Career Center

JOB SUMMARY

The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at UConn seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve in the management-exempt position of Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School. Reporting directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School oversees all postbaccalaureate degree and certificate programs, except the Doctor of Pharmacy and degrees or certificates overseen by the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Law, or the School of Medicine. The Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School leads graduate and postdoctoral education at the University of Connecticut on behalf of the Provost.

The Vice Provost and Dean will provide strategic vision and operational leadership to all aspects of graduate and postdoctoral education at the University of Connecticut, setting priorities for the Graduate School and leading innovation in graduate education, fostering a thriving community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and providing flexible services to support graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and staff. The Vice Provost and Dean is the chief advocate for graduate and postdoctoral education at the University of Connecticut and will work collaboratively with the Provost and Vice Provosts, other Deans, Department Heads, and other University business units.

The Provost will welcome a Vice Provost and Dean who thrives on innovation and who seeks to develop, organize, and manage new initiatives. The Vice Provost and Dean will make critical contributions to the continued development of graduate education at UConn. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual with the drive, skill, and experience to bring creative leadership to the Graduate School and to play a meaningful role in shaping its future. The Vice Provost and Dean will build on a solid foundation to address key challenges and pursue important opportunities.

The Provost seeks candidates with a comprehensive resume of success in academic leadership roles, who can demonstrate exceptional skills and experiences that will enable them to support the growing needs of graduate and postdoctoral education at UConn and who can provide strong leadership to graduate programs that cross many schools and colleges and that offer programs on multiple campuses. The successful candidate for this position will be a tenured full professor at UConn with a strong ethical sense, a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, good judgment, and the ability to work as part of a team to efficiently manage a broad and complex portfolio. The successful candidate will possess a leadership style that invites collaboration, encourages teamwork, welcomes diverse perspectives, and values transparency and data- and stakeholder-informed decision-making. The next Vice Provost and Dean must possess the skills necessary to navigate the organizational, political, and fiscal realities unique to a major public research university, and to make changes to improve current practice, including effective advocacy for the resources required to uphold mandates and achieve aspirations.

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for all matters, the Vice Provost and Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Graduate School, responsible for providing strategic vision and operational leadership to all aspects of the academic and scholarly program.

The Graduate School's leadership team consists of the Associate Dean of the Graduate School, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at UConn Health, and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs. The staff consists of 11 employees committed to the smooth operation of the School across graduate student and postdoctoral support, graduate admissions, programming and diversity recruitment, and other administrative areas. The Vice Provost and Dean works very closely with the staff of Labor Relations to implement and interpret collective bargaining agreements with graduate assistants and postdoctoral research associates.

The Graduate School

UConn is the state's flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT; four regional campuses throughout the state in Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury; and 13 schools and colleges, including the School of Law in Hartford, and medical and dental schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington.

Research, scholarship, and creative activity at the University of Connecticut have a national and international impact, and excellence in these areas is inseparable from excellence in graduate education. The University of Connecticut is a great research university because it has both world-class scholars and world-class graduate programs. The University awards 17 types of graduate degrees. (4 research doctorates, 2 clinical doctorates, 11 master's). Eighty-one fields of study lead to doctoral degrees, and 128 fields of study lead to master's degrees. in addition, the University of Connecticut offers more than 100 post-baccalaureate, graduate, and post-master's certificate programs.

