University of Minnesota Rochester
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life
The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) seeks a visionary, strategic and innovative leader to serve as its next associate or assistant vice chancellor (AVC) for Student Life. The AVC reports to the chancellor and will join UMR at an exciting time, working to drive practices that sustain equitable student success and to implement strategies that contribute to the progress, growth, and vision of this distinctive, health-focused innovation campus.
Working in concert with the UMR community, the AVC for Student Life is charged with strengthening the engagement and wellbeing of UMR students and contributing to the chancellor’s leadership team as a student development expert. The AVC will model and compel UMR’s grounding values of respect, community, evidence-based decision-making, diversity and inclusion, and human potential. This new leader will operate in a collaborative environment as a coach for Student Life staff, a collaborative strategist for this growing new campus, and an activator of evidence-based practice.
Overview
The new AVC for Student Life is the campus student development leader and strategist, reporting directly to the chancellor. This campus leader works collaboratively with other members of the chancellor’s senior team (academic affairs and innovation, finance and campus resources, communication and marketing, and enrollment management) as well as directors of residential life, student wellbeing, and student engagement. As the strategist for student development at a diverse and growing campus, this new leader will have the opportunity to use evidence and imagination to shape both the current culture and the future direction of this strong, new campus.
Ongoing collaboration with the academic leadership and faculty is expected to sustain UMR’s established, integrated approach to learning and development. Additionally, the vice chancellor has responsibility for student affairs financial management and will provide budgetary oversight for Student Life operating budgets, working closely with the vice chancellor for finance and campus resources. This role provides an exciting opportunity for an experienced student affairs leader to engage in a culture of creativity and collaboration, serving as a catalyst and supporter of evidence-based student engagement and wellbeing. At the same time, the growth of the campus provides this leader with the opportunity to strengthen support and organizational structures.
As a growing campus devoted to educational innovation, we seek a visible, optimistic, and dynamic student development leader. The AVC will lead, supervise, coach, and provide strategic direction to a multi-faceted staff to increase student engagement and wellbeing and to enhance residential life. The Student Life team includes directors of residential life, student health and wellness, and student engagement with staff members and partners who support those areas (e.g., counseling, recreation, health services, disability services, intercultural programs, living learning communities, and student activities). Together, this campus leader and their team will also manage student orientation, student conduct, care reporting, biased incident response, and student Title IX issues.
Key Opportunities and Challenges
The AVC for Student Life will be a seasoned student affairs leader with proven experience in student advocacy, belonging, and wellbeing. To be successful in this work, the AVC will need to:
• Work collaboratively to advance a compelling, innovative student engagement and wellbeing vision and culture for the student-centered UMR.
• Be a visible leader, present and engaged with students and the campus community.
• Continue to advance and enhance community and belonging through innovative and impactful initiatives.
• Strengthen student engagement and wellbeing by developing student life staff who will lead, assess, and invent new ways to enhance student life.
• Promote and practice collaboration, communication, trust, and transparency.
Responsibilities
• As a student-focused leader, provide a positive, dynamic, visible presence on campus, modeling engagement, inclusion, and respect.
• Provide student development, equity, and retention leadership and expertise for the campus, working closely with other members of the chancellor’s leadership team.
• Lead and be responsible for student development staff and outcomes through strategic project management, evidence-based practice, and coordination with faculty and other relevant staff in this intentionally matrixed campus community.
• Provide oversight for student development operating budgets, working closely with the vice chancellor for finance and campus resources and the chancellor to ensure alignment with strategic priorities.
• Manage the policies and processes associated with general student conduct, care reporting for at-risk students, biased incident reports involving students, and student-related Title IX/sexual misconduct.
• Provide retention and equity expertise as a member of the campus Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the chancellor’s leadership team.
• Work collaboratively and strategically with the vice chancellor for academic affairs and innovation and faculty to ensure coordination and intentional integration of curricular and co-curricular endeavors and to contribute expertise to foundation and grant proposals that include student development elements.
• Work collaboratively with other officers of the University of Minnesota system to meet the student development objectives of the systemwide and campus-level strategic plans.
Required Qualifications
• Minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant field
• Substantial prior experience in student development leadership
• Demonstrated administrative abilities
• Ability to maintain high visibility on campus
Preferred Qualifications
• Doctoral-level academic preparation in student development theory and/or equitable practices in higher education
• Success in obtaining grant funding, especially for initiatives related to access, diversity, inclusion, and student success
• Experience in strategic planning and assessment of student development programming and efficacy
• Experience supervising or leading a team of student development professionals with a wide range of responsibilities
Starting salary range:
• $105,000–115,000 for assistant level
• $115,000–125,000 for associate level
Work arrangements: In person
Benefits: As a Professional and Administrative (P&A) employee, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with low-cost health coverage, professional development opportunities, and retirement plan with 10% employer contribution. (See our benefits page for more information.)
Please submit both a cover letter and a resume (or CV) by January 15, 2025. Applications without both documents will not be reviewed.
Apply here
For questions or nominations, please contact Jennifer Erickson ([email protected]).
An Equal Opportunity Employer
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.