VP of Academics & Student Services

Job Scope

The Vice President of Academics and Student Services (VPASS) serves as a senior, visionary academic and student services leader of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and is committed to the community college mission and to its students. As the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) and the Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO), the VPASS provides leadership over a talented team of administrators who oversee the for-credit and non-credit academic departments (workforce development and the Police Academy), marketing, Student Success Center, admissions/registration, student recruiting, student activities, athletics, and the operation of the branch campuses. The VPASS is an excellent communicator and is a collaborative and supportive senior leader.

Essential Job Responsibilities

1. Serves on President’s Cabinet as a visionary, collaborative, supportive senior College leader.
2. Leads and supports the faculty and staff of Academic Affairs and Student Services.
3. Leads, mentors, supports and evaluates direct reports. Delegates appropriately.
4. Understands and ensures compliance with the two collective bargaining agreements of the College.
5. Ensures compliance with College, state, federal and accreditation requirements and standards.
6. Collaboratively develops and oversees the budgets of Academic Affairs and Student Services.
7. Facilitates and oversees the expenditure of relevant grant monies including monies of the Perkin’s Grant. Ensure effective grant compliance and utilization of grant resources to support College needs.
8. Creates an atmosphere of quality and innovation; manages projects effectively and efficiently.
9. Participates in the College’s shared governance processes and presents to the Board of Trustees on academic or student services issues. Serves as a resource for faculty and staff on College policy matters.
10. Provides regular, detailed communication to supervised areas by holding scheduled meetings and supplying written updates.
11. Oversees the operation of all College educational centers to ensure proper availability of student services, staffing, and academic and student programs.
12. Participates in and supports strategic planning.
13. Collaboratively develops and follows a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan to better retain current students and attract new students and an Academic Plan to create a contemporary, high-quality academic portfolio that can be efficiently delivered to students.
14. Collaboratively creates a class schedule that best serves students and is supported by the College’s budget.
15. Maintains current and develops new academic partnerships with other educational institutions (i.e., high schools and post-secondary) and business/industry.
16. Responds to student and instructor academic concerns. Administers the College's student judicial process.
17. Plans and provides opportunities for professional development for faculty and academic/student services staff.
18. Collaborates with the Information Technology Department to provide faculty and staff with appropriate and contemporary technologies that advance the mission of the College.
19. Serves as the College’s academic and student services representative at the state level (PACCC).
20. Performs other duties as assigned by the President.

Direct Reports to the Vice President of Academics and Student Services

• Dean of Faculty
• Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
• Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
• Dean of Enrollment and Registrar
• Director of Recruiting and Admissions
• Assistant to the VP of Academic Affairs
• Assistant to the Student Services Department
• May include others depending on final organizational structure

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Education:

• Master’s degree required.

• Doctorate strongly preferred. 

Experience & Knowledge:

• Higher education administrative experience: five years required, but eight or more years preferred.

• Direct supervisory experience over academic and/or student services areas: Strongly preferred.

• Working experience with a unionized workforce: Strongly preferred.

• Community college working experience: Strongly preferred.

• College teaching experience: Preferred.

• Commitment to and appreciation of the community college mission.

• Strong work ethic and commitment to student success.

• Demonstrated collaborative leadership.

• Knowledge of continuous improvement/assessment practices.

• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.

• Superior written and oral communication skills.

Computer Skills:

• Knowledge of basic Microsoft Office applications.

• Familiarity with Student Information Systems and Learning Management Systems.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:  

• State Criminal Background Check

Physical Demands:

• Frequent sitting.
• Must be able to talk, hear, and operate a computer.
• Occasional lifting up to 10 lbs.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

• Typical office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level.