Vice President, Student Engagement and Achievement
Office of the SVP and Chief Student Affairs Officer
Exempt, Regular, Full-time

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), seeks an experienced and innovative leader as our next Vice President, Student Engagement and Achievement (VP). Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer (SVP), the VP is responsible for academic support, services, and engagement programs that promote and strengthen student achievement. They will also lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of academic support and services, student programming, student engagement, protocols, technologies, and strategies designed to improve student retention, achievement, graduation rates, and a sense of student belonging in our community. The VP will collaborate with other areas of the university to further integrate academic support and student engagement programming into the student lifecycle.

This new VP will provide supervision, direction, and vision for the following teams: First Term Experience; Tutoring Services; Effective Writing Center; Library Services; Accessibility Services; Virtual Lab Support; Student Engagement; and Student Affairs Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Programming.

A spirit of collegiality, camaraderie, and collaboration is also of significant importance in this highly-visible role created to drive innovative and sustainable results for one of the largest online state universities operating on a global stage.

Relocation to the MD/DC/Northern VA area is preferred.

Specific accountabilities include the following:

• Developing strategy for a comprehensive array of academic support, services, student engagement initiatives and support programming, using best practices and data analysis to promote success, accessibility, and completion for all students
• Building and evolving academic support solutions, services, and programming that promotes the ability for students to succeed and persist, while improving student experience outcomes and access - all through innovative practices, and the use of data, technology and tools that meet students where they are
• Leading Student Affairs efforts and partnering closely with the Chief Transformation Office and Innovation Council in the use of technology, tools, and data analytics to identify innovative approaches and to access effectiveness of student services, initiatives, processes, and student satisfaction
• Leading and building student-centric teams, building a deeper understanding of our students and their needs through soliciting student feedback and the implementation of voice of the student efforts, while driving accessibility and DEI throughout all efforts
• Developing strategic planning mechanisms for the department and coaching teams to manage and organize a consistent level of high activity that better utilizes resources
• Partnering on the development of strategic initiatives that drive student success and retention, supporting the university's strategic plan
• Collaborating with Student Affairs, Admissions, Global Military Operations, Academic Affairs, the Chief Transformation Office, and Innovation Council to identify student support, services, and engagement opportunities and increase their effective use to foster student success
• Partnering university-wide in the delivery of relevant information to staff and faculty with the goal of ensuring academic support, services, and engagement opportunities for students are widely known
• Providing leadership and focus for developing First Term Experience capabilities and by developing faculty and staff to continue to improve the new student experience, orientation and preparation tools, and connections between students and their chosen disciplines
• Encouraging intradepartmental collaboration and data-informed decision making to support success and persistence
• Building a strategy to implement meaningful first year experiences that support engagement early on and improved persistence - positively impacting the entire academic careers of students
• Developing shared strategies to foster open communications and proactively build strong collegial and collaborative relationships with Student Success, Admissions, Global Military Operations, and Academic Affairs
• Developing strategies for co-curricular and other opportunities for students that provide enrichment and integrated programs that support specific student populations in an impactful way
• Working closely with teaching and learning leadership to provide access to learning resources and an equitable and accessible student experience
• Serving as an innovative and strategic contributor to the university leadership team and in Student Affairs, including strategic planning, assigning and directing work, assessing performance, addressing complaints, and resolving problems
• Staying current in the field of teaching and learning including maintaining a personal scholarly agenda with appropriate national-level presentations in the field, emphasizing high-impact best practices
• Representing the university at relevant local, state, regional, and national meetings as well as membership in professional organizations closely related to this role
• Overseeing the operating budget assigned to the department
• Thinking entrepreneurially and acting innovatively in an evolving educational and fiscal landscape
• Planning and implementing change management processes (i.e., systems, businesses processes, staff training, and communications) to ensure successful business transformations
• Guiding and directing leadership practices to foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing environment that is compliant to all federal, state, and local regulations, and university policies and procedures for both 100 percent remote and onsite teams
• Performing other job-related duties as assigned

Required education and experience: An earned Master's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning; at least 10 years of experience in higher education including at least seven (7) years managing both remote and site-based teams with at least three (3) years in higher education leadership; online higher education experience with a proven track record of leading successful, high-performing remote and site-based teams; significant experience leading large, cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment; an understanding of student success and engagement strategies as well as data analysis and decision making; and success gaining buy-in across all levels of an organization.

Preferred experience: Proven track record of increasing student achievement; working in ambiguity, particularly relating to higher education regulations and compliance; thinking big picture and implementing with that in mind; leading the implementation of complex projects from vision to successful launch collaboratively; interacting with and communicating with all levels of an organization, including senior management, and to articulately propose recommendations; adapting to changes in a dynamic work environment; operating from an analytical and results-driven orientation, including establishing and improving metrics, processes, and associated performance behaviors; experience being an inspiring, high-energy, team-player/coach able to quickly gain credibility and build relationships across the organization; a track record of sound executive decision making, business acumen, and skill at coaching and developing (vs. a ‘command and control' leadership style) leaders; success in applying a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to all people, processes, and business operations; as well as a particular ease, finesse, and discernment that results from organizational and emotional intelligence.

POSITION AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY

All submissions should include a cover letter and resume. UMGC offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits for qualifying positions, such as tuition remission, generous leave and healthcare. For detailed benefits information, please visit: https://careers.umgc.edu/benefits.html.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. UMGC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, ancestry, political affiliation or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is committed to helping safeguard the health of its faculty, staff, students, contractors, and guests. Because vaccinations reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2-the virus that causes COVID-19-all prospective UMGC faculty (full-time and adjunct) and staff are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated and current with the recommended boosters. As always, operations at our military locations in Europe, Asia, and stateside will follow the guidance of the U.S. Department of Defense and local commands, and may require proof of full vaccination, unless an exception is approved as a reasonable accommodation based on disability or religion. If so, a copy of their Approved Exception Letter must be provided before the start of their employment. Failure to provide proof of vaccination or show proof of exception may result in the offer of employment being rescinded.