Career Center

History and Overview

Pittsburg State University was founded in 1903 as the Kansas State Manual Training Normal School, originally a branch of the State Normal School of Emporia (now Emporia State University). With one building and 54 students, this new school would prepare teachers in curriculum areas vital to success and prosperity in the hands-on industrial age. In 1913, we became a full-fledged four-year institution as the Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, or Pittsburg State for short. Over the next four decades, our mission was broadened beyond teacher training. To reflect this, in 1959, our name was changed again to Kansas State College of Pittsburg. We became Pittsburg State University on April 21, 1977.

More than a century later, that mission remains at the core of Pittsburg State University. By providing interactive, engaging courses throughout four distinct colleges, Pitt State transforms the lives of our students, our community, and the entire Southeast Kansas region. Located in the innovative, self-made city of Pittsburg, Kansas, our campus features the region's premier facilities for hands-on technology and business education, athletics, and the arts. And we're proud to be the only university in the nation with the Gorilla as our mascot.

A lot has changed since 1903. Location, name, logos, enrollment, etc. Change is inevitable. Change is valuable. But through it all, our belief in the power of education remains as strong and steadfast as the day we opened our doors to 54 people ready to change the world and themselves.

The main campus of Pittsburg State University is, in many ways, a community in and of itself. Along with our gorgeous historic academic buildings, our campus also boasts some of the nation's premier facilities for athletics, recreation, fitness, and the arts. The recently expanded Overman Student Center also provides a variety of dining and shopping options for students and the community.

Campus and Community Facts

Home to nearly 6,000 students, PSU provides all the benefits of a major college but with small class sizes and personalized experiences. The university offers more than 200 academic programs and emphasis areas across four colleges, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, EdS degrees, and a doctoral degree in Nursing. Our students enjoy an average class size of just 18 students and benefit from world-class faculty. More than 65,000 alumni proudly declare, "Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla."

Pittsburg State employs well over one thousand part-time and full-time faculty and staff, students, graduate assistants, and researchers.

Pittsburg has a population of approximately 20,000 residents and is located in southeast Kansas, about thirty miles from Joplin, Missouri, which has a metropolitan area population of about 60,000. Kansas City is located 120 miles North; Tulsa, Oklahoma is 125 miles southwest; Wichita is 160 miles west; and Springfield, Missouri is 95 miles east. For more information see: http://www.pittks.org.

Pittsburg State University offers a rich college experience with a broad selection of academic and social amenities.

• A beautiful 223-acre campus is home to state-of-the-art buildings that bring the real world to students
• Nearly 150 student organizations provide opportunities for engagement, community, and leadership
• Student Success and Life - Six-year student success rate (55%), Members of a student organization (17%)
• Current Enrollment Data - Total enrollment (5,855 students), Undergraduate (4,489 students), Graduate (1,369 students), (Pell Grant (28%), Underrepresented Students (21%), Student Athletes (363).
• Class of 2026 - First time in college (893 students), Kansas residents (64%), Average ACT (20.8), Average high school GPA (3.4).

President Dr. Dan Shipp

He prefers just Dan — began his job as the 10th president of Pittsburg State University on June 6, 2022.

He came to PSU after having served as the vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and associate to the chancellor at University of Nebraska Medical Center, a public medical school in Omaha that is at the forefront of 21st Century health sciences education, innovative research, and patient care.

Considered to be a nationally recognized leader and innovator in higher education, Dan has designed educational and support programs, services, facilities, provided planning and project leadership at multiple universities, led initiatives to grow enrollment, and removed barriers for underserved students.

His career has included:
• serving as a classroom instructor for over two decades, teaching undergraduate education courses that have included leadership, social and emotional competency development, and service learning.
• serving as the vice chancellor for student success at both the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Medical Center.
• providing executive leadership to the Walter Scott Jr. Scholarship Program — Nebraska's premiere STEM- based academic honors program.
• serving as the associate vice president of student life at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he was responsible for leading the campus effort to design and build the $40 million
DeRosa University Center.
• providing leadership to the development of a series of award-winning student educational and success initiatives at the UP that led to significant improvements in overall student retention.
• serving as a founding member of the Center for Social and Emotional Competence and on the Center's inaugural advisory board.
• serving as a senior student affairs leader at the University of Missouri, where he provided project leadership to the design, development, and implementation of what is widely recognized as one of the
nation's finest athletic and recreation facilities — the $50 million Mizzou Student Recreation Complex.

He earned a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from the University of the Pacific in California, a master of arts in education from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and a bachelor of arts in education from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

He also is a graduate of Stanford's design thinking executive education program. His academic areas of interest and study include leadership, social and emotional competency development, design thinking, collaboration, and resiliency.

Dan and his wife, Vanessa, are parents to three sons: Oliver (12), Finnegan (10), and Samuel (7).

