Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT
Full-time
Education
Posted on September 27, 2022
[C22-070]
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
New Britain, Connecticut
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) announces the search for its next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and invites applications from dynamic, innovative and transformative leaders to join our regional comprehensive public university. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary leader to join a vibrant, learning-centered community dedicated to teaching and scholarship, while also deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion.
THE UNIVERSITY
Central is the oldest public institution of higher education in Connecticut. Founded in 1849 as New Britain Normal School, Central was the first public institution of higher education in Connecticut and the sixth normal school in the nation. It was first located in what was to be New Britain's new Town Hall, which was still under construction, and which was modified and expanded to meet the needs of the school. Over the decades, the school's needs surpassed its physical space, so in 1883 it moved to a new facility, jointly funded by the City of New Britain and the State of Connecticut, overlooking Walnut Hill Park. In 1922, the school moved to its current location. In 1933, it was renamed the Teachers College of Connecticut and authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. In 1959, it became Central Connecticut State College, and in 1983, the college became Central Connecticut State University, a comprehensive regional university authorized to grant baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Since then, Central's campus has grown dramatically, and its curriculum includes baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. However, it is still an integral part of New Britain and the greater Hartford area and is a crown jewel of Connecticut public higher education.
The largest of Connecticut's regional comprehensive universities, Central enrolls 9,653 students (Fall 2021). This includes 6,071 full-time undergraduates, 1,677 part-time undergraduates, 484 full-time graduate students, and 1,421 part-time graduate students. A third of its undergraduates are students of color, the largest being Hispanic. Ninety-six percent of the students are from Connecticut. An increasingly residential campus, 46.6 percent of Central's first-year students live on campus; 17.6 percent of all undergraduates live on campus. Many of Central's students are first-generation students.
A longstanding strength of Central is its faculty. Partnered with its 416 full-time faculty are 432 part-time faculty, many of whom are practitioners in their fields and who add a breadth and depth of experience to the classroom. Central faculty members are actively engaged in research, scholarship, and other creative activity as well as the supervision of undergraduate and graduate research. At the same time, a sustained primary commitment to personalized teaching and learning permeates the campus. Many faculty members oversee internships, undergraduate research, graduate and undergraduate theses, special projects, and independent studies, and conduct faculty-led, short-term study/travel courses. Most also serve as academic advisors. A 14:1 student-faculty ratio allows for substantial individual attention. Consequently, Central provides the diversity of educational opportunities generally found only at larger institutions with the close student-faculty relations found at the best private colleges.
Central also has 489 full-time and 97 part-time administrative staff, all of whom are true partners in the educational enterprise at Central. A strong network of collective bargaining units represents nearly every constituent group of Central's faculty and staff. A collective commitment to shared governance unites faculty and staff and is a hallmark of the University.
THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Zulma R. Toro, Ph.D., began her service as the president of Central Connecticut State University in 2017. During her tenure, Dr. Toro has succeeded in creating an administration characterized by greater transparency and accountability. Her personal commitment to equity and inclusion is deep and unwavering. What is more, she listens to all voices in Central's commitment to its core values and, working with the Central community, has initiated, and sponsored a series of initiatives, planning documents, and action plans that are moving equity and inclusion issues forward. As a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion and educational opportunity overall, she's a mission-driven and student-centered administrator committed to institutional success and ensuring the progression of inclusive excellence across the University.
During her presidency, Dr. Toro has had a multitude of significant accomplishments in the following major areas: Community Engagement: enriching the cultural and intellectual vitality in the communities CCSU serves, and as a transformation partner of K-12 school systems; Development of a Campus Culture that is Welcoming and Safe for Everyone; Enabler of Social Mobility by Providing Access to Higher Education; Closing the Health Disparity Gap; Innovative Partner and a Facilitator of Success for Small and Medium Companies; Enlisted top tier experts as members of the President's Advisory Board to develop and implement the CCSU 2030 Strategic Plan – Changing Lives, Building Communities, Central to Connecticut. Additionally, Dr. Toro has successfully partnered with Connecticut Commissioner of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona (now U.S. Secretary of Education and a CCSU alumnus), to create the “NextGen” program, which addresses the state's shortage of K-12 teachers while affording students experiential learning opportunities early in their course of study at CCSU.
