PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH PROSPECTUS

Transcription

1 SAINT MICHAEL S COLLEGE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH PROSPECTUS A SEARCH FOR THE 17 th PRESIDENT

2 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT SAINT MICHAEL S COLLEGE, A RESIDENTIAL, COEDUCATIONAL, CATHOLIC, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE IN COLCHESTER, VT, ANNOUNCES A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE. FOUNDED IN THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION IN 1904 BY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. EDMUND, SAINT MICHAEL S IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO BURLINGTON, VT, AND SITUATED BETWEEN LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND THE GREEN MOUNTAINS. THE COLLEGE S DEFINING COMMITMENTS, DERIVED FROM THE EDMUNDITE TRADITION, ARE TO DEVELOP A STRONG CAMPUS COMMUNITY, TO PROVIDE A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, AND TO INCULCATE AN ETHIC OF SERVICE. AS A CATHOLIC LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION, SAINT MICHAEL S EMBRACES DIFFERENT CULTURES; OFFERS A MODEL OF CIVILITY; AND SEEKS DIVERSITY OF ALL KINDS AMONG ITS STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF.

3 Rev. Eugene Alliot, SSE, former president of Saint Michael s College, shakes hands with Bishop Edward Ryan while Superior General of the Society of Saint Edmund Rev. Jeremiah Purtill, SSE, and president of Saint Michael s College Rev. Daniel Lyons, SSE, look on, early in the 1950s. HISTORY Saint Michael s was founded in 1904 by a small group of French priests of the Society of Saint Edmund who were devoted to Catholic education, the enhancement of the human person, the advancement of culture, and social justice. Taking their name from a 13th-century English saint, Edmund of Canterbury, the Edmundites shaped the mission and identity of Saint Michael s as a residential liberal arts college in the Catholic intellectual tradition, with a strong commitment to social justice. Faithful to its Catholic, Edmundite heritage, Saint Michael s is committed to the development of the whole person as an individual and as a member of a larger community; high academic standards; advancement of values-based education; the practice of open and civil discourse; respect for the fundamental dignity and worth of each person; and fulfillment of the responsibility of good citizens in an age of cultural diversity and internationalization. The founding values of the Edmundites are exemplified in some of the major events of the College s history. In 1911, Saint Michael s admitted its first African-American student. In 1926, it added its first graduate program. In 1947, Saint Michael s Playhouse was opened, bringing the first professional summer theater to Vermont. In 1954, the College began a program to teach English to international students, which has become one of its signature programs. In 1970, Saint Michael s admitted women and became fully coeducational. And in the 1980s the College continued to build on its commitment to education and social justice by establishing the Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE), which was founded as a way to expand the concept of community service and emphasize the College s connectedness to the world. In more recent years, the College increased its commitment to the environment by taking action to reduce its carbon footprint and enhance its green standing. Recent buildings have met LEED Certification standards or use geothermal heating and cooling to reduce energy usage. The school has also established an organic garden, used for education and service, and in 2015 a new array of solar panels came online. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 3

4 IT IS THE MISSION OF SAINT MICHAEL S COLLEGE TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN CULTURE IN LIGHT OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH. VISION To actively engage students with ideas developed over millennia in many world civilizations as well as those ideas from more recently emerging disciplines, and to assist students in the generative process of creating new understandings. For this engagement to be most productive, a student must work closely with a faculty member who is deeply, actively, and demonstrably engaged in learning, for in a liberal arts college it is not so much acquired knowledge or personal belief that is passed on from one generation to the next, but rather curiosity and passion for the very ideas of the discipline. To encourage the development of an empathetic understanding and respect for the differing views of others derived from their history, status, or unique philosophical or religious belief. Such an understanding is to be developed through proximate experience grounded in religious, philosophical, and historical contexts. To take responsibility for the moral and spiritual development of each individual by employing the long Catholic intellectual tradition that sees no conflict between belief and reason. This is rooted in the belief that the world is good and that the dignity of each person needs to be acknowledged. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 4

