Vice Provost for Student Affairs/Dean of Students
University of Missouri – Kansas City

The University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMKC), the largest comprehensive research university in the Kansas City metropolitan area and one of four universities of the University of Missouri System, seeks an innovative and strategic leader to serve as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs (VPSA) and Dean of Students.  The university seeks a leader with the vision, experience and energy to effectively lead the division’s support of current students as well as position it to meet the needs of UMKC’s future students.    

Reporting directly to the Provost, the VPSA/Dean of Students provides stewardship, vision and strategic direction for the Division of Student Affairs and serves as a key member of the Provost’s leadership team. The VPSA/Dean of Students provides direction in long-range planning for each of the Division of Student Affairs departments including personnel supervision and evaluation, budget planning and oversight, assessment, facility planning, service excellence, crisis management, and collaboration with other units, faculty and staff. This position must continuously re-examine the priorities and effectiveness of the various units in accordance with UMKC’s strategic plan, the recommendations and outcomes of UMKC Forward, and align with the university’s overall mission.

The VPSA/Dean of Students represents, advocates for, and relays undergraduate, graduate and professional student concerns to senior leadership; ensures that UMKC’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 reporting relationship to the Provost underscores a commitment to a partnership among faculty affairs, enrollment management, and student affairs that will focus on policies and practices to enhance student success and persistence to graduation. The offices/departments reporting to the VPSA/ Dean of Students are: Counseling, Health, and Disability Services, Multicultural Student Affairs, Office of Student Involvement, Residential Life, Student Conduct and Civility, Student Unions and Auxiliary Services, Student Veteran Support Services, Campus Recreation, the Women’s Center and all of their respective component programs and services.

Minimum Qualifications

A Master's degree in a relevant area and 10 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired OR a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area and 12 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Personnel, Education or other directly related field
• Five (5) or more years of experience supervising one or more areas within a division of student affairs portfolio
• Demonstrated understanding of the diverse backgrounds and needs of students in an urban serving university

Confidential applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Review of applications will begin immediately. For full consideration, applicant material should be provided by March 31, 2021.

Candidates should include a cover letter outlining leadership qualifications as well as a detailed curriculum vitae. Later in the search process contact information for references and additional information may be requested. Candidates will be notified before references are contacted.

Partnering with the school and UMKC in the search is Tim McIntosh, Director of Recruitment for the University of Missouri System. Inquiries can be sent to umhrexecutivesearch@umsystem.edu.

The full position profile can be found on the search webpage: https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/tmr/umkc-vice-provost-student-affairsdean-students-search

The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive community of faculty, staff, and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal of collaboration and inclusion, and value the many unique qualities and experiences a diverse environment offers. The University will recruit and employ qualified personnel and will provide equal opportunities during employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status