Patten University Vice President for Academic Affairs Search Profile The President of Patten University invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs. The position is the senior academic leader of the university and will be responsible for all academic matters associated with a fast growing and regionally accredited university committed to high quality postsecondary education for all. A History of Transformation The mission of Patten University is to provide high-quality, accessible, and affordable undergraduate and graduate education that integrates leadership and service to inspire students to engage in community and global transformation. Leveraging UniversityNow s (unow.com) innovative educational and financial models has allowed Patten to deliver an affordable, high-quality education for all students, both on-ground and online. The university is committed to preparing students to pursue their academic and career goals while helping them integrate social responsibility, leadership, and community service into their lives. Since its founding in 1944, Patten University has earned a reputation for thoughtfully mentoring students in the Oakland and greater San Francisco/Bay-Area communities by focusing on its values of social justice, leadership, and service. In July 2012, with the approval of the WASC Senior Commission, Patten began the transition from a non-profit, sectarian institution to a for-profit, secular institution under the umbrella of parent company UniversityNow, an innovative social venture dedicated to making a college education affordable to all qualified students. The transaction was completed on December 17, 2012, and Patten takes great pride in broadening its mission and reach, while operating a regionally accredited institution with quality and integrity. Patten University remains committed to making a college education affordable so that students can earn their degrees without acquiring the burden of debt that is so 1
common today. To do this, Patten has blended the best practices in traditional higher education with state-of-the-art technology. With an increasing emphasis on online programs, Patten has become more and more focused on helping working adults acquire the skills and knowledge they need to advance an existing career, or to change their careers entirely. The candidate chosen to lead Patten University into its next chapter will be uniquely positioned to make a major contribution to post secondary education. Patten Today Patten defines itself as a proprietary educational venture, revolutionizing the delivery of courses to guarantee affordable access to high-quality degrees. Patten is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Commission (WSCUC), and it achieved reaccreditation in 2012. It operates on a WSCUC-approved shared services model, with UniversityNow providing marketing, recruiting, HR, procurement and technical support for course development. This shared services approach allows Patten s leadership and faculty to fully focus on the academic operations of the university, and it is a very strategic, efficient approach to delivering a high quality experience to its students. Within this framework, Patten has become an even more student-centered enterprise, focused on providing high quality, affordable educational opportunities to adult learners. We are ready to welcome the next academic leader who will embrace our rich history and help lead us into the future. Patten s Unique Model Patten s leadership and Board of Trustees made a few noteworthy strategic decisions. First, they voluntarily left Title IV Federal Financial Aid so that university could develop a self-paced model that was better suited for working adults. They have also opted out of athletics and other expensive co-curricular activities that define the social experience for traditional students, but have little relevance to nontraditional and working adult learners. This allows Patten University to be an efficient, focused, and a low-cost quality provider. 2
At the heart of the new direction, Patten developed a learning platform that facilitates the rapid development of courses and a flipped delivery process that redefines the role of the faculty, eliminating the sage on the stage in favor of mentoring and coaching. Utilizing the platform, a faculty member is able to effectively engage upwards of 300 students in an online course, where the students have entered the class at different times, advancing at their own pace, taking up to 16 weeks or as little time as they wish to complete the course. The faculty member is able to monitor each student s progress, engaging the students as needed to ensure mastery of the subject matter. In addition to the faculty who are subject matter experts, each student receives a Student Advisor who provides coaching. Taken together, this innovative model allows Patten to offer quality degree programs for less than $3,000 per year. By taking advantage of employer education benefits that are often as high as the federal maximum of $5250, many Patten students are able to achieve a bachelor s or master s degree without incurring any debt. This is a game changer in higher education today. Institutional Values Patten University embraces several core cultural values. Helping students succeed and putting their interests first. Creating the highest quality programs possible as measured by student outcomes. Taking personal responsibility for, and ownership of, business and academic outcomes and insisting others do the same. Diversity/Respect: Valuing the diversity of the individuals with whom we work and respecting our differences. Valuing the diversity of the individuals with whom we work and respecting our differences. Operating as a learning organization that believes that failure and setbacks are feedback we can use to reach our goals and objectives. The VPAA is expected to understand and embrace these values and conduct him/herself in accordance with them. 3