5 STUDENTS Saint Michael s currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate and 400 graduate students, representing some 30 states and 39 countries. Eighty-two percent of its students come from outside Vermont; 24 percent come from outside New England. Eleven percent of the students are ALANA; an additional 4 percent are international. Fortyseven percent of first-year students identify themselves as Catholic. Over 34 percent of the graduates have had a study-abroad experience. The average SAT scores for the class of 2020 were 600 verbal; 590 math; 585 writing. The College has a first-year/sophomore retention rate of 89 percent and its six-year graduation rate is 79 percent. Students of Saint Michael s have been recognized for their work by receiving the most prestigious fellowships available, including the Rhodes Scholarship, the Pickering Undergraduate Fellowship, the Fulbright Scholarship, and the Goldwater Scholarship. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 5

6 ACADEMIC PROGRAM The heart of Saint Michael s is its commitment to liberal education. Its Liberal Studies Curriculum requires of all students a firm grounding in the liberal arts and sciences and proficiency in a second language. All majors are structured to develop oral and written communication skills as well as ethical decision making. Saint Michael s offers over 30 academic majors and an Honors Program. In 2003, the College was granted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, one of only four Catholic colleges and universities in New England to receive this distinction. It also offers graduate degrees in Clinical Psychology, Education, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. The average class size is 19, and the College s student/faculty ratio of 11:1 allows faculty to be very student centered, setting high academic standards while offering a great deal of support. A concerted effort to expand experiential learning has given students a way to gain hands-on experience within their academic disciplines and beyond. A prime example includes faculty-mentored student research, which provides opportunities for students to conduct important research and publish and present their findings. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 6

7 STRATEGIC PLANNING The College s most recent strategic plan, Vision 2020, brings to life the mission and vision of the institution in light of current and anticipated challenges and opportunities. It extends the goals of earlier plans that strengthened the College s national reputation and its academic program initiatives such as adding greater diversity to its course offerings, restructuring the curriculum to a four-course-per-semester model, increasing the level of academic engagement and challenge, increasing academic support, and expanding student/faculty research. Created in 2015, the current plan leveraged work that was done by a Strategic Assessment Taskforce commissioned in Made up of trustees, faculty, staff, and alumni, the taskforce provided a candid assessment of the future landscape for small, religiously affiliated, liberal arts colleges in the Northeast in light of demographic, financial, technological, and political developments. The influence of this report on strategic initiatives at the College was significant and is evidenced by the creation of the Accelerated Summer College an initiative designed to offer hybrid and online courses during summer months at a significantly reduced cost, thereby helping families while making better use of institutional resources and the latest blending of technology and teaching. Today the program offers two sessions in each of which students can take two classes, for a total of 16 possible credits. In the summer of 2017, the program had over 275 enrollments, largely made up of current students working to get ahead or catch up with their studies. Another important strategic initiative is the recent creation of the Life After College program. This is a comprehensive four-year student development program that promotes success through purposeful learning experiences beyond the classroom. The College created a new Career Education and Alumni Engagement Center to oversee delivery of the program. Work is also currently underway to launch the new Center for Teaching and Learning, which underscores the College s commitment to the success of all students at Saint Michael s. As envisioned in the strategic plan, the Center will provide faculty with a space to share evidence-based, student-centered pedagogy and to examine innovative instructional practices that support the educational goals of students. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 7

8 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., class of 1977 speaking at commencement in ASSESSMENT AND OUTCOMES The result of the College s strategic planning efforts has been a demonstrable increase in student engagement, as measured by the National Survey of Student Engagement. Currently, Saint Michael s students are comparable to students at high-performing liberal arts colleges in the level of academic challenge they feel, the degree to which they participate in enriching educational experiences, and the degree to which they experience a supportive campus community. While being held to higher academic standards, Saint Michael s students have persevered at a higher rate. First-year/sophomore retention has increased from 85 percent in 2010 to its current 89 percent. In 2016, Saint Michael s College published the results of a comprehensive outcomes study of the College s alumni who received a degree between 1950 and The study was done by Gallup and demonstrated that the College s alumni exceed their peers from other institutions in nearly all elements of well-being and workplace engagement. In addition, results revealed that the College s alumni are employed full-time for an employer at higher rates than alumni from four comparison groups. Saint Michael s alumni from 2000 to 2015 performed even better, far outpacing alumni comparison groups. The purpose of the study was to understand and seek to improve alumni outcomes. The College has received praise for this effort and the data that has resulted from it. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 8

9 STUDENT LIFE With all of its students required to live on campus, Saint Michael s boasts a strong residential and student life program. Students at Saint Michael s support some 40 student organizations devoted to academics, the arts, community involvement, and sports and fitness. A strong and active Edmundite Campus Ministry program and an extensive community service program, Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE), results in approximately 70 percent of the student body being engaged in service of some type. Saint Michael s also has its own full-service, student-staffed fire and rescue squad. The fire squad operates as a battalion of the Colchester Fire Department. In 2013, the College completed construction of the $30 million Dion Family Student Center and Quad Commons Residence Hall. The new facility also serves to connect four of the College s existing residence halls. The striking four-story facade of the Dion Center has become the new front door of the campus. To create even more residential living options, the College recently constructed a 188-bed, apartment-style residence hall. The Saint Michael s athletic program is well integrated with the central educational mission and values of the College. It sponsors NCAA Division II competition in 21 men s and women s sports. The College s NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate has been consistently above 97 percent, ranking the College first in the NE10, and among the top three positions in all of Division II. The athletic department also sponsors a strong intramural program and club teams in men s and women s rugby. Its Adventure Sports Center provides opportunities for students to participate or become skilled leaders in a variety of outdoor sports during all seasons, as well as administering a popular skiing program at a nearby resort. Approximately 25 percent of the students participate in athletics; another 40 percent participate in recreational programs. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 9

10 ENROLLMENT The College has had a long history of stable enrollments. Given demographic and economic pressures and increased competition for students desirous of a liberal arts education in the Catholic intellectual tradition, the leadership at Saint Michael s made a strategic decision to get somewhat smaller while increasing its academic profile and diversity. In the fall of 2017, the College will welcome one of the most academically talented and diverse classes in its history. It is also one of the smallest in recent times. Enrollment from outside New England has grown modestly. Transfer recruitment and enrollment is a priority for the College. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 10

11 FINANCES AND OPERATIONS The College uses a five-year budgetary planning model and has an annual operating budget of $75 million and an endowment of approximately $85 million. Although the College is in a healthy financial condition, with a long history of strong operating performance and annual surpluses, recent downward trends in enrollment have exceeded the pace of cost reductions, resulting in increased budgetary pressures. College leadership is actively engaged in developing solutions to mitigate these pressures. In 2013 Saint Michael s College joined with Middlebury and Champlain College in founding the Green Mountain Higher Education Consortium (GMHEC.org) to develop ways to reduce administrative costs and improve services that are common to the three institutions. In 2014 the Consortium announced the selection of J.P. Morgan Chase as its purchasing card service, securing better rebates for the membership. The Consortium is currently in the process of reviewing vendors for a new Enterprise Resource Planning system for the members. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 11

12 BURLINGTON Saint Michael s is located in Colchester, VT. It is just minutes from Burlington, the state s largest city, widely recognized for the quality of life it affords. With a population of about 215,000, the Burlington metro area is economically robust and offers a rich array of cultural activities and is often ranked among America s top college towns. The largest private employer is the University of Vermont Medical Center. The Burlington area is also home to Keurig Green Mountain and Ben & Jerry s as well as GlobalFoundries, Blodgett Supply, Burton Snowboards, Dealer.com, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Rhino Foods, and Seventh Generation. Both GE and General Dynamics have facilities in the area. The University of Vermont, Champlain College, and Community College of Vermont are located in Burlington, creating with Saint Michael s a student population of some 15,000 and a vibrant student life. Ideally situated between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, Saint Michael s offers its students an abundance of options for outdoor sports and recreation and opportunities for environmental education. Burlington is 3.5 hours from Boston and 90 minutes from Montreal. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 12

13 LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES THE SAINT MICHAEL S COLLEGE COMMUNITY SEEKS A PRESIDENT WHO WILL BRING CREATIVE VISION, AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, AND A DETERMINED MANAGEMENT STYLE TO ADDRESSING THE AMBITIONS AND CHALLENGES FACING THE COLLEGE. A NEW PRESIDENT SHOULD ARRIVE WITH SENSITIVITY TO SAINT MICHAEL S PAST EXPERIENCES AND TRADITIONS, A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND OBSERVE, AND AN ABILITY TO QUICKLY ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A LEADERSHIP AGENDA THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: BUILD UPON AND ADVANCE THE COLLEGE S COMMITMENT TO THE LIBERAL ARTS AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Saint Michael s College enjoys an outstanding academic reputation, a strong faculty, and talented and engaged students, and yet is eager to reach a higher level of academic distinction, becoming recognized for a strong liberal arts focus, high-quality classroom instruction, active research, strong undergraduate study-abroad programs, and community-based public service. It will be the responsibility of the President to raise the academic reputation of the College regionally, nationally, and internationally. To achieve these goals, it will be important to identify a shared academic vision with the faculty and to determine a common understanding of what makes a Saint Michael s College education distinctive and an outstanding value for students and alumni. The President must be an innovative thinker who can critically assess the College s current position, articulate a compelling shared vision for the future while ensuring academic freedom, and develop goals for the strategic implementation of that vision. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 13

14 Fr. Brian Cummings, SSE 86 director of Edmundite Campus Ministry meeting with students in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel. SUSTAIN AND STRENGTHEN SAINT MICHAEL S EDMUNDITE/CATHOLIC MISSION The focus of the Saint Michael s heritage will require that the President understand and model the values of the distinctive mission of the institution, demonstrating personal and professional integrity and a deep personal commitment to academic excellence, service, community, and personal relationships. The President must competently communicate and enliven the liberal arts mission of the institution, build on its Edmundite tradition, and advance the College s voice nationally and internationally. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 14

15 STRENGTHEN RESOURCE ACQUISITION AND ALLOCATION When building upon the existing strategic plan, it will be critical to integrate the availability of financial resources in pursuit of the plan s objectives and to identify timelines and priorities for initiatives. Two revenue streams will require the president s focus and commitment: Stimulating Philanthropy Fundraising will be a focus for the President. More specifically, the President must actively represent Saint Michael s at fundraising functions, drive College relations to secure donations and grants, launch capital campaigns, and build the endowment. The College s endowment, currently at approximately $85 million, must continue to increase in order to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students and to support the institution s future operations. The President must be a successful steward of the College s finances from both strategic and operational perspectives. Enabling Enrollment Outcomes Regardless of fundraising successes, the College will continue to be primarily dependent on tuition as the main source of revenue well into the foreseeable future. The President must be sure to maintain enrollment and retention goals and take steps to expand alternative revenue streams. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 15

16 Professor John O Meara of the College s physics faculty is an astronomer, international authority on the origins of the universe and a regular user of the world s great telescopes, including the Hubble, as well as a member of a NASA team designing the next generation of space telescopes. INSPIRE THE SAINT MICHAEL S COLLEGE COMMUNITY Open dialogue and a commitment to teaching, scholarship, and respect for the humanity of each individual will help strengthen the sense of community that the campus has long valued. By communicating clearly, collaborating effectively, and engaging in transparent decision making, the Saint Michael s College President can sustain that community feeling. The President must be willing and able to encourage widespread understanding of and even participation in major decisions affecting the College. The President must be viewed as an inspirational, forward-thinking, and entrepreneurial leader who embodies the institution s distinctive mission and works well with faculty, students, staff, alumni, the Board of Trustees, and the Burlington community. The President must also effectively articulate the heart and soul of Saint Michael s to alumni, others connected to the College, and those learning about its special place in higher education. The President must be comfortable with the intimacy and personality of a residential campus and should be visible, approachable, and a fully engaged participant in the life of the Saint Michael s College community. This personal style will be particularly important to Saint Michael s students, faculty and staff, who, although social media savvy and often communicating electronically, still value an accessible presidential presence throughout their campus and the geographic areas where alumni and parents are located. The President should be an advocate and a supporter of the College s athletic tradition, which provides a high quality, broad-based athletic and recreational experiences for almost 25 percent of the student body. The President must help our athletes to the intellectual, personal, social, moral and spiritual growth that is paramount in the process of developing the whole human person. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 16

