Career Center
Fountain Valley, California
Berkeley, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Santa Cruz, California
San Luis Obispo, California
Posted: 26-Aug-21
Location: Nationwide
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 2460119
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success
Executive Summary
The University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) announces the search for the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success (VCSAS). The University seeks an experienced and visionary leader to serve as Vice Chancellor and advance the student experience for its 20,000 diverse and talented students.
Widely recognized as an academically vibrant and student-centered university, UC Santa Cruz is proud of its profile as one of the most diverse campuses in the US and as a member of both the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the prestigious, ten-campus University of California system. UC Santa Cruz, founded in 1965, is distinguished by its residential 'college' system through which students live and learn in small communities organized around themes of broad intellectual interest. Santa Cruz is located on the edge of Monterey Bay, approximately 70 miles from San Francisco and is ideally suited for year-round outdoor activity.
Reporting directly to Chancellor Cynthia Larive, the VCSAS provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for a division that includes the following organizational units: Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Slug Support, the Career Center, Educational Opportunity Programs, Learning Support Services, Services for Transfer and Reentry Students, Student Organizations, Student Government and the Resource Centers. With a staff of approximately 200 FTE, UC Santa Cruz's next Vice Chancellor will have an opportunity for transformational leadership in designing and leading a student affairs division to meet the needs of a growing and changing student population, recognizing complex student wellbeing needs, and designing programs and services that center diversity, inclusion and anti-racist practices as organizational priorities.
The Vice Chancellor articulates and implements a vision for the Division of Student Affairs and Success that is focused on student engagement and persistence to graduation and that is consistent with the campus's broader commitment to excellence, equity, and access. The VCSAS should be a collaborative leader with sensitivity to multiple and diverse on-and-off campus stakeholders, with particular interest on the experience of graduate students and with enthusiasm and patience for the contributions of student activists. The VCSAS should have an in-depth understanding of all aspects of student affairs and an abiding commitment to delivering a first-class student experience through transparent and creative engagement with key stakeholders. The VCSAS provides leadership and strategic direction for the Division of Student Affairs and Success while interpreting and managing the evolving and complex nature of student affairs in higher education. The VCSAS must be knowledgeable and remain current on national and global issues pertaining to student success, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness, free speech, sexual assault, conduct and compliance within the context of a student-centered, public research university. As the University transitions to its post-COVID environment, the Vice Chancellor will engage with students and faculty to assess every aspect of the student experience and consider the implication of the past two years in shaping the environment for living and learning at Santa Cruz.
The successful candidate will be a visionary, collaborative, skilled and innovative leader with exceptional administrative, financial and managerial skills, and proven experience in a dynamic and complex professional environment. The Vice Chancellor will have broad knowledge of current student affairs issues, collaborative strategies to facilitate the success of all students including those who are first generation and from low income backgrounds, and an ability to create partnerships with all University constituencies, including students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, parents and Regents. The Vice Chancellor will display integrity in behavior and decisions and a demonstrated commitment and specific experience in advancing equity and inclusion as strategic priorities. The Vice Chancellor will be expected to work successfully with internal and external constituencies, including highly engaged, local community members and advisory councils. The Vice Chancellor will represent the division and the university to the media, the public, and local and state government agencies. A Ph.D. or Ed.D. and a record of progressively responsible and relevant leadership in higher education is strongly preferred.
Role of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success
The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success provides the dynamic leadership and vision necessary to assure effective and strategic management of student affairs and student success programs, including Student Health and Wellness, Career Success, Student Development and Engagement. The incumbent works closely with other senior campus academic and administrative leaders to successfully guide the Student Affairs and Success division in support of the University of California Santa Cruz's academic mission of teaching, research, and public service.
Reporting to the Chancellor, the VCSAS heads a division that focuses holistically on student affairs and student success through units that support student health and wellness (Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Slug Support), student career success (the Career Center), student academic progress (Educational Opportunity Programs, Learning Support Services and Services for Transfer and Reentry Students) and student life programs (Student Organizations, Student Government and the Resource Centers). The VCSAS promotes an engaged and healthy campus environment through services, programs, and innovative learning experiences that create a strong sense of community among students, faculty, and staff with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and civic engagement.
As a senior leader of UCSC, the VCSAS identifies important business and risk trends for campus consideration and develops, recommends, and implements appropriate campus responses to those trends. The VCSAS participates in various campus bodies, including the Chancellor's Cabinet, providing expertise and thought partnership, and provides leadership to various governance and advisory groups on behalf of the Chancellor or Campus Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor. In addition, the VCSAS serves as Appellate Officer in the Student Judicial System, when necessary.
Responsibilities
Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities
The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:
