Opportunity and Challenge Profile Search for the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Engagement San Francisco, California The (USF), a private, Catholic, Jesuit research university, seeks a collaborative and innovative leader to assume the position of Assistant Vice Provost for Student Engagement (AVP). Reporting directly to the Vice Provost for Student Life, the AVP will serve a pivotal role in assisting the University to enhance student learning, development, engagement, leadership, and success. In collaboration with colleagues across campus, the AVP will have the opportunity to leverage USF s vision, mission, history, and location to provide a holistic and engaged experience for all students. USF is recognized nationally and internationally for its tremendously diverse student and faculty population and its global perspective. Established as San Francisco s first institution of higher education in 1855, USF is deeply embedded in the intellectual, spiritual, economic, and cultural life of one of the most innovative, diverse, and dynamic cities in the world. The University s focus on social justice, educating the whole person, discernment, and changing the world creates an environment that embraces the development of students and care for individuals in an increasingly diverse and complex landscape. USF presently serves over 10,800 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in Arts and Sciences, Education, Law, Management, and Nursing and Health Professions and has 1,033 faculty members including 474 full-time faculty, 1,029 staff, and an operating budget of over $400 million. The AVP will be joining the Core Leadership Team of the Student Life division at an exciting time of regeneration. Many members of the leadership team are new, and the team is developing a divisional strategy to better engage all students and enhance student success at USF. The AVP will play a vital role in helping to shape new strategy as the team member responsible for the overall vision, leadership, direction, coordination of programs and services, assessment, evaluation, and planning for campus engagement, cultural centers, orientation and family programs, student leadership and engagement, and graduate student engagement. Furthermore, like many universities around the country, USF students are engaging in thoughtful conversations around diversity, inclusion, and social justice on campus. The AVP will find new ways to better leverage the many facets of the Student Engagement unit to encourage healthy dialogues while also tending to the many ways students can participate and be involved. To be successful, the AVP will effectively address the following opportunities and challenges: Create a shared understanding for student engagement rooted in social justice and a diverse urban environment Be a visible champion for student engagement and advocacy Build out a comprehensive and inclusive orientation and first year experience that invigorates student engagement early in their USF experience and throughout their time at USF Leverage university-wide partnerships to enhance student engagement across campus Inspire the Student Engagement team and manage resources effectively A list of the desired qualifications and characteristics of the AVP can be found at the conclusion of this document, which was prepared by the search committee with the assistance of, a national
executive search firm, to provide background information and detail the key opportunities and challenges related to the position. All confidential applications, inquiries, and nominations should be directed to the parties listed at the conclusion of this document. About USF distinguishes itself as a diverse, socially responsible learning community of high quality scholarship and academic rigor, sustained by a faith that does justice. The University draws from the cultural, intellectual, and economic resources of the San Francisco Bay Area and the global perspective it brings to bear on its educational programs. The University offers over 100 degree programs and more than 70 majors, minors, and concentrations. Academics at USF are driven by a focus on intellectual rigor, innovation, and transformative learning experiences. The University is of sufficient size and breadth to offer excellence in teaching, applied research, and service, and a highly personal student experience thanks to its 15:1 student to faculty ratio. USF students share the University s commitment to service and social justice: last year they engaged in more than 600,000 hours of community service work. USF s faculty is diverse, talented, and productive, winning more national awards and grants than at any other time in the University s history. The University highly values its full-time faculty, as well as its part-time and adjunct faculty, who are integral to accomplishment of the academic mission. USF s student body of around 6,800 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students reflects the diversity of the University s surrounding community with over 30 percent of students being first-generation and 70 percent from historically underrepresented backgrounds. International students from over 60 countries comprise 17 percent of the USF student population. Undergraduate and graduate students participate in more than 100 student designed and university supported clubs and organizations. USF is home to a Greek community that provides students with additional opportunities for growth and excellence in academics, service, leadership, and friendship. Students also have access to the University s cultural centers the Gender and Sexuality Center and the Intercultural Center which serve as both physical spaces on campus for students to build community, and as homes for student-run programs that explore social issues and identity. USF s 15 Division I sports teams have won 8 national championships since 1949, including four in soccer, three in basketball, and one in tennis. USF is frequently recognized for its contribution to the common good. Forbes magazine and The Princeton Review rank USF among the top 25 most entrepreneurial campuses. USF is ranked 107th on the list of national universities in the 2017 US News and World Report and has been on the Corporation for National and Community Service s President s Honor Roll for six years in a row. Rooted in service, the university is classified as a community-engaged institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Furthermore, it is one of five universities in the nation to be honored as a 2012 Higher Education Civic Engagement Award recipient. In addition to its campus in San Francisco, USF has a long, distinguished history of providing working adults the opportunity to further their education through its branch campuses. These campuses are located in Downtown San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, San Jose, and Pleasanton and offer full services conveniently located nearby students homes and workplaces. Online degree programs are available in a growing number of fields. Page 2 of 8