THE SCHOOLS
Central's four schools – the Carol A. Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; the School of Business, the School of Education and Professional Studies; and the School of Engineering, Science, and Technology – offer 140 academic programs in over 80 fields of study. All undergraduates are required to complete the same general education curriculum. Because of this, education in the liberal arts and sciences permeates and defines Central's academic program. The University also offers graduate degrees in 41 academic fields of study, including doctoral degrees in educational leadership and nurse anesthesia practice. Central offers a broad array of online courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, the University completed its decennial reaffirmation process in the fall of 2018.
Carol A. Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, named in honor of Central alumna of the Class of 1973 Carol A. Ammon, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fundamental fine arts, humanities, foreign languages, and social science disciplines. In addition, it has strong programs in communication, criminal justice and criminology, and journalism. Its faculty bear the major responsibility for teaching the general education curriculum.
School of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, finance, management and organization, management information systems, and marketing as well as an MBA and a master's in accounting. It was the first of Connecticut's regional comprehensive universities to be AACSB accredited.
School of Education and Professional Studies offers a broad range of undergraduate majors and graduate degrees in elementary and secondary education; all-level education in art, music, physical education, and technology and engineering; educational leadership and educational technology; nursing; social work; athletic training; exercise science and health promotion; and family and educational counseling, including college student development. It also offers several sixth-year certificates and a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
School of Engineering, Science, and Technology offers undergraduate majors and master's degrees in the basic life and physical sciences—biology, biochemistry, chemistry, geology, and physics—as well as mathematics and computer science. It also offers degrees in civil, electrical, mechanical engineering technology, mechanical engineering, manufacturing and construction management, electronics technology, industrial technology, manufacturing engineering technology, networking information technology, robotic and mechatronic engineering technology as well as a doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia practice. The School has a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and curricula. Bringing all the science, engineering, and technology disciplines together, the school is the only comprehensive STEM school in New England.
The Office of Graduate Studies serves as the organizational hub for the many graduate programs located in the four schools. The Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs work very closely and collaboratively with the four school Deans and their department chairs, faculty, and support staff in developing, promoting, and administering the University's expanding range of graduate offerings.
THE CAMPUS
Central's 165-acre main campus sits on the northern edge of New Britain, with easy access to major highways and Interstate 84.
In 1999, Dober, Lidsky, Craig, and Associates completed a campus master plan that analyzed the current space available and projected campus growth over the next two decades. In 2009, a detailed campus master plan for facilities renewal and expansion through 2020 was adopted with the promise of State support. Since then, the University has methodically implemented this plan and in so doing has made Central's campus highly functional, much more supportive of its core mission and student needs, and aesthetically pleasing.
In 2012, a new Engineering lab was completed. In 2013, a new $34 million Social Science Hall was built to LEED Gold standards and in 2019 was re-named Ebenezer D. Bassett Hall in commemoration of the university's first African-American graduate (Class of 1853), who became a noted educator, influential activist in the anti-slavery movement, and this nation's first African-American diplomat as the Minister Resident to Haiti. In 2014, a $10 million Athletic complex for baseball, football, soccer, and track was finalized; and in 2015, a $65 Million 600-bed Mid-Campus Residence Hall was constructed providing a beautiful new space for our students to reside. Willard-DiLoreto Hall, a $63 million renovation and expansion to connect the two buildings was completed in early 2019. Six months later, the 70,000 square foot, $25 million C.J. Huang Recreation Center opened its doors. Recently construction was completed on a 9500 square foot, $22 million renovation and expansion of Barnard Hall, a 100,000 square foot, $65 million Applied Innovation Hub, and the new Willard-DiLoreto Parking Garage. Construction of a $16 million expansion of Burritt Library is scheduled to begin soon. In total, these projects represent an impressive investment by the State of Connecticut in Central's future and a major transformation of the campus.
