Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College President

Minnesota State invites applications and nominations for the position of Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College President

DCTC and Inver Hills invite an inclusive, collaborative, and strategic leader to help shape their future as they move toward a proposed merger in summer 2027.
The next president will join the colleges at a pivotal moment: bringing two institutions together around a shared identity, building on their distinct strengths, and serving students and the region in new ways. This is an opportunity to listen, learn, and work alongside students, employees, and community partners to create a college that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The future of DCTC and Inver Hills rests on a strong foundation: a student-centered culture, dedicated faculty and staff, meaningful community connections, and complementary strengths in technical education, liberal arts, and workforce preparation. The president will help turn that foundation into a clear, shared direction - moving the college from the proposed merger to shared purpose while honoring the people, programs, relationships, and histories already in place.
Success will require vision and care: imagining what the proposed college can become while making thoughtful decisions, even when choices are difficult. The president will communicate openly about the college's direction and decisions, ensure students and employees understand how their perspectives inform the work, and align resources, programs, and partnerships with the college's mission and the needs of the region. Above all, the president will keep student success at the center.

• Build a shared identity and culture.
  Bring the campuses together around a common purpose while preserving the distinct strengths, histories, and traditions of DCTC and Inver Hills.
• Advance student success and belonging.
  Sustain a welcoming, relationship-centered environment and strengthen the supports that help students with diverse backgrounds, goals, and needs persist and succeed.
• Support a broad and connected academic mission.
  Champion technical education, workforce preparation, liberal arts, and transfer pathways, helping students benefit from the full range of the colleges' offerings.
• Strengthen enrollment and program relevance.
  Work with faculty, staff, employers, and community partners to respond to student interests and workforce needs, including opportunities to expand high-demand programs.
• Steward resources and support long-term sustainability.
  Navigate budget and enrollment pressures, make evidence-informed choices, and communicate candidly about priorities and trade-offs.
• Deepen community and workforce partnerships.
  Build on relationships with employers, school districts, local governments, nonprofits, and other partners to expand opportunities for students and the region.
• Strengthen the college's visibility and reputation.
  Tell a clear, compelling story about Minnesota Valley College's value, student impact, and contribution to
  the community.
• Promote access across the region and campuses.
  Address practical barriers such as transportation, campus connections, and access to programs and services for students who may face challenges getting to campus.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong commitment to students and a genuine interest in learning the college's history, culture, and context. They will be an accessible, visible leader who seeks honest feedback, listens carefully, and follows through with action.

• Collaborative and inclusive leadership:
  Builds trust, brings people together across campuses and roles, and fosters a culture of belonging, shared responsibility, and accountability.
• Clear, transparent communication:
  Explains decisions and their implications with candor; adapts communication for students, employees, community partners, and other audiences.
• Strategic and data-informed judgment:
  Uses evidence to set priorities and guide decisions, while balancing analysis with the ability to act in a timely way.
• Adaptability and resilience:
  Leads constructively through change and uncertainty, remains open to feedback, and helps the college respond to evolving student and workforce needs.
• Respect for the full mission of the college:
  Values technical and community college education, liberal arts, faculty and staff contributions, and the distinct needs of both campuses.
• Community-minded partnership:
  Is comfortable…