Provost and Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) invites applications and nominations for the position of Provost and Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs. The Provost reports directly to the President and serves as the chief academic and student affairs officer with primary responsibilities to guide all aspects of teaching, learning, and student achievement for the multi-college statewide system.

In support of the KCTCS mission to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of Kentucky, the new Provost will join system leadership to embrace a strategic vision to create diverse and dynamic campus communities and become the Commonwealth’s primary provider of skilled talent. The Provost will play a major role in aligning services and programs to meet the needs of Kentucky's employers, coordinating closely with the Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development to implement transformational statewide and regional industry-focused training initiatives.

Established in 1998, the Kentucky Community & Technical College System is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the commonwealth’s largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. With an annual enrollment of 101,000 students, KCTCS is the state’s largest provider of workforce training, dual credit classes, and online education, serving 44 percent of the state’s public higher education undergraduates. Through partnerships with business and industry, KCTCS aligns its programs to meet the needs of local employers. The colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for students, communities, and the citizens of Kentucky, resulting in KCTCS earning the #1 spot in the nation in credentials awarded per capita by public, two-year institutions. To date, KCTCS has bettered the lives of 1.2 million Kentuckians.

The responsibilities and expectations of the Provost and Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Commitment to work closely with the KCTCS President, college presidents, and college academic and student affairs leaders to provide systemwide executive leadership, service, and support in a shared governance environment;
• Experience in leading and managing transformational change in both the academic and student arenas, including enrollment management systems, data-informed student intervention strategies, program evaluation and reinvention, innovative teaching and learning technologies, and faculty/staff development programs;
• Proven ability to foster a culture of cross-functional collaboration among academic and student affairs leaders, providing leadership to promote and sustain rigorous learning-centered environments across the system;
• A track record in developing and supporting dual credit programs, transfer frameworks, technical education pathways, workforce training, and on-line education that empower students to meet their academic, career, and personal goals;
• Demonstrated leadership across all phases of the student lifecycle―from recruitment, enrollment and retention through credential completion, university transfer, career placement, and workforce retraining―to ensuring that KCTCS offers a wide and inclusive range of services throughout the students’ educational journey;
• A passion for student success and a commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive environments for students from all backgrounds;
• Solid grounding in strategic planning, data-driven decision making, and the continuous improvement of programs and services;
• Experience in ensuring that systemwide policies and procedures governing academic and student affairs enhance the learning environment and reflect current needs and research-based best practices;
• Proven leadership in the adoption, implementation, and use of innovative and inclusive teaching and learning technologies;
• Experience in the principles and processes of accreditation, with regional, national, and specialized accrediting bodies;
• An ability to leverage established and emerging public-private partnerships (business and industry, civic and community, p-12 and higher education) to ensure KCTCS remains competitive in the changing landscape of higher education and the global economy;
• Significant executive leadership in community and/or technical colleges;
• Substantial experience in both academic and student affairs areas; and
• A doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution (required).

The requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities required of this position include but are not limited to, an ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced environment; to think critically toward communication and resolution of problems; and an ability to analyze data and provide sound recommendations based upon policy, procedure, practice, and existing regulations.

Nominations and Applications

AGB Search is assisting the Kentucky Community & Technical College System with this important search. Please direct nominations and inquiries to the AGB Search Consultants:

James McCormick, Senior Executive Search Consultant
jim.mccormick@agbsearch.com / 651-238-5188

Janice Fitzgerald, Senior Executive Search Consultant
janice.fitzgerald@agbsearch.com / 717-580-0663

Applications and nominations should be received by April 26, 2024. The application must include:

• a letter of interest (not more than three pages);
• a current résumé (or curriculum vitae);
• and the names of five professional references with each person's position, office or home address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers. References will not be contacted without prior authorization.

Nominations and applications should be sent electronically (in PDF format) to KCTCSprovost@agbsearch.com. It is anticipated that the Provost and Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs will be selected by June 2024.

The Kentucky Community & Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, gender presentation, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, or genetic information. Further, we vigilantly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit-based factor.