Dan expressed his philosophy of life during his introduction to the campus by the Kansas Board of Regents to the campus in April, 2022 by quoting John Wesley, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

The Opportunity

Pittsburg State University invites applications and nominations for the position of vice president for student affairs and enrollment management (VPSAEM). The university seeks an innovative systems thinker, student-focused leader, and relationship builder who is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment for our students. The new VPSAEM will lead the integration of this newly combined student affairs and enrollment management division with an adept skillset in building, executing, and sustaining a holistic enrollment strategy to support campus operating needs. The VPSAEM will also have a student development mindset and understanding that creates value for our students and is a prideful and engaged member of the Gorilla community.

The Position

The VPSAEM reports to the provost and executive vice president and is responsible for the general organization, implementation, and evaluation of the University's enrollment and student development programs and services, and oversees a division of 22 program/units and serves as the University's senior student affairs and enrollment officer.

The VPSAEM will foster a working environment where staff can thrive while attending to student success, well- being, engagement, development, admissions, recruitment, and financial aid to support all student populations. The VPSAEM will execute a strategy to modify or add new activities and services, working intentionally within budgetary constraints. Further, the VPSAEM will bring a generous spirit, an engaged mindset, and a creative orientation to the work of building community across the student body, fostering a sense of belonging for every
student, and meeting the unique needs of students within our community. The VPSAEM will provide a vision for the substantive work of the division with attention to our local context. This position will play a critical role in helping our external stakeholders understand the valuable ways in which the programs and services of the division are critical to student success and the needs of the Pittsburg State University community.

Position (con't)

The VPSAEM will provide vision, leadership, and strategic and annual planning, budget setting, allocation and general oversight for all units and departments in the division. With a student-centered approach, the VPSAEM will enhance enrollment planning, student life/experience, student success and development, admissions, financial aid, and operational quality and effectiveness. This leader will be responsible for fostering an atmosphere in which equity and inclusion for all community members prevail. The division facilitates student access to university services, contributes to student learning, and supports the holistic development of students.

Enrollment and Retention Strategy

With direction from the provost and executive vice president, the VPSAEM will provide a vision for and management of recruitment, enrollment, and retention of students. This will include attention to equity gaps in access, retention, graduation, and post-graduate outcomes.

The VPSAEM will work to achieve an appropriate balance of in-state and out-of-state students—one that helps all students and the state to thrive—as well as providing significant attention to Kansas populations (e.g., first- gen, rural, Hispanic/Latinx) which have been underserved by higher education in our state. The VPSAEM will develop and implement a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan along with an opportunity to support the implementation of the University's strategic plan, as well as its evolution over time.

Student Advocacy

The VPSAEM will emphasize support and development of the whole student as part of a complete educational experience. Working with and intentionally serving a wide variety of students with diverse lived experiences and identities, identify ways to better serve those who have been underserved by higher education. And work to close completion gaps in student enrollment and graduation.

Collaboration

The VPSAEM is a member of the president's executive team, which works collaboratively across operational areas, and always strives to innovate. This role will work closely with the institution's provost and executive vice president, building upon the already strong partnership between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, as well as all other members of the Cabinet. This role will also be responsible for budgets in appropriated, local, auxiliary, and grants within the division. This role will also be called upon to cultivate and foster cooperative and collaborative relationships, seeking ways to leverage resources to address the needs of all our students, be they academic, financial, personal, or social. The VPSAEM will balance advocacy for student affairs and enrollment management with a collaborative focus on the larger context of university-wide priorities.

Important Resources

Pittsburg State University Strategic Plan Overview 2023
Pittsburg State University Org Chart
Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Org Chart

Qualifications

Candidates must have the following educational and professional experiences:

• Master's degree in education, higher education administration, student development, counseling, or other closely related or applicable fields.
• At least five years' experience in higher education leadership, including extensive knowledge and experience with enrollment management, student affairs, student life, or student development.
• Successful experience with developing, supervising, or working closely with living and learning programs/communities.
• Successful experience with developing, supervising, or working closely with innovative and dynamic educational/co-curricular learning initiatives/programs.
• Evidence of excellent collaboration skills.
• Successful experience developing, supervising, or working closely with campus/community service and volunteerism programs.
• Successful experience developing or partnering with campus stakeholders to develop and execute a holistic enrollment management strategic plan.
• Successful experience or working closely with campus stakeholders to develop and execute the strategic use of financial aid.
• Evidence of strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with students, faculty, and administration.
• Demonstrated philosophical commitment to a student-centered educational environment and the ability to articulate student development outcomes to the campus.

Preferred educational and professional experiences:

• Doctoral degree in higher education administration, student development, counseling, or other or other closely related or applicable fields.
• Knowledge and experience with design thinking education and program development.
• Significant experience with strategic planning, program evaluation, and accreditation.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Experience with campus conduct, fraternity and sorority life.
• Experience in a residential college setting.

How to Apply

Buffkin / Baker is assisting Pittsburg State University on this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed to:

Mr. Martin Baker, Managing Partner, (770) 313-5573
Dr. Pelema Ellis, Associate Partner, (617) 866-7748
Or you can send an email to: vpsaempittstate@buffkinbaker.com

Applications should include a 1) current CV and 2) a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications described above.

The position is open until filled; however, initial consideration will be given to materials received by the preferred submission date of May 19, 2023.









Copyright ©2022 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency

jeid-366957ec8345bc48a329e643d4c574ce