Founded in 1891, Buena Vista University is a private four-year university nestled on the shores of a beautiful 3,000-acre natural lake in Storm Lake, Iowa – a town of diverse populations, interests, and industry. The community is tight knit, rich with Midwest values and driven to flourish. Within this idyllic setting, Buena Vista University is an institution on the move poised to accomplish positive and innovative institutional advances underpinned by a strong vision to enhance regional and national recognition. Of the 1,847 total students enrolled for the 2018-19 academic year, there are 733 undergraduate students at the Storm Lake campus. The online, site, and graduate programs are comprised of 1,114 undergraduate degree completion and graduate students. Over 40 percent of BVU students participate in intercollegiate athletics on 19 NCAA Division III teams. BVU was Carnegie Classified in Community Engagement in 2010 and will retain this classification until 2020.  This is the highest honor a university can gain in service and civic engagement.

Reporting to the President, the Vice President for Student Success serves as the chief retention officer and provides leadership for the Division of Student Success which includes Career and Personal Development; Student Conduct; Diversity, Inclusion and Interfaith; Student Leadership/Activities; Civic Engagement, Retention and Outreach; First and Second Year Experience; Counseling, Health and Wellness; Campus Security; Residential Life; Recreation, and Athletics. The Vice President for Student Success is primarily responsible for leading the university’s Title IX process and campus wide initiatives in student retention, student engagement, and programmatic efforts that foster an inclusive and collaborative environment. The Vice President for Student Success is a key partner with the Vice President for Academic Affairs to promote the intentional integration of students’ academic and co-curricular experiences—experiences expressly designed to enrich student learning, build and maintain strong college and student cohort identities, and advance campus retention and graduation goals. The Vice President for Student Success will also partner closely with the Vice President for Enrollment to ensure campus recruitment and retention models are aligned. The Vice President for Student Success will be a campus-wide thought leader and collaborator around best/next practices that foster a culture of student achievement, cultivate students’ sense of belonging and self-confidence, integrate approaches that will reinforce the co-dependency between academic, social, personal, professional, and spiritual development through a growth mindset. The new Vice President for Student Success will manage an operating budget of $4.4 million and will be charged with strategically reviewing the current organizational structure, staff functions and staffing levels with an understanding that the President will support strategic change and growth with a focus on increased student success. 

Candidates must possess a master’s degree (earned doctorate preferred) in college student personnel administration, higher education administration, or a similar field with substantive, progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs. Experience supervising multiple departments in student success, student development, student affairs, or related areas is preferred. Candidates must possess a clear commitment to and understanding of the mission of a comprehensive university with a liberal arts and professional focus with a substantial residential student population as well as an adult population. Candidates must also possess deep experience and knowledge on proven practices in student retention; demonstrated achievement in implementing practices to retain and graduate diverse student populations; and, knowledge of national trends in strategic recruitment, retention and state/federal rules and regulations. A demonstrated commitment to student success and transformation coupled with a vision for working collaboratively with colleagues across the institution to achieve institutional priorities is required. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational, assessment, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, and must demonstrate effective leadership, strategic planning, writing, and intercultural skills. 

Review of applications will begin November 2, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Quincy Martin III at qm3@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

Visit the Buena Vista University website at www.bvu.edu

Buena Vista University is an Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act/Smoke-Free Employer.