Vice President of Academic Affairs​/Chief Academic Officer

vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer

crowder college is seeking a servant leader to be the next vice president of academic affairs (vpaa)/chief academic officer (cao). The vpaa/cao will be responsible for leading the academic division of the college to fulfill crowder’s mission, vision, values, and goals of the strategic plan while ensuring the institution remains innovative, responsive, and resilient in a rapidly changing higher education environment.

The next vpaa of crowder college must have demonstrated experience as a strategic thinker and an engaged leader. The vpaa/cao will lead the continued improvement of a student-centered teaching and learning environment that is responsive to the diverse needs of learners, including high school dual credit students, traditional-age students, adult learners, incumbent workers, and those seeking alternative or short-term credential pathways.

Efforts must be informed by data and adapted to meet social and economic needs across the region served by crowder college.

the vice president of academic affairs reports to the president of the college. The position provides academic and executive leadership for both transfer and career and technical education serving both credit and noncredit instruction. The vpaa/cao leads the academic division to ensure academic quality, student success, workforce alignment, regulatory compliance, and long-term institutional sustainability. Areas of supervision include the following instructional areas of the college: business;

communications; math/physical science; social science/general studies; teacher and physical education/psychology; life sciences; fine arts; nursing; lee library; career and technical education; concurrent enrollment; and instructional sites. The vpaa is a member of the executive cabinet and works collaboratively with the president, other vice presidents, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders to achieve the college’s mission and strategic goals.

• provide administrative supervision of the associate vice president of academic affairs, associate vice president of career and technical education, campus directors, library director, division chairs, faculty, concurrent enrollment office and instructional office staff.
• lead and assist faculty in fully integrating liberal arts principles in all areas of instruction—with focused efforts on critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and civic responsibility.
• oversee and approve faculty assignments, overload and adjunct pay, and schedules in collaboration with division chairs.
• oversee all aspects of the curriculum, including the approval of new programs via the curriculum committee, the board of trustees, the missouri department of higher education and workforce development, the missouri department of elementary and secondary education, the higher learning commission, and the department of education for financial aid eligibility.
• maintain expectations for effective collaboration among all areas of the college.
• assist in the leadership and coordination of accreditation activities.
• lead the academic affairs division in the exploration, development, and implementation of academic strategies that anticipate and respond to demographic, technological, and workforce shifts.
• promote curricular innovation and continuous improvement to ensure academic programs remain relevant and resilient for future students and employers.
• oversee the development, strengthening, and maintenance of strategic partnerships with employers and industry leaders to co-design relevant curricula, expand work-based learning opportunities—including apprenticeships and internships—and ensure academic programs remain aligned with evolving regional labor market needs.
• champion equitable instructional and assessment practices, modalities, and initiatives that enhance student access, retention, and completion, with focused attention on needs for adult and nontraditional learners.
• assist faculty in the development of integrated alternative pathways to college credits, post-secondary credentials, and industry recognized credentials.
• lead faculty in…