About the Division of Student Life The mission of Student Life is to fully support holistic student development within a social justice framework centered in preparing students to be caring, socially responsible citizens in our global and local community. The Division includes Academic Student Services, the Koret Health and Recreation Center, Career Services, Public Safety, Dean of Students (Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Conduct, Health Promotion Services, and Graduate Student Services), Student Housing and Residential Education, and Student Engagement (Student Leadership and Engagement and the Cultural Centers). The Division reports to the Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs through the Vice Provost of Student Life. Julie Orio was named the Vice Provost of Student Life in July 2016 after having served as the interim since August 2015. Prior to that, Julie was Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Student Development from 2012-2015. Julie is in the process of continuing to build out her team, having recently hired a new Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students as well as a new Senior Director of Student Housing and Residential Education. Other members of her team include the Director of Finance and Operations, the Director of Public Safety, the Senior Director of Career Services, the Senior Director of Koret, the (Interim) Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Academic Support Services, and this AVP role. Julie has been actively evaluating the work of the division to more effectively lead the division into the future. About the Student Engagement Area The AVP oversees two distinct departments, Student Leadership and Engagement and the Cultural Centers. The AVP also oversees New Student Orientation and Family Programs and assists with USF101 and the placement of students in the Higher Education & Student Affairs Master s Program in internships. The Student Leadership and Engagement department provides programs and services that support students leadership development and promote student engagement in co-curricular activities. The department is responsible for student leadership programs, student activities and events, Associated Students of (ASUSF), Associated Graduate Students of the University of San Francisco (AGSUSF), fraternities and sororities, and other student organizations. Overseen by two full-time Co-Directors, the Cultural Centers at USF represent a brave space for all students to engage in dialogue and serve historically marginalized communities on campus. The Cultural Centers are comprised of the Gender and Sexuality Center and the Intercultural Center and serve as both physical spaces on campus where students build community, as well as outlets for student-run programs that explore social issues and identity. The Intercultural Center more specifically explores race, ethnicity, class, and culture-based topics on campus. The Gender and Sexuality Center explores gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, healthy relationships, and sexual violence prevention on campus through dialogues and workshops. The Cultural Centers are always seeking new opportunities to collaborate effectively across campus. New Student Orientation is a university-wide effort to welcome and transition first-year and transfer students to the USF community. The AVP, with support from the Assistant Director for Orientation Programs, coordinates the planning and implementation of the Orientation and Welcome Weekend experience in collaboration with Strategic Enrollment Management, the academic colleges, and other campus entities. This focus area includes support for parent and family weekend and other new student and family programs. Page 3 of 8
USF101 is a 1-unit course designed for first-semester undergraduate students new to USF s Hilltop campus (the main campus where all undergraduate and many graduate students attend class). Students enrolled in USF101 meet weekly, engaging with an instructor, a peer mentor, and each other to explore their new environment and chart their four-year college journey. This class helps orient students to USF s Jesuit mission and campus community. It also provides the resources to navigate the University s academic requirements and resources to begin to map their individual pathways to graduation. Topics covered include reading, reflecting, discussion, and engaging in activities with classmates and other members of the USF community. In coordination with USF101 faculty and staff across campus, the AVP is involved in shepherding this pilot program. The Higher Education & Student Affairs Master s Program (HESA) combines a rigorous academic curriculum with practicum experiences in various areas of student life. HESA offers over 20 masters and doctoral programs and each HESA student is connected to internship and practicum opportunities at USF or other Bay Area institutions. As part of their learning experience, they work in a student affairs division in a position that reflects their professional interests. These hands-on experiences and networking opportunities helped HESA s last graduating cohort achieve 100% job placement in relevant student affairs positions. While the AVP does not oversee the academic program, the AVP is responsible for coordinating the internship and practicum placements as well as continuing to cultivate partnerships with on- and off- campus locations for future placements. Role of the AVP for Student Engagement Reporting to the Vice Provost of Student Life and serving as a key member of the leadership team called the Student Life Core Team, the AVP will lead divisional efforts for engaging all students in the USF experience. The AVP will work in close collaboration with other members of the Student Life Core Team to find new ways to engage USF s diverse student body while also proactively tending to the wellbeing of students in a well-coordinated and effective manner. The AVP will need to be a visible and trusted leader who students can turn to for support and guidance. The AVP will also continually evaluate existing programs to ensure the appropriate programming to encourage the development of students as healthy and socially responsible adults. The AVP will collaborate with the Student Life Core Team to continue to create new leadership and intercultural competence opportunities to support student learning and development in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. The AVP s office includes the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, the Co-Directors of the Cultural Centers, the Assistant Director for Orientation Programs, and one Program Manager, with a total full-time staff of 10. The office also includes a number of graduate interns. The AVP also oversees an operating budget of approximately $1.7 million and approximately $2 million in restricted student club funds. Key Opportunities and Challenges for the AVP for Student Engagement It is an exciting time to be joining Student Life at USF as there is a palpable sense of energy around a new strategy for the areas that this AVP will assist in crafting and executing. This will be a great opportunity to bring new ideas while also having the opportunity to innovate with a new team around how to better engage USF students. The AVP will evaluate current programming and think critically about how best to facilitate the USF experience to foster student success and a sense of belonging at USF. The AVP will find new ways to integrate the work of the AVP role with the goals and efforts of the Student Life division to help achieve the broader university vision, mission, and strategy around student success and maximize the development of students from all backgrounds and at every level in their education. To be Page 4 of 8
successful in this dynamic environment, the AVP will need to be visible; student-centered; a collaborative leader with a thorough understanding of best practices in student affairs; have the ability to work with a diverse and active student body; and have a deep passion for students. In doing so, the AVP will address the following opportunities and challenges: Create a shared understanding for student engagement rooted in social justice and a diverse urban environment. The next AVP will play a key role in creating and facilitating a common vision for student engagement that meaningfully engages USF s diverse student body, leverages the campus s urban environment and highlights USF s commitment to social justice. Working closely with the Student Life Core Team and colleagues across campus, the AVP will create a more comprehensive student engagement experience that responds to varying student interests and responds to the unique needs of historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. The AVP will foster an environment in which students are not only exposed to the many engagement options at USF, but also compelled to get involved in academic and student life on campus. This will include identifying, evaluating, and promoting programs and activities that support the retention and persistence of a diverse student population that includes first-generation, international, transfer students, commuter, and graduate and professional students. The AVP will use metrics to measure success and adapt strategies appropriately to help ensure a holistic student experience for all students. USF is immersed in the dynamic and urban back drop of San Francisco, which provides a plethora of opportunities for students off campus. The next AVP will embrace this challenge as an opportunity to find new ways to leverage the San Francisco urban environment to enhance the USF experience and coalesce these experiences in a mutually inclusive manner for improved student engagement. Be a visible champion for student engagement and advocacy For this AVP to be successful, it will be paramount that this individual be seen as an accessible and approachable figure on campus and a strong advocate for students. The AVP will need to reach out and build strong relationships with all students, not only those engaged with Student Life activities, to earn and maintain their trust and respect. In doing so, it will be important for the AVP to maintain a fine balance between supporting student autonomy and educating students on the expectations, values, and Jesuit, Catholic mission of the University. Social activism is welcomed at USF and many students participate in demonstrations and other displays of activism for social justice and other causes. Jesuit education is built on a commitment to explore, engage, and improve the world and USF students embody this through their willingness to engage in tough conversations. The AVP will support students in these efforts by educating them on how best to get their voices heard, keeping them informed about University policies to ensure their safety, and serving as their voice to administration when needed. Build out a comprehensive and inclusive orientation and first year experience that invigorates student engagement early in their USF experience and throughout their time at USF Orientation is a crucial time for students to connect to USF. While current orientation programming involves an intense couple of days involving many support services across the University, more can be done for students to help them find their niche early on in their USF career and to give them a better understanding of the many engagement opportunities at USF. The AVP will evaluate the current program and strategize new ways to collaborate with partners across campus, as well as the Student Life Core Team, for a more intentional and thoughtful arrival and introduction to the University, with the ultimate Page 5 of 8
goal of proactively responding to the various interests and needs of a diverse student body. The AVP will ensure that the needs of students coming in from different backgrounds, such as veterans, transfer students, graduate students, or first generation students are attended to in the introduction to campus. The AVP will also have the opportunity to help shape the first-year experience. There are many discussions happening on campus around how to best leverage USF s many resources to ensure the success of first year students, and the campus will be turning to this AVP to help create and solidify the strategy. A strong orientation will be a good launching point, but many deliberate student success and engagement efforts fade after the first couple of weeks of school. USF 101 was created to help fill this gap, but the course is voluntary and still in pilot stages so only a couple hundred students enroll. The AVP will be expected to continue to build out this course by collaborating with various departments, faculty, and staff, but also find new ways to continue to engage first-year students to foster their persistence as well as to ensure they thrive personally and professionally at USF. To be successful, the AVP will be well-informed about current trends and best practices in orientation and first-year experience programs for future program development and evaluation. Leverage university-wide partnerships to enhance student