Widener University is currently seeking an innovative and strategic Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Reporting to the Provost, the Vice Provost serves as the senior member of the Provost’s team and partners with the provost to oversee academic affairs operations, faculty affairs, and strategic planning. The Vice Provost will develop and execute strategic priorities and initiatives within the academic affairs division. This role provides leadership in academic program development and revitalization; curriculum and policy; faculty development; 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 affairs division. Additionally, the Vice Provost will support the University strategy focus on fostering a community here all students, faculty, and staff feel accepted, respected, and supported.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):
Essential Duties:
- 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 the implementation and assessment of strategic planning initiatives within Academic Affairs and across the university.
- Direct and enhance faculty development, student retention, and academic success initiatives in alignment with the university’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
- Partner collaboratively with deans and faculty to design, develop, and strengthen undergraduate, graduate, and online academic programs that support student achievement and institutional growth.
- 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.
- Provide visionary administrative leadership that fosters operational effectiveness, collaboration, and continuous improvement across Academic Affairs.
- Leverage data analytics and institutional metrics to assess enrollment trends, retention outcomes, and student success across undergraduate, graduate, and online academic programs, informing strategic decision-making and planning.
Secondary Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage strategic initiatives and special projects as assigned by the Provost, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, timely execution, and measurable outcomes.
- Represent the Office of the Provost on university-wide committees, task forces, and cross-functional initiatives, fostering collaboration and advancing institutional goals.
- Facilitate effective communication and coordination among academic and administrative units to promote operational efficiency and institutional effectiveness.
- Partner to develop, implement, and continuously improve academic policies, procedures, and governance processes.
- Contribute to institutional accreditation efforts, compliance initiatives, and program review activities to ensure adherence to regulatory and accreditation standards.
- Promote a culture of innovation, shared governance, diversity, equity, inclusion, and student-centered decision-making throughout Academic Affairs.
- Provide counsel and strategic support to the Provost on emerging higher education trends, organizational priorities, and opportunities for institutional advancement.
- Represent the Office of the Provost on campus-wide committees as assigned.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned or directed to support departmental needs and align with the mission, values and goals of the Provost’s Office and Widener University.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (education/training and experience required)
The Vice Provost will have earned a doctoral degree from an accredited institution and a demonstrated history of progressive experience in academic leadership in higher education. Additionally, applicants should have a record of teaching, scholarship, and service that merits appointment as a tenured faculty member. In addition to being an innovative and collegial leader, strong candidates will also bring the following qualities, skills, and experiences to the role:
- Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to create vision, handle and delegate responsibilities, and to manage change and help focus University agenda on student success.
- Creativity and passion to generate new programs and ideas coupled with the organizational and administrative skills to bring them to fruition.
- Demonstrated understanding of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and their implications for teaching, learning, academic administration, student success, and institutional effectiveness in higher education.
- Proven understanding program evaluation and assessment of a wide variety of academic programs, combined with a variety of instructional models, including in person, online, and hybrid.
- Experience overseeing complex projects, managing multiple priorities, and implementing strategic initiatives across diverse academic and administrative units.
- Demonstrated experience in budget planning, resource allocation, personnel management, and operational oversight within a higher education environment.
- Demonstrated ability to use data to make evidence-based decisions .
- Experience with higher education accreditation policies and procedures.
- Experience supporting online education, graduate education, and innovative academic delivery models preferred.
- Possess a record of strategic leadership, faculty and staff development, resource stewardship, academic innovation, and collaborative engagement in support of student success and institutional effectiveness.
- Experience working effectively with diverse student, faculty, staff, alumni, and community populations and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing contemporary higher education institutions.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to build relationships across campus with faculty, staff and students.
- Strong commitment to academic freedom and excellence.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated success in progressively responsible academic leadership positions within higher education, 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 workplace culture characterized by 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.
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, 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, Widener's 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 www.widener.edu.
