Academic Affairs: Associate Vice Chancellor

THE SEARCH

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (“the University” or “UW-Eau Claire”) seeks an inspiring and accomplished leader to serve as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs to leverage its unique advantages and advance the University’s academic scope and regional economic impact.  The associate vice chancellor will join a strong senior leadership team in supporting this student-focused institution that prepares students for success through an inclusive, engaged, and experiential education.

One of the eleven regional comprehensive campuses of the University of Wisconsin system, UW-Eau Claire is ranked “Top 3 in Wisconsin” by Forbes’ 2022 America’s Top Colleges as well as being listed by SmartAsset as one of the Best Value Colleges. 

The associate vice chancellor supports the office of the provost and other academic structures (e.g., colleges) in researching and assessing the use of policies and procedures set at the institutional, UW System, and legislative levels.  The associate vice chancellor organizes and prioritizes critical issues and requisite information for the provost to facilitate efficient and effective decision-making.

All applications, inquiries, and nominations should be directed to the University as indicated at the end of this document. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The associate vice chancellor serves in the provost’s stead when they are unavailable and provides effective operational direction and coordination for the following major functions:

PERSONNEL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Assists the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs in personnel matters including:

• Reviews recommendations regarding appointment, reappointment, tenure, promotion, post-tenure review and workload adjustments/overloads for faculty and recommendations regarding appointment, reappointment, promotions, indefinite status, faculty status, and overloads for instructional academic staff.
• Participates in recruitment and orientation of new faculty and instructional academic staff.
• Reviews all faculty and instructional academic staff contracts before issuance by the provost.
• Provides annual training to departmental personnel committee chairs.
• Assists departments and colleges in the development and review of faculty evaluation plans.
• Serves as the administrative representative on the University Senate Faculty Personnel Committee.
• Supports department chairs, deans, and university committees on all matters concerning the handling of faculty and instructional academic staff personnel issues.
• Provides supervision and monitoring of UW-Eau Claire‒Barron County faculty/instructional academic staff.
• Serves as the academic affairs liaison to UW System Legal Counsel.
• Works with college deans and department chairs on administration of the pay plan.
• Facilitates the operation of the Faculty Complaint, Grievance, and Termination Review Committee.

PROGRAM, UNIT, AND INITIATIVE OVERSIGHT AND/OR UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

• Oversees and/or leads selected programs, units, and initiatives including: IMPACT Program for High School Students, and LAUNCH Program for Freshmen.
• Administers the annual laboratory modernization and classroom modernization processes.
• Allocates physical space within general purpose revenue buildings.
• Meets routinely with the facilities planning team.
• Provides subject matter expertise in the review of current policies and procedures and the development of draft policies and systems for developing, archiving, and distributing institution-wide policies [e.g., Faculty and Academic Staff Rules and Procedures (FASRP) language, changes to FASRP in areas of academic policies].
• Serves as liaison to various policy management offices to ensure that academic affairs and shared governance policies and practice directives are in compliance with UW System administration (UWSA), UW System Board of Regents, and state statutes.
• Consults with policy owners and stakeholders to develop and draft policy changes to meet the changing needs of the academy in partnership with shared governance committees and the academic affairs leadership team.
• Works with associate vice chancellors’ and the provost’s administrative assistants in timely follow-up for requested reports, UWSA deadlines, and requisite “reminders” for academic affairs from stakeholders.
• Participates collaboratively in reviewing academic policies and discussing any recommended changes with academic affairs leadership team, enrollment management including the Advising, Retention, and Career Center (ARCC), shared governance, and executive staff.
• Reviews, in consultation with the academic affairs budget planner, the effectiveness of overloads and overload policies and practices in all areas of academic affairs and makes recommendations to the provost.
• Works with the academic affairs budget planner to revise and finalize letters of employment, issues of moving expenses, equipment to start a lab, etc.
• Responds, in consultation with the provost, for requests from UWSA, including being the liaison to UWSA.
• Manages/drafts communications resulting from requests to the provost (e.g., letters of reference, nominations, surveys coming from UWSA).