Central was a signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, and the University subsequently has become a leader in sustainability efforts. As a result, Central is recognized by the Princeton Review as “one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the USA and Canada.”
CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Central is a campus community focused on students and their educational development. The low student/faculty ratio allows for close interaction with faculty and individual attention to students. The average class size is 25; no classes are taught by graduate students. The faculty serve as teachers, mentors, advisers, and research partners with students.
The University offers a three-year interdisciplinary honors program to eligible students in any of the undergraduate schools. The program requires two four-credit courses per semester during the first two years and a capstone honors thesis during the junior year. All honors courses are team-taught. Honors students are eligible for a $4500 scholarship which is renewable for up to three years.
Central's students have a variety of opportunities to do individual research with the guidance of a faculty member, both during the year and over the summer. The University has an annual research day where students of all disciplines can present their research or creative activity. The University awards travel support for the best work in each academic area so that students can present their work at the national meeting of the National Council for Undergraduate Research.
Central also has a robust commitment to community service. Under the direction of the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research, the University provides a variety of service opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Options include service-learning courses, service projects, and volunteering. The Center for Community Engagement and Social Research works collaboratively with the Community Engagement Committee, a standing committee of the Faculty Senate consisting of faculty and staff committed to this work. In 2016, the Community Engagement Committee was awarded the first CT Campus Compact Campus Leadership Award in recognition of its efforts to foster more community engagement activity by CCSU faculty and students. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized Central's work by designating it a Community Engagement Institution; Central was also selected for the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Central also sponsors the Institute for the Study of Crime and Justice.
Adding to campus diversity are the University's international programs and activities supported by the George R. Muirhead Center for International Education (CIE). Founded in 1987 as a state-wide center for excellence in international education, the CIE has established a number of community and university partnerships around the globe. It also offers both short-term, faculty-led programs as well as semester- and year-long programs. The CIE is also home to the Intensive English Language Program. Central enrolls international students in both degree and non-degree programs. During the past ten years, Central has become a more residential campus. Central offers its students a full range of clubs and activities, including musical groups; academic, honorary, and special interest clubs and societies; dance and theatre groups; student government; various student-run media; campus ministry; and social fraternities and sororities. As Central has become more residential, the level of student activity has increased, making the campus more vibrant. At the same time, a large portion of Central's students are commuters, many of them balancing their academic work with family obligations and full-time employment.
Central values its commuter students, recognizes their special needs and makes every effort to integrate them into campus life. There are rich opportunities for resident and non-resident students alike to take advantage of student programming and activities so that everyone feels they are an integral part of our community. Fall 2022 saw the grand opening of CCSU's Drop-In Child Care Center which provides high quality pre-school education and enrichment programs to support the needs of our students who are also parents, while also providing experiential learning opportunities for our students focusing on early childhood education.
The Central Connecticut Blue Devils, an NCAA Division I athletics program that competes in the Northeast Conference, offers intercollegiate competition in six men's sports and eight women's sports. Central students are offered a variety of recreation, fitness, and wellness options, including 25+ intramural activities and club sports, five fitness centers across campus, and a variety of wellness and fitness classes. The past seven years have been a period of significant achievement for the Blue Devils.
NEW BRITAIN
Located nine miles southwest of Hartford, New Britain is a city of approximately 70,000. Part of the Greater Hartford area of 1.2 million residents, New Britain is centrally located in the state and is within easy reach of much of Connecticut and several of the metropolitan areas in the region. Known as “Little Poland,” 17 percent of its populations are of Polish background. New Britain is also 3 percent Asian, 13 percent Black/African American, 41 percent Hispanic/Latino, and 42 percent White, non-Hispanic.
