Vice President for Academic Affairs

Bismarck, ND
Full Time
Office of Academic Affairs
Executive
Vice President for Academic Affairs
The University of Mary is seeking an experienced and principled professional to join our leadership team as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. This critical role involves developing and monitoring strategic plans, developing and executing budgets, guiding university evaluation and assessment processes, and fostering a collegial climate supportive of academic excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service, consistent with the university’s Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine mission and identity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Mission: Advances the ongoing implementation of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the apostolic constitution on Catholic colleges and universities; sustains and builds a culture of ready and earnest hospitality among the teaching faculty and throughout the university, in accord with Saint Benedict’s admonition that all be received as Christ.
Strategic Leadership: Serves as a member of the President’s Council, providing high-level strategic guidance on academic programing for the university’s five academic schools, the Office of the Registrar, Welder Library, the Student Success Center, and Instructional Technology.
Academic Operations: Provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational guidance for the administrative and academic affairs of the university, assisting with faculty development, the evaluation of deans and faculty, workload evaluation, and faculty hiring.
Reporting & Analysis: Prepares or oversees the preparation of all assessment reports, academic budgets, and budget requests required by schools and other units supervised.
Committee Involvement: Serves on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, Chairs the Shared Governance Council (University Senate) and the Rank and Promotion Committee, Serves on the Mission Integration Committee, Facilities and Space Committee, Budget Committee, and the Presidential Advisory Committee for Strategic Planning.
Faculty Development: Directs and/or collaborates with the faculty development coordinator and Academic Affairs staff to plan and execute faculty orientation, advising workshops, teaching faculty workshops, and ongoing development for mission and identity.
UNIVERSITY PROFILE
Student Population: Fall 2024 enrollment of 3,801, including 2,288 traditional undergraduate students and 1,513 graduate and nontraditional students. The student/faculty ratio is 10:1, with a 17% minority population representing all 50 states and 19 countries.
Academics: The University of Mary boasts 294 faculty members, offering 60+ bachelor's degree programs, 21 master’s degree programs, 5 doctoral degree programs, and 16 pre-professional programs.
Campus Facilities & Surrounding Community: a main campus with 866,000 square feet of facilities, 13 residence halls & apartment buildings, a research library with 50,000+ volumes, a 24/7 campus restaurant, coffee shops, and a pub, along with 9 satellite locations throughout the United States and abroad. Bismarck/Mandan is an intimate metropolitan area with a population of approximately 120,000, exemplary family and parish life, friendly neighborhoods, a low crime rate, clean air, and excellent schools, and enjoyable recreational and cultural facilities: 75+ miles of hiking trails, 62 parks, 7 golf courses, and four seasons of recreational opportunities on the Missouri River. For more information on the University of Mary, please watch a short video by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go37Hy6QrVs. A campus tour is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY66HYhVQSE.
OUR MISSION AND IDENTITY
Mission: The University of Mary serves the religious, academic, and cultural needs of the people in this region and beyond, rooted in the commitment of the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. We are Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine.
Christian Identity: We strive to accomplish our mission in faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, valuing each human person as created in the image and likeness of God. We aim to be agents of cultural renewal, advocating for justice and peace.
Catholic Identity: Drawing life from the heart of the Church, we integrate spiritual and philosophical approaches to enduring questions of human life, fostering dialogue between Faith and Reason; we are joyfully and faithfully Catholic.
Benedictine Identity: Inspired by the Benedictine Sisters who founded the university, we cherish a heritage of prayer, community, and service, modeling virtues of warm hospitality, balance, and generosity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Educational Requirements: Doctoral degree commensurate with appointment as a full professor.
Experience: Minimum of five years’ experience and proven success in academic leadership with preference for experience at the dean level or higher.
SKILLS
  • Demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship and service
  • Demonstrated ability to lead in an ethical, consistent, creative, and accountable manner that embodies the mission and identity of the university
  • Experience with strategic planning
  • Experience with regional and discipline-specific accreditation
  • Experience with and support for non-traditional academic programming, including online and distance education
  • Excellent managerial and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to communicate effectively and collegially with diverse constituencies
WHY JOIN US?
This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact within a thriving and nationally regarded university committed to excellence and deeply rooted in mission.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter detailing their experience and suitability for this role. Additional questions may be addressed to Tonya Link, Director of Human Resources: [email protected].
The successful candidate would ideally join us in Fall 2025; however, the start date is negotiable, and the position will remain open until it is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

 
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