experience programs, ensuring a seamless transition for students from matriculation through persistence and graduation. The Vice Provost collaborates closely with Student Affairs to align academic support services, advising, and engagement strategies that improve student outcomes.
The Vice Provost serves as deputy to the Provost and is a key member of the Academic Affairs leadership team, assisting with strategic planning, budget oversight, policy development, accreditation compliance, and institutional effectiveness. The role ensures academic and student success initiatives are data-informed, measurable, and aligned with institutional goals.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- The Vice Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success will provide direct, high-level administrative and strategic support in the Office of the Provost. This role serves as a key leader in Academic Affairs, providing oversight for faculty affairs, academic policy, and student success initiatives, including First- and Second-Year Experience programs. The ideal candidate must have:
- Ability to assume new responsibilities and additional duties on own initiative and execute them effectively and efficiently.
- Ability to establish and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships within the Office of the Provost, across academic and student affairs divisions, and with external constituents, including students, parents, alumni, and the broader public.
- Ability to exercise sound, independent judgment when making decisions, remaining calm, effective, and solution-focused during times of crisis or institutional change.
- Ability to handle confidential matters with discretion and tact, maintain composure and competence under pressure, and demonstrate exceptional attention to detail. Must be able to prioritize essential tasks, exercise initiative, be self-directed, make informed decisions, and contribute as a strong team player.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including professional correspondence, meeting documentation, and development of presentations for internal and external audiences.
- Ability to exercise considerable judgment, initiative, and discretion, grounded in knowledge of university policies, procedures, and best practices, while working collaboratively with an administrative leadership team.
- Commitment to the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism in all duties.
- Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to discern when issues can be resolved at a lower level and when matters require immediate attention from the Provost.
- Strong organizational skills, tact, and creativity; ability to manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment; attention to detail; ability to coordinate and review budgets; and commitment to completing work to the highest standards.
- Consults with the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs to formulate and implement long- and short-term strategies to improve student retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes.
- Supervises assigned Academic Affairs and student success staff, ensuring effective delivery of services, including First and Second Year Experience initiatives.
- Works as part of a leadership team to ensure a positive, proactive, professional, and efficient office environment, including streamlining systems, maximizing the use of university enterprise software, and reducing administrative inefficiencies.
- Supports faculty development, recruitment, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes, and contributes to policies and practices that enhance academic excellence and student success.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Demonstrated leadership in academic administration and student success initiatives.
- Strong understanding of retention, persistence, and completion best practices in higher education.
- Ability to develop and implement strategic plans aligned with institutional goals.
- Experience establishing key performance indicators and using data to inform decision-making.
- Ability to work collaboratively across academic and student affairs divisions.
- Outstanding communication, organizational, and supervisory skills.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive and student-centered academic environment.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
- This position has supervisory responsibility for assigned Academic Affairs personnel and student success initiatives, including First and Second Year Experience programs.
OTHER DUTIES:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- PhD or EdD from an accredited University and progressive, successful experience in academic leadership, teaching, and advising.
- Demonstrated record of scholarly and professional achievement, including peer-reviewed publications, grantsmanship, and/or scholarly presentations.
- Experience in developing and communicating a vision for student success, inspiring others with that vision, and collaborating creatively to implement it within strategic planning processes.
- Proven ability to lead complex academic organizations and manage multiple priorities within a higher education environment.
- Record of teaching, research, and service in a college or university setting.
- Experience in evaluating faculty credentials and qualifications.
- Experience in developing and managing Title III proposals and related activities.
- Knowledge of and experience with international employment visa processes.
- Experience in facilitating faculty promotion and tenure activities.
- Proven ability to create innovative faculty development opportunities.
- Experience in managing university-wide committees and initiatives.
- Experience in teaching and advising at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee and enhance programs related to student success, retention, and first- and second-year experience initiatives.
Licensing and Certifications: NA
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work is performed primarily in an office environment.
- Minimal physical effort required.
- Limited exposure to physical risk.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Kentucky State University is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa
Internal candidates are encouraged to apply.
KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The functions, qualifications, knowledge/skills, and physical requirements listed in this job description represent the essential duties of the job, which the incumbent must be able to perform either with or without reasonable accommodation. The Job Functions listed do not necessarily include all activities that the individual may perform.
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