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College of Southern Nevada Vice President for Academic Affairs

Leadership Profile

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College of Southern Nevada

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Michael Richards, President of the College of

Southern Nevada (CSN), announces the search for

the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and

invites nominations and applications for this

exceptional opportunity. The successful candidate

will be an inspiring and experienced academic

leader who is committed to the College’s mission of

transforming the lives of students, families, and

communities through quality education that

prepares individuals for productive and satisfying

lives and who has a rich appreciation for diversity

and inclusion.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs, who

reports to President Richards and administers all

aspects of the instructional program on three campuses and multiple other sites, also serves on the

President’s leadership team as a partner in the present and future of CSN through participation in

strategic planning, accreditation, quality enhancement, and expansion of services.

THE COLLEGE

Established in 1971, The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is a Nevada System of Higher Education

(NSHE) comprehensive two-year institution with three main campuses and multiple learning centers.

Serving a large and diverse population (HSI designated, minority majority institution), CSN offers

associate's degrees for university transfer and entry into the workforce and also offers certificate

level occupational programs and continuing

education courses. CSN awards bachelor’s

degrees in allied health areas, including a

degree in Dental Hygiene that ranks among

the top in the nation in certification testing.

The College serves about 38,000 credit and

14,000 non-credit students with approximately

550 full-time and nearly 1,000 part-time

faculty in about 120 degree programs.

Additionally, the College employs

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approximately 200 professional administrative employees and 400 classified staff employees.

Student success is the College's mission. This is informed by the institution's commitment to a

framework of accountability. CSN is the state's #1 transfer college with articulation agreements with

23 four-year institutions across the nation. CSN also graduates more students in science technologies

than any other two-year college in the nation. Known for small class size, a friendly atmosphere and

individualized student attention from talented faculty and staff, the College provides a range of

flexible scheduling options, sustains more than 50 specialized accreditations in academic programs,

and supports an on-line operation that enrolls about 14,000 students a year in 25 distance education

programs. State-of-the-art campus facilities, convenient locations throughout the region, robust

student support and strategic opportunities enhance the CSN experience.

THE AREA

Las Vegas is a city of two million people with world-renown entertainment, as well as libraries,

museums, theaters, art exhibits and parks that are enjoyed and supported by the diverse Southern

Nevada population. As one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States, Southern Nevada is an

example of modem urban living. Las Vegas has a favorable business climate. Taxes are relatively low,

and there are no city or state income taxes because gambling and sales taxes, paid by tourists, have

allowed the city and state governments to

avoid personal and corporate income taxes.

Five hours by car from Southern California

and Los Angeles, Las Vegas lies in a valley

surrounded by scenic mountains. The area

enjoys a mild year-round climate, yet there

are noticeable seasonal differences. The

annual average temperature is 79 degrees,

but it is not unusual for the mercury to hit the

110-degree mark during the summer and dip

into the 30s in the winter. Annual rainfall

amounts to only 3.5 inches, much of it falling

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in the winter when it is snowing in the nearby mountains. Popular amenities are Lake Tahoe and

Lake Mead (the largest man-made lake in the U.S.), Lake Mojave, the Mt. Charleston Recreation

Area, Red Rock Canyon and the Death Valley National Monument. Within a few hours in any

direction are ski resorts, lakes for water sports, and some of America's most famous scenic

attractions, including the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Zion National Park.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the College President and part of the senior executive leadership team, the Vice

President for Academic Affairs provides executive leadership in formulating and implementing

policy, planning, and management in Academic Affairs and related services. The position promotes

academic quality through resource allocation, as well as fiscal and personnel management to ensure

comprehensive program design in support of academic programs, thereby ensuring the success of

student learners in reaching their academic goals. The VPAA manages an instructional budget of $40

million and a staff of 620 and an academic support budget of $6 million and a staff of 100. The

position also manages self-support budgets in the Division of Workforce and Economic

Development. Through deliberate strategic planning, CSN is targeting staff additions in multiple

areas of academic affairs. CSN is an Achieving the Dream institution and is also engaged in a Strategic

Enrollment Planning process.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Requiring experience with all dimensions of academic affairs, the Vice President is the Chief

Academic Officer of the College and is responsible for the overall operation of the academic and

assessment units of the College. Reporting to and working closely with the President, the Vice

President provides leadership in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the

instructional units of the College.

The position will administer a comprehensive educational program consisting of Bachelor's degrees;

AA, A.S. and A.A.S. degrees; certificate programs; online programs; workforce and economic

development programs; adult education programs; and the libraries. Additionally, the Vice President

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is a key collaborator in the College's strategic planning efforts and provides leadership and

management for six academic schools, 20 departments, and three libraries.

