Provost and Vice President of Academic and Workforce Education

Provide visionary, inspirational, and transformative leadership as the Chief Academic Officer of the College and a member of the President’s Council.

The Provost and Vice President of Academic and Workforce Education will:

• Understand the demographics, culture, history, and needs of internal and external constituencies.
• Stay current on trends, opportunities, and challenges in higher education and lead strategic visioning to address emerging issues and opportunities.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategic plans and initiatives that address issues such as excellence in teaching and learning, student success, pedagogical improvements, declining enrollment, population shifts, demographic changes, emerging technologies, workforce needs, community needs, and business and industry trends.
• Lead a systematic approach to academic and workforce program development, review, and portfolio management, using enrollment trends, student outcomes, transfer opportunities, labor-market demand, community need and financial sustainability to inform decisions regarding program growth, redesign, consolidation, and discontinuation.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the President, providing candid counsel and thoughtful analysis on academic and institutional matters while supporting the effective implementation of institutional priorities.
• Approach decisions with a collaborative, institution-wide perspective that places Academic and Workforce Education at the core of the College's mission while thoughtfully balancing broader institutional priorities and interests.
• Stay current on compliance requirements of the Department of Education, State of Michigan, accrediting bodies, etc. and ensure compliance.
• Promote a culture of inquiry that utilizes data to inform decisions and instill continuous improvement philosophy that focuses on academic excellence, student success, and community impact.
• Take evidenced based risks in pursuit of initiatives that are designed to improve teaching and learning, student success, and community impact.
• Use excellent interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and advocacy skills to foster trust and build strong relationships and teams.
• Empower and inspire faculty, staff, and students and provide them with the resources they need to succeed. Encourage and support professional development
• Understand and foster shared governance and its role in academic excellence, student success, planning, problem solving, and continuous quality improvement
• Build and maintain an environment of trust, respect, transparency, and collaboration with union leaders who represent the employees of the College.
• Serve on the administration team for Faculty contract negotiations and other union contract negotiations as requested by the President.
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources to resolve contract disputes and grievances
• Provide leadership and oversight of institutional and specialized accreditation.
• Ensure that technology, including artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, is aligned with institutional goals and used thoughtfully, strategically, and responsibly to improve teaching and learning, increase student success, strengthen academic and workforce programs, and improve operational efficiencies.
• Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for the College on the local, state, regional, and national level
• Implement creative and innovative strategies to increase funding from existing revenue sources and developing new initiatives to expand revenue options.
• Ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to teaching and learning.
• Expand and maintain strategic partnerships with business and industry, K-12 educational institutions, other community colleges, universities, non-profit and community- based organizations, educational leaders and organizations, alumni, and other community organizations.
• Provide strong, collaborative, and transparent leadership in developing, managing, and allocating the Academic and Workforce Education budget.
• Allocate budgets strategically by balancing academic best practices with innovative and entrepreneurial initiatives designed to improve teaching and learning and student success.
• Prepare and deliver information, reports, and presentations to the Board of Trustees as assigned by the President

A doctorate degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required

Demonstrated success at a senior leadership level, preferably at a large, multi-campus, diverse community college