In addition to its close proximity to Hartford, New Britain is 40 minutes from Springfield, Massachusetts, two hours from Boston, and two hours from New York City. It is also part of the Hartford-Springfield “Knowledge Corridor” and therefore, within easy driving distance of a host of private and public institutions of higher education and many cultural opportunities. The larger region provides excellent opportunities for CCSU to partner with major corporations and organizations.
PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Provost is the chief academic officer and a key partner in academic decision-making, provides leadership in all academic matters, and works collaboratively with deans, faculty, staff, and the administration to further the University's mission and vision. Reporting to President Zulma R. Toro, the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the position, the Provost will serve as a key officer for the institution and member of the president's executive committee.
The new Provost will be expected to provide leadership in a variety of areas, including learning assessment; student-success programs; general-education review; academic-program assessment planning and innovation; reaccreditation; faculty hiring and development; and creating an environment in which faculty entrepreneurship, research, and creative activity will flourish. The Provost has responsibility over numerous academic areas including Student Success; Central Access, Success, and Academics (CASA); Interdisciplinary, Multicultural, and Student Programming; and Research, Innovation, and (Strategic) Partnerships.
Required Qualifications: The ideal candidate is expected to have a strong academic background, a history of successful academic leadership, a record of collaborative decision-making, a high standard of professional integrity, and a strong sense of professional ethics. Required qualifications also include the following:
- Earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
- Ten years' progressively responsible academic experience in an institution of higher education including four (4) years at the level of dean or above;
- Distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and leadership;
- Experience with transparent planning, budgeting, and fiscal management in a complex organization;
- Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans and policies;
- Ability to develop and maintain strong internal and external relationships with faculty, staff, students, other academic institutions, as well as business, non-profit, and governmental entities;
- Commitment to collaboration with faculty and shared governance;
- Demonstrated contributions and role in improving student retention and graduation rates
- Experience in employee recruitment and retention, promotion decisions, and the ability to recruit and retain a diverse staff;
- Capacity to effectively communicate with a variety of constituency groups, both internal and external to CCSU.
- Experience working in a unionized environment;
- Experience working in a public institution of higher education;
- Successful experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts in collaboration with the university development office;
- Proven track record of establishing partnerships with student affairs;
- Commitment to building and maintaining relationships with community colleges.
- Demonstrated experience with the design and implementation of innovative programs to enhance the educational experience of students.
- Experience with various methods of course delivery to include the use of developing technology.
To begin the application process, click on the Apply button and electronically submit the following documents:
- Letter of interest addressing all the qualifications;
- Current curriculum vitae;
- Names of three current professional references with title, email addresses and telephone numbers.
The Provost is compensated at the Executive 4 salary level in accordance with the CSCU Human Resources Policies for Management and Confidential Professional Personnel. Incumbent salary is commensurate with education and experience as administered in the above noted policy. For additional information regarding compensation ranges and procedures, please select the above link.
The State of Connecticut and CCSU are proud to offer its employees competitive wages and a wide range of fringe benefits including voluntary and supplemental benefits.
Fringe benefits include personal, vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, medical, dental, and prescription plans, group life insurance, a choice of retirement plans, retirement health care, tuition waiver for employee and eligible dependents at any of the Connecticut State Universities (CCSU, Eastern, Southern or Western), as well as an array of voluntary and supplemental benefits, such as Deferred Retirement Compensation plans, Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Flexible spending accounts, long term and short term disability plans.
For more detailed information, please visit CCSU Human Resources
Incomplete applications will not be considered. E-mailed or mailed applications will not be accepted.
Please redact any personally identifiable information (i.e., Social Security number, date of birth, marital status, country of origin) from any documents submitted. Please ensure your Social Security Number is not listed on any documents submitted.
For more information, contact Anna Suski-Lenczewski at lenczewskia@ccsu.edu.
As an affirmative action employer, Central Connecticut State University actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.