Agenda for the VPAA Patten University is conducting a national search for an academic leader that has a vision for leading our university into the future. We are seeking a leader who has proven experience as a scholar, innovator and a educator. This chosen leader will manage all academic areas and will set the direction for the future academic agenda for Patten University. The VPAA will be expected to achieve the following: Develop the future academic plan that advances the mission of the university. As a senior leader, develop a new academic strategic plan that informs all key constituents. Effectively set the academic agenda that garners support from the Board of Trustees, faculty and other key leaders at the university as well as the parent company. Builds the future for increased program offerings for greater student outreach nationwide and internationally. Build a team of high-performing and mission-driven faculty to instruct and support students attending a rapidly growing, online, self-paced university. Oversee selection of highly qualified faculty and ensure that they are effectively trained to be faculty in the new model for delivery. Oversee the development of new courses and evaluation of their success in achieving learning outcomes. Expand the instructional team as the university enters into a more rapid growth mode. Effectively interact with operations and technology leadership to refine and implement a leading student academic success model. Refine the university s instructional model, developing key performance indicators and refining the staffing and onboarding processes for the instructional team. Embrace and improve upon how courses are developed within the shared services model. Ensure academic leadership grows and builds upon the foundation that has been established to date. 4
Oversee all vital elements of course creation, delivery and evaluation. Maintain an effective relationship with WSCUC, other regulators, and the university s board of trustees. Represent Patten on all academic matters, including preparation for scheduled site visits. Effective communicator and writer who produces quality reports, newsletters and other correspondence as needed. Assume a key role in the overall strategic planning process for the university. Protects the academic integrity of the university by maintaining the highest academic standards, and meeting all requirements of accreditation. Work effectively with the president to ensure the efficient operation of Patten University Collaboratively works with the president and other leadership to carry out the mission of the institution. Serves as an academic as well as an operational leader when necessary demonstrating an understanding of university operations. Ensuring that the interaction between Patten and the parent company is productive and as seamless as possible to improve the student experience. 5
Characteristics and Qualities of the VPAA The VPAA should be: Someone who understands and is comfortable with the role of a senior academic leader, supporting the president of an innovative educational institution; Experienced in distance and online education and a master of all matters academic, including faculty recruitment, development, evaluation and discipline of course development and delivery, and maintenance of accreditation in an atmosphere of constant change; Informed about new technology and embraces innovative technology to develop and implement new and better means to educate adult learners; An entrepreneurial spirit, willing to take calculated risks to achieve greater good; A visionary and strategic thinker, dedicated to providing affordable educational options to those who would otherwise be denied access and committed to finding practical means to implement the vision; An effective communicator who speaks and writes clearly and articulately; A corporate diplomat who finds no contradiction between advocacy and compromise and understands that in a small, but growing organization, maintaining collaborative relationship with the parent company is critical for the greatest student impact; Someone who is able to influence and work with others to attain superior educational outcomes; Someone who is seen as a leader in the higher education field; Seen as an expert in accreditation and student outcomes. One who is regularly sought out for leadership and advise outside of our university; and A person of high integrity who will ensure that we are providing the highest quality educational experience to our students. 6
THE APPLICATION PROCESS The Search Committee will begin reviewing and evaluating applications as they are received and will continue to accept and review credentials until a new Vice President for Academic Affairs is selected. Although applications will be accepted until a new Vice President for Academic Affairs is selected, candidates are advised to submit their materials by November 25, 2014 to ensure fullest consideration. Dr. Richard A. Wueste and Dr. Thomas B. Courtice of AGB Search are assisting with this search. Nominators and prospective candidates may contact them at raw@agbsearch.com, (540) 431-5131 or tbc@agbsearch.com, (614) 395-3229. Applications should be submitted electronically to PattenVPAA@agbsearch.com. 7