With the Graduate Faculty Council and the Executive Committee of the Graduate School, the Graduate School ensures the academic integrity of graduate programs, oversees the development of new programs and the modification of existing programs, and develops new ideas and new approaches to graduate education. Through the Graduate Faculty Council, the Graduate School also develops policies that govern the academic relationship of graduate students with the University. The Graduate School provides financial support for graduate students through fellowships administered by individual graduate programs and through the Jorgensen, Harriot, and Crandall Fellowship programs. In addition, the Graduate School supports dissertation fellowships for doctoral students and awards that support doctoral student travel. The Graduate School coordinates efforts to ensure that graduate programs attract and retain graduate and postdoctoral scholars from the widest possible array of backgrounds and experiences, and the Graduate School covers the costs of education for recipients of prestigious national fellowships that are not covered by fellowship awards or training grants. We work with the Graduate Student Senate and the Graduate Students of Color Association to promote a vibrant community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at the University.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with key partners to lead and advise the University's strategic efforts on complex initiatives relating to graduate and postdoctoral education. In partnership with senior university administrators, ensure the campus environment appropriately enables and supports academic goals, objectives, and programs.
• Oversight and management of interdisciplinary graduate programs that report to the Graduate School.
• Partner with faculty, staff, and students to maintain a climate of civility and collegiality through effective communication and a strong commitment to enhancing the quality and diversity of the campus population. Partner with the Deans of each School and College, the Graduate Faculty Council, and the Executive Committee of the Graduate School to advance graduate and postdoctoral education.
• Develop, execute, modify, and assess ongoing and new programs and committees to support and evaluate graduate education initiatives. Devise and monitor key program and project performance indicators including oversight of interdisciplinary programs reporting to the Graduate School
• Contribute to the overall operation of the Office of the Provost and execution of executive-level priorities. This may include ad hoc involvement in other activities in scope, including emergency response, strategic projects, interpretation and reinforcement of policies and procedures, and other activities as needed.
• In support of University goals and priorities, promote the Graduate School through communications and public relations efforts critical to the success of the School, including building relationships and partnerships with alumni, civic, youth, historical, financial services industry, museum, arts, and other groups and organizations.
• Assist the President and Provost in representing the University on matters related to its core missions of research, education, and outreach including with external constituencies and peer institutions.
• Collaborate with the Department of Public Safety, Facilities Operations and Building Services, University Information Technology Services, and Planning, Design, and Construction Services to ensure a safe, secure, productive working environment for the conduct of research and instructional activities.
• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to employees of the Graduate School, including hiring, professional development, discipline, training, and promotion of all direct reports.
• Serve as the primary academic contact for all questions related to negotiation, implementation, and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements with graduate assistants and postdoctoral research associates at multiple UConn campuses. (See the note above about GAs and postdoctoral research associates at UConn Health.)
• Assure that the Graduate School offers a positive environment for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and that they receive appropriate support services. Coordinate with Schools and Colleges to ensure that course offerings meet the needs of degree requirements and that graduate students and postdoctoral scholars receive appropriate academic and professional mentoring. Ensure that Schools, Colleges, Departments, and Graduate Programs act in accordance with University-wide policies and practices regarding student conduct, disability services, counseling and mental health services, behavioral threat assessment, and other important student affairs functions.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities, challenges, and needs of administering and promoting graduate education initiatives.
• Partner with University stakeholders on the development and modification of policies, by-laws, guidance, processes, and procedures related to the assigned portfolio.
• Effectively manage academic resources and prepare and manage the Graduate School's annual operating budget. Prioritize the allocation of resources to support the University's academic mission and plan. Collaborate with the Director of Academic Finance and Planning in managing Provost Office commitments and budget.
• Keep abreast of developments and trends that may require new studies or modification of current projects or practices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Current appointment at UConn at the rank of Professor with tenure in one of UConn's Schools and Colleges.
• At least 5 years of administrative experience in a progressively responsible leadership position in higher education or other relevant fields, demonstrating knowledge of core management functions, clear experience with managing strategic priorities, and familiarity with University policies, guidance, and procedures.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 8 years of experience in a progressively responsible leadership position in higher education.
• At least 3 years of background and experience pertinent to the unique programs and setting of the academic affairs division of a public research institution, including a clear understanding of the academic vision of the University.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization. Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate needs, plans, and programs effectively.
• Proven business and political acumen commensurate with the needs of an executive office, including the ability to navigate the organizational, political, and fiscal realities unique to a major public research university; demonstrable experience applying sound judgment; and an ability to manage change, resolve conflict, and build consensus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop, engage, and maintain constructive and professional relationships with senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, and other individuals and organizations. Possesses a proven record of successful collaboration across the University.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, understand, and interpret complex situations and problems, evaluate options, devise and propose solutions that align resources with goals, implement plans, and measure outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment to enhancing the diversity of the University population and prioritizing equity and inclusion, including assessing needs, developing initiatives, and applying best practices.
• Experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements or working directly with Labor Relations to resolve questions about collectively bargained topics.
• Experience as an agent of innovation and change, achieving excellence across a complex organization.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 12-month, management-exempt position with a five-year, renewable term open to current UConn employees. This position has an anticipated start date of August 23, 2024. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #498046 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on December 20, 2023. 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce.  The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner.  This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all.  We strongly respect each individual employee's unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same.  All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.

About University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut is a national leader among public research universities, with more than 30,000 students seeking answers to critical questions in classrooms, labs, and the community. A culture of innovation drives this pursuit of knowledge throughout the University’s network of campuses. Connecticut’s commitment to higher education helps UConn attract students who thrive in the most competitive environments, as well as globally renowned faculty members. Our school pride is fueled by a history of success that has made us a standout in Division I athletics. UConn fosters a diverse and vibrant culture that meets the needs and seizes the opportunities of a dynamic global society.

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