The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is the Chief Academic Officer of the TBR system and provides vision, leadership and direction to advance the system’s academic enterprise. VCAA works collaboratively with other system office executive team members and provides oversight and leadership to the employees of the Academic Affairs office. The Academic Affairs office resides within the TBR Policy & Strategy division that also encompasses Student Success, Organizational Effectiveness, and Research and Data. In addition, the VCAA manages collaborative relationships regarding academic matters with system academic officers and faculty.

Leadership responsibilities include: academic strategic planning, TN eCampus, new degree program evaluation and approval, policies related to academic affairs, system level review of faculty tenure and promotion, monitoring college and program accreditation status and compliance with accreditation standards, quality improvement, articulation and transfer, general education, faculty professional and leadership development, program review, Academic Audit, Quality Assurance Funding, Learning Support, K-12 initiatives, and Centers of Emphasis.

This position will have the opportunity to work remotely but with periodic visits to the TBR System Office (Nashville, TN).

Responsibilities:

Providing leadership with a focus on advocacy, empowerment, and a vision for academic initiatives across the TBR System including; new degree program approval; approval of changes to existing programs; review and collection of campus tenure and promotion recommendations, strategic planning, assessment and accreditation (SACS, COE, NCATE, ABET, AACSB, and others), quality improvement, articulation and transfer, program review, Academic Audit, Quality Assurance Funding, K-12 initiatives, and Centers of Emphasis.

Overseeing development, revision, and implementation of TBR policies, legislation and THEC policies related to academic affairs.

Promoting TBR to stakeholder groups through personal interactions and presentations with the Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, other Tennessee public and private institutions and systems, Board of Regents members, state governmental commissioners, campus presidents, and chief academic officers.

Coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the performance of Academic Affairs staff and direct reports and assure that all Academic Affairs responsibilities and functions are capably addressed.

The Vice Chancellor will also provide assistance to the Executive Vice Chancellor, as needed, on other senior-level projects and initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Commitment and desire to serve faculty and students.
• Effective at balancing, supporting, and integrating academic affairs across two sectors: Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and Community Colleges.
• Ability to lead and empower people.
• An inclusive and collaborative decision-making approach.
• Creativity and innovation in the approach to improving pedagogy and student achievement.
• A commitment to diversity and equity.
• Lead the development of an academic strategic plan within the context of the TBR Strategic Plan.
• Appreciation for and commitment to being part of the larger Policy & Strategy unit within TBR that encompasses Academic Affairs, Student Success, Organizational Effectiveness, Research and Data.
• Familiarity with serving student populations as those that TBR serves as an Open Access system.
• Committed to the TBR mission and vision.
• Committed to embracing TBR values and priorities, such as:
  • Drive to 55 and the completion agenda;
  • Ensuring open access to serve all Tennesseans;
  • Innovative Learning Support models;
  • Increasing student diversity and ensuring equity;
  • Connecting research/data with innovation and intervention to drive change to improve student success;
  • Strengthening workforce development connections;
  • Enhancing student transfer opportunities;
  • Serving students of all academic, financial, and demographic backgrounds;
  • Embracing data and analytic insights to drive change and innovation.
• Appreciation for balancing unique institutional mission, profile, and autonomy with responsibilities of being part of a 40-college system.
• An understanding of how innovation can be a product of incremental or punctuated change.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned Doctorate or terminal degree
• 10 years of related experience in progressively responsible positions
• Demonstrated intellectual vision and managerial acumen necessary to the operation of the academic enterprise of a higher education system.
• Evidence of meaningful and progressive academic leadership, administration, or other relevant experience;
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs and concerns of administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
• Demonstrated success in communicating and working with a wide variety of constituencies. (e.g., Board members, Chancellor, presidents, faculty, staff, students and other campus personnel).
• Supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in new degree program approval; approval of changes to existing programs; assessment and accreditation (SACS, COE, NCATE, ABET, AACSB, and others), quality improvement, articulation and transfer, general education,  faculty and leadership development