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND REPRESENTATION

• Serves on university and system committees and assists the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, or the chancellor, as requested.
• Oversees and develops the provost's nominations for external faculty recognitions.
• Serves as a member of the chancellor’s executive team.

OTHER

• Participates in deans/provost meetings.
• Works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students, and other administrators on strategic initiatives within academic affairs.
• Prepares draft position descriptions, campus notifications, committee nominations, and consults with HR for the provost’s approval.
• Drafts preliminary outline/slide deck for speeches, invitations for opening remarks for the provost.
• Other duties as assigned by the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
• Foster an organizational and educational climate that promotes and celebrates diversity. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 

QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS

UW-Eau Claire seeks an individual with a record of distinguished academic and administrative accomplishment.  The Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will have sufficient academic credentials to secure the respect of the academic community.  The Associate Vice Chancellor will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication.
• Proven ability to provide higher education administrative leadership and vision.
• A terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Demonstrated ability to work with faculty, instructional and academic staff, department chairs, directors, academic deans, and associate vice chancellors.
• Commitment to support teaching, learning, and student success.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and organize time and resources to meet internal and external deadlines.
• Experience or capability relevant to leading the multiple external linkages of the University and the ability to represent the University effectively within and outside of the University.
• Successful academic administrative and leadership experience in a complex organization as dean, associate dean, department chair, or similar position.
• Demonstrated commitment to support and enhance the diversity and cultural and global awareness of students, faculty, and staff.
• A collaborative, inclusive, and collegial leadership style.
• Skills, experience, and perspective to encourage and maintain academic standards and administer academic regulations.

THE UNIVERSITY

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a leader for academic excellence, undergraduate research and high-impact practices in the University of Wisconsin System. Consistently ranked among the top 10 public Midwestern universities, UW-Eau Claire is home to about 10,000 students, who are drawn to Wisconsin’s most beautiful campus. Innovation, collaboration, leadership, diversity and inclusion, and sustainable stewardship are core values at UW-Eau Claire. About 90% of students participate in at least one high-impact practice such as student-faculty research. UW-Eau Claire students undertake more than 100,000 hours of community service each academic year.

The university is divided into four colleges the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and Human Sciences, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The university has a branch UW-Eau Claire―Barron County campus in Rice Lake where students may earn associate degrees or begin their college careers before transferring to our main campus.  UW-Eau Claire’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing program at our Marshfield site to allow students to learn where they live while pursuing their BSN degree. 

UW-Eau Claire has approximately 1,400 faculty and staff, with a faculty/student ratio of 1:19. Groundbreaking community partnerships in manufacturing, business, health care and the cultural arts produce myriad opportunities for faculty scholarship/creative activities and student internships.  UW-Eau Claire is one of the only universities in the world to have a master collaborative research agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System. 

Eau Claire is western Wisconsin’s largest city, home to nearly 70,000 residents who live, work and play in the area situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers.  The Eau Claire metropolitan area of approximately 173,000 people is 90 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Eau Claire is known for its beautiful parks and trails, small-town neighborhoods, excellent schools, vibrant arts scene, diverse local food culture, and abundant recreational opportunities.  UW-Eau Claire’s campus is within walking distance of two popular shopping districts that feature coffee shops, art galleries and live music venues. 

TO APPLY

Review of nominations and applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled with a priority date of December 4, 2023.  All inquiries and nominations/referrals should be sent electronically and in confidence to: Sarah Forcier, Executive Assistant forciesm@uwec.edu

Applications must be submitted electronically through the campus website at: https://www.uwec.edu/job-postings/20300/ (Associate Vice Chancellor, Job ID # 20300).  To apply, submit a letter of application addressing your qualifications; a CV; and the names and contact information for three professional references.

The University reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process. Employment will require a background check. Employment will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding past conduct related to sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).

The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and working. Although crime at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is limited, the University Police want students, faculty and staff to be aware of crime on campus and the area surrounding the campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime. Visit Campus Security and Fire Report. Also visit our Campus Security Authority(CSA) policy.

UW-Eau Claire is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disability employer dedicated to enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion.