Associate Provost For Student Success And Undergraduate Education

The Associate Provost forStudent Success and Undergraduate Education (APSSUE) at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) plays a pivotal role in promoting academic excellence, student retention, and overall academic success within the undergraduate student body. This leadership position is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and initiatives that enhance student engagement, persistence, and graduation rates. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Academic affairs/Provost, the APSSUE is a key member of the provost’s leadership team as the chief advisor to the Provost, Deans, and Faculty on all issues and initiatives related to Undergraduate Education.  This is a 12-month benefit-eligible academic professional appointment beginning July 1, 2024.

Characteristic duties and responsibilities: 

Program Administration (20%) - Provides administrative oversight for selected Academic Affairs units and personnel related to Undergraduate Education, including the Office of Undergraduate Education, Center for Academic Success & Advising (CASA), selected High Impact Educational Practices including the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series and First Year Seminar. Also provides administrative oversight for general education and the ECCE curriculum, including working with Deans and chairs/heads/directors on course scheduling and staffing needs, collaborating with the Center for Faculty Excellence to offer faculty development workshops, and serving as an ex-officio member of the General Education Council and University Requirements Council. Provides leadership on matters of Undergraduate Educational policy and academic planning, including administrative oversight of the undergraduate program review process and Undergraduate academic program development, serving as Provost's liaison to the Undergraduate Council as an ex-officio member, and providing advice to and consulting with Deans and college-level committees.

Student Success Initiatives (20%) -  Leads efforts to enhance student retention, academic achievement, and timely graduation through the development and implementation of comprehensive Student Success initiatives. Oversees the coordination of academic advising, tutoring services, mentoring programs, and other support services to address the diverse needs of undergraduate students. Work closely with the Capital Scholars Honors Director. Collaborates with Enrollment and Retention Management, Division of Student Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders to identify and address barriers to Student Success. Exercises review and approval authority for Student petitions and appeals regarding exceptions to academic policy at the undergraduate level and assists in the resolution of undergraduate student concerns and grievances. When appropriate, pursues opportunities for external support of activities related to Undergraduate Education in coordination with UIS Office of Research & Sponsored Programs and the Office of Advancement.

Undergraduate Program Development (20%) - Provides leadership in the development, assessment, and enhancement of undergraduate academic programs, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, accreditation standards, and industry trends. Works closely with academic departments and faculty to foster innovation in curriculum design, pedagogy, and experiential learning opportunities. Explores and promotes interdisciplinary initiatives and partnerships to enrich the undergraduate academic experience. Responsible for updating and disseminating academic policies related to Undergraduate Education, including relevant sections of the UIS Catalog, and for approving new courses, course changes, and provides Academic Affairs leadership for articulation and transfer issues, including serving as university liaison to the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) and coordinating the submission of courses to IAI for approval. In collaboration with Deans, Department Chairs, and other staff in the provost's office, provides administrative oversight for development of new undergraduate program requests and curriculum changes and submission of undergraduate program actions to the Board of Trustees and the Board of Higher Education. 

Strategic Planning (10%) - Develops and implements strategic plans, goals, and objectives to enhance Student Success and strengthen undergraduate programming in alignment with the UIS mission and strategic priorities. Oversees ongoing assessment and evaluation of programs and initiatives to identify areas for improvement and ensure effectiveness.

Data Analysis and Reporting (10%) - Utilizes data analytics and assessment tools to monitor student progress, identify trends, and make data-informed decisions to support Student Success initiatives. Prepares reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders to communicate outcomes, challenges, and opportunities related to Student Success and Undergraduate programs as required by the VCAA/Provost and appropriate agencies. Responsible for overseeing key components of institutional accreditation and Undergraduate academic program review. Ensures ongoing compliance with HLC accreditation policies and standards.

Collaboration and Outreach (10%) - Collaborates with university stakeholders, including academic departments, Student Affairs, Enrollment and Retention Management, and Institutional Research and Effectiveness, to ensure a holistic approach to Student Success. Engages with external partners, community organizations, and industry leaders to foster partnerships and opportunities that enhance undergraduate programs and student outcomes. Serves as an institutional advocate for excellence in Undergraduate Education and in interactions with internal constituencies, University of Illinois administration, and external stakeholders at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Professional Development and Leadership (10%) - Provides leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for staff and faculty involved in Student Success initiatives and Undergraduate programs. Maintains expertise on current and emerging trends and/or technologies related to Undergraduate Education, including assessing feasibility and effectiveness of utilization at UIS; disseminates information to faculty on national standards and best practices in higher education and Undergraduate teaching and learning; serves as institutional representative to regional and national higher education organizations. Represents the Office of Undergraduate Education and the needs of undergraduate students in Provost’s Leadership Team meetings, Deans & Directors Council, as an ex-officio member of the Committee for the Assessment of Student Learning, and other administrative meetings as needed; serves as a member of the Campus Behavioral Intervention Team; chairs the Provost's Office Merit Scholarship Committee, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Assistance; convenes committees and panels necessary to deal with various Undergraduate Education issues. Represents the VCAA/Provost in all meetings and matters as requested.

Required qualifications/minimum education and work experience:

• A PhD or equivalent terminal academic degree from an accredited university.
• A record of excellence in teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate students.
• A record of high-quality scholarship.
• A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible academic leadership experience in higher education administration, with a focus on Student Success, academic affairs, or undergraduate programs.
• Experience in strategic planning, program development, and assessment in a higher education setting.
• Experience with policy development and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in undergraduate curriculum development and assessment.
• Demonstrated experience using data effectively to make informed decisions.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and fostering a welcoming university community.
• Experience working with accreditation standards and compliance requirements.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience successfully developing and administering unit/program budgets. Experience with institutional accreditation processes (e.g., Higher Learning Commission (HLC) or other regional accrediting organization).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of national trends, best practices, and emerging technologies related to Student Success and Undergraduate Education.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, and leadership skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders including faculty, staff, students, administration, external organizations, and others.
• A demonstrated capacity for sound independent decision-making and an ability to work collaboratively, effectively, and collegially in a fast-paced administrative environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to utilize data to drive decision-making and measure outcomes.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Proven project management and implementation skills.
• Ability to manage extended periods of computer use and deliver presentations. Preferred: Ability to successfully envision, develop, and implement Student Success and retention initiatives.
• Preferred: Demonstrated ability to listen closely to multiple and sometimes competing perspectives.
• Preferred: Demonstrated flexibility, patience, and creativity in developing and managing complex processes.
• Preferred: Ability to balance the need for careful attention to administrative detail with appreciation for the broader context of academic policies and procedures.
• Preferred: Ability to exercise care and objectivity in decision-making, consulting appropriately with the Provost and other stakeholders.
• Preferred: A willingness to honor university policies and maintain consistency in procedures, while also recognizing the need to innovate and make changes to benefit the continued growth of the institution.
• Preferred: High emotional intelligence, collegiality, and sense of humor.