engagement across campus As there are a number of ways to improve student engagement at USF, the AVP will only be successful through collaboration and a robust team effort. Student engagement intersects across the campus in a variety of forms, and it will be vital for the AVP to build strong connections with the various offices across the University to explore opportunities for collaboration and cohesiveness for a more holistic approach to serving the whole student. This will include collaborations from as early as admission yield events, to a good hand-off from the admissions office for orientation, and then collaborations throughout students academic tenure to graduation, working closely with faculty and staff in the various administrative units and colleges to identify opportunities for student engagement. At times, the AVP will serve as the first line of contact for students due to the high visibility of this role. The AVP will be expected to respond to student needs, especially those in crisis, in a timely fashion, leveraging colleagues in Student Life and across the University in these efforts. It will be important that the AVP identify and evaluate their needs early and in a timely fashion to proactively refer them to the appropriate campus resources. The AVP will continue to build relationships across campus to ensure a more seamless student support system to respond to these incidents more effectively. The AVP also serves as a thoughtful partner to ensure the success of USF101 and the HESA internship program. Working closely with USF101 and HESA faculty and staff, the AVP will identify new ways to enhance these programs to adequately supplement classroom learning and engage students in more substantive ways. Inspire the Student Engagement team and manage resources effectively Upon joining USF, the AVP will evaluate the state of affairs of the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement and the Cultural Centers as well as work in close consultation with the Student Life Core Team to set strategy for the future. This will involve setting goals but also prioritizing to ensure the thoughtful distribution of resources. With a limited budget, the AVP will be tasked with being creative but also prudent. This will include monitoring and tracking expenditures in the department as well as identifying new ways for investment, advocating for resources when necessary. Page 6 of 8
The AVP will be inheriting a strong and dedicated staff that is committed to USF students success and retention. The AVP will be expected to engage the team in strategic discussions around how best to leverage their expertise for improved student engagement while also inspiring them for the future. Whenever possible, the AVP will find new opportunities to invest in the professional development of staff. Qualifications and Characteristics The University seeks a proven leader in the field, with a minimum of five years of senior-level management experience in leadership and engagement, orientation development and programming, and/or cross cultural/lgbtq/women and gender centers programming. An earned doctorate in higher education administration, college student services administration or related field is preferred. A Master s degree is required. The ideal candidate will have most of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics: Commitment to the ideals and values inherent in Catholic, Jesuit education, and an ability and willingness to be an advocate for them; Leadership experience demonstrated by creating cross-campus partnerships and collaborations with other colleagues; Proven knowledge of student development theories; Proven experience and a continuing commitment to foster and strengthen an inclusive and diverse campus community that supports academic achievement of all students; Demonstrated expertise in student programming and leadership development and training, including the design, coordination, and evaluation of educationally purposeful activities and leadership programs; A thorough understanding of current trends in student affairs administration; Experience in program planning, implementation, and administration, including management of budgets and personnel; Familiarity with the needs and concerns of international students; Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing; Knowledge of the histories, theories, and practice of multiculturalism, multicultural student development and student leadership development; Knowledge and experience of the methodologies used to enhance students academic and personal development, such as collaborative and student-centered teaching/learning models, small group facilitation, coaching, mentoring, and advocacy; Knowledge of trends and issues facing students from low-income, underrepresented, multiracial, multiethnic, mixed-race, mixed-ethnic, immigrant, refugee, disability, women and transgender communities and/or lgbtqia+_ backgrounds. Demonstrated ability to partner with various university stakeholders to build effective bridges to ensure a superlative student experience; and A strong personal orientation toward collaboration, teamwork, transparency, accessibility, accountability and delegation. Location The position is located in San Francisco, California. San Francisco is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, ranking 35th out of the 100 most visited cities worldwide. It is renowned for its cool summers, Page 7 of 8
fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz Island, and its Chinatown, among many other attractions. The city is also a primary banking and finance center, with more than 30 international financial institutions. San Francisco ranks 18th in the world's top-producing cities and 12th in the top twenty global financial centers. USF was San Francisco s first university and the city provides USF students with an extended classroom interning and volunteering from City Hall to Fortune 500 companies to Silicon Valley startups; serving schools and nonprofits; immersing themselves in the art, culture, adventure, and natural beauty of the City by the Bay Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, resumes with cover letters should be submitted via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/6223. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged. Julie Filizetti, Lindsay Gold, and Nate Brewer 1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94111 Phone: 415.655.4900 Fax: 415.655.4905 The is a Jesuit Catholic University founded in 1855 to educate leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to work in a culturally diverse environment and to contribute to the mission of the University. USF is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request. Page 8 of 8