Specifically, the position:

Provides leadership and supervision for Academic Affairs staff in the planning and implementation of instructional programs (both credit and non-credit), academic support services, course and program assessment, reviews student data, analyzes strategies, guides staff in the development of program strategies, allocates resources, monitors projects and is accountable for achievement of College goals and objectives within the scope;

Works with the College President and other vice presidents to evaluate proposals, programs, and policies including evaluations and decisions on major facility projects, program expansion or direction, college expenditures, and reassignment of personnel;

Works with President and CFO to develop and monitor budgets to include review of funding requests, determination of new or revised personnel needs, and position fund allocation and/or deletion;

Works with external agencies such as the Nevada System of Higher Education staff, governing board, NSHE college and university staffs, other state communities and Clark County School District staff; reviews NSHE proposals/policies, makes recommendations, responds to governing board information requests, and makes appropriate presentations;

Works with institutional colleagues to provide leadership and vision, and to foster collaboration throughout the institution; and

Serves as an advisor to the President in matters related to curriculum, faculty selection, assignment, development, and retention.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Earned doctorate in a related field from a regionally-accredited institution

Seven years of progressively responsible higher education administrative experience, and leadership in instruction, learning, and academic affairs in a higher education setting, including supervision of professional staff

Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Experienced leader with a clear, focused commitment to teaching, learning, and academic excellence to promote student success

Experience in a comprehensive community college with multiple campuses

Demonstrated leadership, management, and policy development experience in a comprehensive community college

Proven knowledge of the needs, trends, and new developments in community college instruction, including learning outcomes and accreditation

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Proven ability to make timely and collaborative decisions

Proven record of staff development by providing clear expectations, necessary support, and the ability to hold people accountable

Preference for working in a complex, highly productive, often hands-on environment

Knowledge and understanding of college governance including the role of faculty leadership, executive management, and governing board and the related decision making processes

Openly communicative and visible on campus

Experience working with external agencies, such as Nevada System of Higher Education institutions and K-12

Knowledge of and the ability to work with Complete College America, Achieving the Dream, and Minority Serving Institutions Initiatives

PERSONAL QUALITIES

A natural openness leading to accessibility, transparency in work, and an honest trust and investment in consensus-building and shared governance;

A love of students, accompanied by the desire to be a visible and recognizable presence on the campus and a supporter of student-centered programs;

A high respect for the work of faculty, classified staff, and administrative colleagues, leading to a determination to seek multiple avenues for professional development;

Integrity and respect for all persons; a true and unshakable belief in the value of diversity of all sorts, for both the principles of fairness and the resulting increase in societal strength and respect for diverse views and opinions;

Excellent communication skills with a demonstrated ability to listen respectfully and empathetically to a variety of constituents groups, synthesize input, make decisions, and share information broadly to build consensus and support for action;

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Quick to offer praise and recognition and readily accept accountability for personal actions and those of the organization;

The desire to be, and also have the institution be, an active and contributing member of the broader community;

The ability to make a long-term commitment to CSN, its educational master plan, and the students and communities it serves;

Fosters a sense of working together for the good of the College and is committed to the effective use of technology within academic and administrative environments.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Collaborative Engagement of Strategic Enrollment Plan

CSN is committed to the development and engagement of its Achieving the Dream initiative and

Strategic Enrollment Plan, developed with Noel-Levitz, and correlated with major areas of the

College. Working with the executive team, the Vice President drives strategic initiatives in Academic

Affairs for enhanced student retention, Achieving the Dream goals, strengthening counseling,

methodical expansion of services, and determining the feasibility of new programs while affirming

academic quality, whatever the delivery mode.

Consistency of Services from Campus to Campus

A multi-campus, multi-site institution, CSN serves a large metropolitan area with educational,

training, and workforce services that require consistency of operation and understanding service to

internal and external constituencies. The Vice President has the opportunity to establish consistency

and excellence in education and training, and to address problem solving as needed. The Vice

President will continue to revitalize organizational culture.

Academic Quality

While CSN advances broad-based collegiate experiences for students, certificate and degree

completions, and assessment of programming, the Vice President will direct a quality, collaborative

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instructional and student learning vision in a dynamic and supporting environment. The position

works with faculty and staff who are committed to excellence.

PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Applications received by March 30, 2016, will be

given full consideration. Send a thoughtful letter of application addressing the qualifications and

desired attributes; curriculum vitae; and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses

of five references. Calls to references will occur later in the search process and only with prior

notification of candidates.

All submissions will be treated in confidence and should be sent electronically (MS Word format

preferred) to: CSNVPAA@academic-search.com. The committee is assisted by Dr. Wanda Durrett

Bigham, Senior Consultant, who can be reached at wdb@academic-search.com or by calling 334-

425-6865.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The College of Southern Nevada is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination

on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability (whether actual or perceived by others), religion, age,

sex/gender (including pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic

information, veteran status (military status or military obligations) in the programs or activities which it

operates. Where discrimination is found to have occurred, CSN will act to stop the discrimination, to prevent

its recurrence, to remedy its effects, and to discipline those responsible. The following individuals have been

designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies at CSN and are responsible for

coordinating compliance efforts concerning, Executive Order 11246, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

of 1964, Title IX Educational Amendments of 1972, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1990: Eric J. Gilliland, MBA, Office of Institutional

Equity, Interim Title IX Coordinator, CSN West Charleston Campus, Room E-420, Las Vegas, NV 89146, Phone:

(702) 651-7481, Email: eric.gilliland@csn.edu or Debbie Tanner, Office of Institutional Equity, Coordinator,

CSN West Charleston Campus, Room E-128, Las Vegas, NV 89146, Phone: (702) 651-5783, Email:

debbie.tanner@csn.edu. For further information on notice of non-discrimination, you may contact the U.S.

Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights at 1-800-421-3481 or visit

http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm for the address and phone number of the office that

serves your area.

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