VICE PROVOST, STUDENT EQUITY, ACCESS, AND SUCCESS

UNIVERISTY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON

The University of Massachusetts Boston invites applications for the position of Vice Provost, Student Equity, Access, and Success (VP,SEAS). Reporting to the Provost and Vice Chancellor, the VP SEAS will have the opportunity to join UMass Boston to further its commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and community engagement. With a strong commitment to student success, UMass Boston offers a range of programs and services designed to support students throughout their academic journey, from admission to graduation. Lead by the VP, SEAS, the university's Student Equity, Access, and Success (SEAS) unit plays a critical role in this effort, providing students with access to equity-minded and inclusive resources, services, and learning opportunities that support their academic and career goals. Through its various departments and programs, including Inclusive Excellence, Pathway Programs, and Academic and Career Engagement and Success (ACES), SEAS works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to design and coordinate integrated academic and career programming that recognizes the cultural wealth and diversity of identities and experiences that comprise the UMass Boston community. As outlined in its strategic plan, UMass Boston is committed to continuing to expand and enhance its student success initiatives, recognizing the critical role that these programs play in promoting academic achievement, social mobility, and lifelong success. The VP, SEAS will take a critical role in developing and executing innovative strategies that support a diverse community of undergraduate and graduate students and further the university's mission and strategic plan. 

The VP, SEAS is responsible for leading the Student Equity, Access, and Success (SEAS) unit, which comprises the following departments and programs:

Inclusive Excellence

• Center for Academic Excellence
• Ross Center for Disability Services
• Undergraduate Studies

Pathways & Student Success Programs

• Early College
• Pathways & Multilingual Programs
• Student Support Services
• Upward Bound
• Upward Bound Math-Science
• Urban Scholars

SEAS Central

• Business Operations
• Technology Team
• Project Management
• Alpha Lambda Delta

Academic & Career Engagement & Success Center

• U54 UMB – DF/HCC Partnership
• Career Engagement and Employer Partnerships
• Academic and Career Advising

Advising Excellence

The Vice Provost will work collaboratively with the Provost, Vice Chancellors, Deans, faculty, staff, and students to design and coordinate integrated academic and career programming and services that recognize the cultural wealth and diversity of identities and experiences that comprise the UMass Boston community, with a particular emphasis on advancing equitable academic outcomes through effective retention strategies, seamless pre-collegiate and transfer pathways, cultivating a sense of belonging, aligning and coordinating academic and career advising, expanding experiential learning opportunities, offering proactive support for degree completion, and implementing data-informed and equity-minded practices.

Additional responsibilities for the next VP, SEAS include:

• Providing leadership for advancing the university's first strategic priority: Holistic Student Success, with a focus on developing and implementing innovative strategies to support student success and promote equitable academic outcomes.
• Recruiting, onboarding, and supervising associate and assistant vice provosts, the SEAS Project Manager, Technology Team, Director of AARO, and the manager of the UMB-DF/HCC Research Education Training program, with a focus on building a high-performing team that is committed to promoting student success and advancing equity.
• Ensuring administrative oversight for SEAS programs and departments, including monitoring the training and supervision of faculty and staff within the departments/programs, with a focus on promoting a commitment to equity and a culture of inclusion.
• Promoting a commitment to equity and a culture of inclusion within the SEAS unit, with a focus on ensuring that unit faculty and staff reflect and promote values of equity and inclusive excellence.
• Collaborating with campus leadership and local, regional, national, and international stakeholders to develop and sustain academic partnerships that support student success and promote equitable academic outcomes.
• Participating in and contributing to efforts to eradicate inequities and advance post-secondary success, with a focus on promoting student success and advancing equity.
• Leading and managing unit strategic planning, policy and program development, evaluation, and continuous improvement, with a focus on promoting student success and advancing equity
• Overseeing a budget of nearly $11 million, including $4.6 million in external grants, with a focus on ensuring effective stewardship of resources and promoting student success.
• Working closely with university leadership to identify new funding sources to advance the campus' student success and equity goals, with a focus on promoting student success and advancing equity.
• Leading and assisting in the preparation of grant proposals to new and existing federal, state, and local government and private funders, with a focus on promoting student success and advancing equity.

Desired Qualifications and Characteristics

The successful candidate has an earned doctorate and significant experience in leadership in managing academic advising, career services, academic support services, or relevant student services.   As an experienced and transformational leader, the VP SEAS possess organizational and operational expertise, including demonstrated evidence of effective change management, personnel development, and complex budget oversight. The next VP SEAS will be a highly strategic, visionary, and collaborative leader with the ability to architect innovative and impactful student support services within an institution that is deeply committed to its students, faculty, staff, and greater communities.   In addition, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following attributes:

• Deep knowledge of current high-impact practices in holistic academic advising, career services, student development and student success.
• Experience developing and implementing work-based learning models and/or ethnographies of work.
• Significant experience designing, implementing, and assessing high-impact services for the contemporary college student in a diverse, urban, educational setting.
• Evidenced success with implementing equity-minded practices, culturally sustaining practices and restorative justice models.
• Demonstrated personnel development and management skills, including the ability to lead teams and encourage initiative, teamwork, collaboration, and creative/innovative thinking.  Experience working in a collective bargaining environment is preferred.
• Illustrated ability to develop strategic partnerships on and off campus, and to oversee major projects from development to implementation.
• Experience with leading strategic planning and programs evaluation, including the assessment of co-curricular learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated financial management skills required, including budget development and oversight.  Experience with grant development, writing and implementation is preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, excellent presentation skills, and the ability to communicate at all levels with tact and diplomacy to achieve goals.

This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in Massachusetts. UMass Boston expects to pay within an approximate range between $205,000 and $250,000 for this position.  The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on the consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

DSG Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Jim Sirianni, PhD and Laura Bertonazzi, EdD. Express interest in this role by filling out the Talent Profile [https://www.dsgco.com/search/22546-university-of-massachusetts-boston-vice-provost-student-equity-access-and-success/] or emailing the search team directly at laura.bertonazzi@dsgco.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.