Provost

Company: Luther College
Location: Decorah
Posted on: February 22, 2021

Job Description:

An Iowa College in the Liberal Arts Tradition Luther College
700 College Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101 The Provost at Luther College will be a key voice in the President's Cabinet and will lead a division that creates an integrated approach to student-facing work, overseeing academic affairs, student engagement, and student success. As the chief academic officer, the Provost will be an individual with academic training, but will understand and affirm the crucial importance at Luther College of co-curricular programs and initiatives; the residential experience; student leadership development; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and retention--preferably with demonstrated experience in one or more of these areas. The Provost, in concert with the President, will provide energetic and creative leadership and the vision that will take the college to new heights. Reporting to the Provost will be the departments currently in three separate divisions (Academics, Student Life, Student Success). The Provost will be assisted by associate or vice provosts or deans in these areas. Additionally, the Provost serves as staff liaison to the Board of Regents' Academic Affairs and Student Life Committees. Full Description:

• Provide leadership for a unified division: With a visionary President, a collaborative leadership team, and a gifted and dedicated college community, Luther has all the crucial elements in place for enhanced academic innovations, new approaches to the student experience, and greater national visibility. The Provost will be charged with providing leadership over the combined areas of academic and student affairs to develop the whole student through excellent academic offerings and high impact practices in the areas of student development, engagement, and success. With this new organizational structure, the Provost will also have the opportunity to foster synergies across programs and to think innovatively about experiences that Luther's unique "destination college" setting proffers.
• Innovate while respecting institutional culture: The college has long been known for its high-quality and rigorous residential learning experience, transformative co-curricular and international opportunities, and classes taught by faculty members who are experts in their fields. The college community would like to see these defining characteristics maintained and supported through this time of evolution. The Provost will take the time to listen and learn, embrace the college's historically strong shared governance structures, empower and excite faculty and staff to bring creative new ideas to the table, and develop a shared vision that effectively fosters collaboration among academic and student affairs. A forthcoming revision of the college's general education offerings will offer an ideal platform for the Provost to explore compelling new academic and cocurricular avenues rooted in Luther's historic strengths.
• Complete the execution of the program prioritization efforts: In Spring 2020, Luther faculty undertook the challenging work of reimagining Luther's curricular offerings for the future. They examined where their collective strengths resided and where those assets intersected with student demand. They also forecasted where future curricular interests and directions might head. In November of 2020, they voted to advance a bold plan for restructuring the college's curricular offerings as well as the personnel needed to deliver those fields of study with excellence and rigor. In Spring 2021, the college will begin to execute plans to re-envision the curriculum. When the Provost joins in Summer 2021, leadership of this work will move to that office and team. The Provost will carry forward this important work, knowing there is a mandate and shared understanding around its importance for the future of the college.
• Promote cross-college collaborations: The line between "Academic Affairs" and "Student Life" is increasingly permeable, and there are many advantages for building strategic collaborations within the Provost's leadership portfolio. The Provost will have the ability to develop distinctive programs that engage students inside and outside of the classroom and prepare them to become active citizens prior to and after graduation. The current COVID-19 pandemic is also compelling residential liberal arts colleges to think differently about what a residential experience should - and can - look like for students. The Provost will support the collaborative sharing of ideas across the college to find solutions to these complex challenges.
• Demonstrate a clear commitment to diversity and global perspective: The Provost will play a central role in signaling to the college community the ongoing importance of efforts to diversify the faculty, staff, and student body. Priorities in this effort include the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, supporting an inclusive community, and promoting the importance of cultural understanding and a global perspective. Moreover, the Provost will strive to ensure that the educational enterprise reflects a culture in which widely diverse values, experiences, and ideas are welcomed and viewed as essential. These are crucial tasks for all institutions of higher learning, and it is important that the Provost possess the skills, passion, and commitment to advance these efforts at Luther College.
• Support and develop the faculty: The Provost will have the opportunity to work with an accomplished, seasoned, and dedicated faculty who embrace the teacher-scholar model. It will be important for the Provost to retain existing and help attract new faculty members through inspirational leadership, recognition of accomplishments, and active mentoring. The Provost will aid the faculty in striking the appropriate balance among teaching, scholarship, and service expectations while also seeking to enhance opportunities for faculty development.
• Support and develop the staff: The Provost will have the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of staff in the academic affairs, student life, and student success divisions who are committed to delivering a living and learning experience of great quality. The numerous Luther College graduates among the staff offer a deep reservoir of institutional history. Empowering this group through sound delegation, mentoring, coaching, the offering of internal and external opportunities for professional development, and regular and transparent communications will help equip its members to embrace new and existing challenges. Encouraging sound communication among them and an entrepreneurial approach will enable a willing group to confront challenges and embrace change with vigor.
• Enhance the student experience: As a residential college, Luther is highly focused on the quality of its living and learning experiences for its students. The college strives to promote healthy community values on campus, support the development of students as future citizens and leaders, and prepare students to be active participants in a global society prior to and after graduation. The Provost will work with a highly dedicated and experienced team in the areas of student life and student success, and will have key opportunities to develop new co-curricular initiatives around student development, connect key areas working with students with organizations in the Decorah community and in Rochester, and create opportunities for staff and faculty to work collaboratively on efforts that will make the student experience at Luther College stronger. Education and/or Experience: The Provost will bring to the role a record of teaching, scholarly and administrative prowess reflective of Luther College's own high standards, coupled with an eye for innovation, a strong work ethic, and a collegial spirit. The successful candidate will possess a Ph.D. or its equivalent in one of the disciplines represented on campus. In addition, the candidate of choice will be:
  • A person of proven academic leadership, with vision, who will inspire and motivate;
  • A seasoned administrator with evidence of progressive managerial experience;
  • A person with deep curiosity about the variety of academic disciplines at the college and their possible intersections;
  • An eloquent advocate for the selective, residential, liberal arts college experience;
  • A student-centered educator with a history of meaningful engagement with co-curricular and student success initiatives;
  • A leader with a proven track record of success in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts;
  • An inclusive decision-maker who builds consensus, makes difficult decisions when necessary, and communicates decisions with alacrity, clarity and care;
  • An entrepreneurial person with financial acumen who will aid the college in matching aspirations with finite resources while thinking creatively about growth opportunities;
  • An evidence-driven planner with experience in assessment and outcomes measurements as well as accreditation efforts;
  • A leader with a deep understanding of and respect for the college's commitment to shared governance;
  • A superb listener and communicator who is at ease in a multitude of settings with multiple constituencies;
  • A person of global perspective;
  • A strong manager with a history of and commitment to accountability and implementation;
  • A "student" of higher education, knowledgeable about the major trends influencing liberal arts institutions nationally;
  • A respectful community member who understands, appreciates and supports the college's history and mission; and
  • An engaged citizen who embraces the character of the college's surrounding community and will value the quality of life in and around Decorah. Required Documents: Letter of Application/Cover Letter, Resume FLSA Status: FTE: 1.0 Special Instructions for Applicants: Luther College seeks to build a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students. Luther College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Women and persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. We value the input of multiple viewpoints and perspectives to create an academic community that is rich with cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. Candidates are encouraged to identify their strengths or experiences that will contribute to this goal. For best consideration, please submit all confidential nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest by January 13, 2021. All materials should be submitted to:

Keywords: Luther College, Rochester , Provost, Other , Decorah, Minnesota