17 FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND MODEL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS The President must be committed to strengthening a sense of inclusion and diversity on campus and have the ability to work professionally with diverse groups of people. Students, faculty, and staff are particularly supportive of maintaining an inclusive campus community. To advance the College s mission and further prepare students for a 21st-century world, efforts to reflect inclusiveness in all its forms must be a priority. Academic freedom and excellence flourish in an environment that encourages the fullest possible diversity of ideas and expression. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 17

18 LEVERAGE TRUSTEES TO STRENGTHEN A GREAT COLLEGE The Board of Trustees is deeply committed to the Saint Michael s mission, and its members are generous with their time, energy, and resources. New leadership will have the opportunity to forge a fresh partnership with the Board. Trustees want to continue an open, transparent, supportive, and collaborative relationship with the President, faculty, staff, students, and community. Such a partnership will enable the Board to continue its effective work, while allowing the President to offer the campus community an even better understanding of the Board s contributions. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 18

19 Students, alumni and faculty at a recent annual campus-wide Academic Symposium, where graduating seniors present their research and creative work. CONNECT WITH ALUMNI, BURLINGTON, THE REGION, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS Expanding the involvement that Saint Michael s has established with its alumni and surrounding neighborhood and in the Greater Burlington region is important. Developing additional partnerships with schools, government, corporations, nonprofit groups, and other colleges and universities will be mutually beneficial to Saint Michael s and the community. Extending this theme, it will be important that the President, leadership team, and faculty craft meaningful and strategic ways to incorporate national and international experiences into the academic programs and the lives of the College s students and faculty in general. We all understand that education broadens outlooks, builds an understanding of diversity and inclusiveness, adds depth and quality to the global experience, and enhances the academic and research strengths of the institution. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 19

20 THE PRESIDENT WILL DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO THE COLLEGE S MISSION AND MODEL LEADERSHIP THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE CORE VALUES WIDELY ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD, FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, SHE OR HE WILL DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO BUILD AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO STRATEGIC IDEAS AND DISPLAY THE COURAGE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. THE SEARCH COMMITTEE WELCOMES INTEREST FROM CANDIDATES FROM TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC SETTINGS AS WELL AS THOSE OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY, BUT SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT. THE PRESIDENT OF SAINT MICHAEL S COLLEGE WILL BE: An informed and engaged leader who embodies the ideals of the mission of Saint Michael s College, with an appreciation for the distinctive culture and values of the institution and the ability to articulate those ideals persuasively. A forward-thinking leader with an entrepreneurial spirit; a fresh vision; and an attitude that encourages the generation of new ideas, programs, and opportunities. A person who values teaching, learning, and scholarship; who is committed to the liberal arts and professional programs; and who will consistently reinforce the importance of the academic program at Saint Michael s. A proven fundraiser, able to stimulate a robust culture of philanthropy at Saint Michael s and generate increased contributions. A leader who focuses on students and genuinely enjoys interacting with them through participation in the life of the campus community, while also engaging enthusiastically with faculty, staff, alumni, and parents. A strategic thinker and planner who will identify existing strengths, nurture creative priorities, build consensus around future objectives, and implement appropriate change in a manner consistent with the core education goals of Saint Michael s College. A skilled communicator who collaborates effectively with alumni across multiple constituencies and settings, and who recognizes the value of promoting the College s successes in all forms of media. An inspirational leader who hires well and values, motivates, and develops talent while establishing accountability for performance. A person of intercultural competence, committed to diversity and inclusiveness in its many forms. A strong administrator capable of empowering the senior leadership team and others in support of the Saint Michael s mission. A leader with a professional presence, energy, stamina, enthusiasm, humility, and a sense of humor. A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 20

21 NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS The presidential search committee will begin a review of applications immediately and continue work until an appointment is made. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by Wednesday, September 27, 2017, and include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and five professional references with addresses and telephone numbers. References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant. Applications should be sent electronically (MS Word or PDF format) to: SMC@agbsearch.com PLEASE DIRECT NOMINATIONS AND INQUIRIES TO: Jamie Ferrare, Ph.D. Senior Consultant, AGB Search jpf@agbsearch.com For additional information and links to helpful resources, visit smcvt.edu/president-search A SEARCH FOR THE 17TH PRESIDENT 21