Vice Provost for Student Affairs

The University of Missouri – Columbia (Mizzou), the flagship, land-grant, comprehensive research university of the University of Missouri System, seeks a Vice Provost for Student Affairs (VPSA). Reporting directly to the Provost, the VPSA is the senior student affairs officer at Mizzou and provides leadership and vision in administering a comprehensive portfolio of programs, services, and strategic initiatives that promote the learning, academic achievement, and personal development of all students (undergraduate, graduate and professional) and enhance the campus and student life experience at Mizzou. 

Founded in 1839, the University of Missouri – Columbia is a Research 1 university, land grant institution, and one of only 34 public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The state’s largest university, Mizzou offers more than 300 degrees and certificates to nearly 31,000 students and employs more than 13,000 people including 2,000 faculty. Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources and College of Veterinary Medicine are essential pillars of rural and agricultural Missouri, while its full range of professional schools and arts and science, medicine, business, law, and engineering programs are vital to the prosperity of the entire state. The University contains a robust, successful clinical and research medical enterprise, MU Health Care, the leading health care provider in Mid-Missouri, whose operations total over $1 billion. Mizzou also maintains the state’s Extension Program, providing impact in all 114 Missouri counties with access to the University's resources and expertise.

The VPSA represents and advocates for students and their concerns to senior leadership; ensures that Mizzou’s student programs and services are responsive to students’ changing needs; implements policies that promote both fair treatment of and responsible conduct by students; and fosters strong and effective collaborative relationships with a wide range of students, senior administrators, faculty, directors, staff, parents and guardians. The VPSA will supervise, manage, and evaluate the Division’s departments and leadership as well as staff responsible for finance and budget, marketing and communication, and assessment planning units. The Offices reporting to the Vice Provost are: Dean of Students; Disability Services; Residential Life; MizzouRec; and Student Health and Wellbeing and all of their component programs and services. The Vice Provost will provide leadership, direction, and supervision for these student affairs units in alignment with institutional goals and objectives, and apply knowledge of generally accepted research-based “best practices” in the various areas of Student Affairs.  Additionally, the VPSA will promote a culture of assessment and continuous improvement in the Division, make evidence-based decisions regarding campus life programs and services using assessment data on both operational effectiveness and student learning outcomes, and lead the Division of Student Affairs in working with Academic Affairs to help students integrate learning inside and outside the classroom. This is a transformational opportunity for a visionary and energetic student affairs professional with a deep commitment to inclusive excellence and partnerships with the academic programs to join the leadership team of an ambitious and student-focused Provost.  The appointment will begin in the summer of 2019.  A detailed description of the position will be available on the Witt/Kieffer website in January. 

For full consideration, application materials, including a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for five references should be submitted by March 1, 2019.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed to UMColumbiaVPSA@wittkieffer.com. The consultants supporting this search, Sheila Murphy and Jennifer Pickard may be reached through the desk of Shalonda Alleyne at 630-575-6157.  Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

The University of Missouri System is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.