University of St. Thomas (TX) · 1 day ago
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Houston,TX,US
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
6+ years expUniversity of St. Thomas is seeking a Vice President for Academic Affairs who will serve as the Chief Academic Officer, reporting directly to the President. The VPAA will focus on stewardship of the University's academic mission, strategic development of academic programs, and oversight of program quality and effectiveness.
Education Management
Responsibilities
Assure that all academic programs are aligned with the University's mission and grounded in the tradition of the Basilian Fathers and that they are effectively communicated to all constituents, integrated into the work of every program, and regularly reviewed and re-affirmed as needed
Support the UST President's strategic and operational priorities, integrating these into the University's academic mission and planning processes
Guide strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of UST's academic programs in alignment with the University's strategic goals
Facilitate the conditions and relationships that support creativity, innovation, formation, and development of faculty, staff, and students
Maintain and develop the internal and external partnerships that support the achievement of the University's academic mission
Facilitate the strategic and operational effectiveness of the deans, department chairs, and faculty in alignment with the Catholic intellectual tradition
Chair the Deans' Council and facilitate its role as a leadership body responsible for stewarding the mission, strategic development of academic programs, support for innovation within and across schools and programs, and the growth and sustainability of initiatives
Collaborate with the Faculty Senate leadership, Advisory Council, and established governance structures to ensure a faculty voice and effective shared governance decision-making and accountability
Oversee processes associated with dean/department chair/director status, including recruitment, appointment, contracts orientation, performance evaluation, grievance/complaints, promotion, and tenure
Oversee processes associated with faculty status, including recruitment, appointment, contracts orientation, performance evaluation, grievance/complaints, promotion, tenure sabbaticals, leave of absence, and designation of emeritus status
Facilitate the development and implementation of plans and resource distribution for faculty engagement in scholarship fostering, in particular, scholarship and dialog that address contemporary issues in light of Church teaching, the harmony of faith and reason, and the dignity of the human person
Create, implement, and evaluate processes and procedures essential to an effective and collaborative institution of Catholic higher education
Support deans and faculty in monitoring and improving academic program quality and student learning outcomes
Collaborate with deans, faculty, staff, and colleagues in Finance, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Human Resources to develop and support programs that contribute to sustainable growth and high-quality learning outcomes
Oversee the development and orientation of deans, department chairs, and faculty in light of the Basilian heritage and the Church's teaching on higher education. Facilitate growth and enhancement of academic programs through support for sponsored research, grants, and partnerships
Serve as Dean of Graduate Studies
Provide leadership at the University level as a member of the President's Council and as liaison to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Directors and other Board committees as directed
Assure that academic program reports and proposals presented to the President and Board of Directors meet appropriate quality standards to support effective review, decision-making, and implementation of Board action
Facilitate the work of deans, administrators, department chairs, faculty, and staff in assessing and continuously improving infrastructure, resources, and operations that support academic programs
Oversee resource acquisition and budget management in a manner consistent with Catholic social teaching
Assure compliance with regulatory requirements and reporting associated with academic programs for SACSCOC and specialty accreditations
Assure that academic and faculty policies relevant to the educational mission are developed in congruence with university and regulatory requirements, reviewed and updated regularly, and distributed and communicated clearly to faculty, staff, students, and the University community
Qualification
Required
Doctoral degree, preferably a PhD in a liberal arts and sciences or professional discipline or STD (Doctorate in Sacred Theology) from an accredited institution
6-7 years of progressively increasing responsibility as a senior academic leader at the VP or dean level including demonstrated experience in accreditation, program review, curriculum design, and assessment; and a proven record of positive creative results and accomplishments
Must be an active member in good standing in the Catholic Church and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Ex Corde Ecclesiae
Familiarity with the contributions of the Catholic intellectual tradition to higher education and the Church's commitment to the harmony of faith and reason
Proven ability to inspire, collaborate and negotiate with diverse constituencies, even in resource-constrained circumstances. The individual must be able to lead and inspire the faculty to new levels of engagement to champion innovation and embrace a growth mindset while fostering the University's Catholic mission
Experienced leader with a clear, focused commitment to teaching, learning and academic excellence to promote student success
Seasoned professional with experience in governance who fosters unity and a sense of working together for the good of the University
Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in academic administration including regulations, laws, and other general related policies
Proven experience of fostering excellence in teaching and learning through the use of innovative and effective technology
Demonstrated record of fiscal responsibility and accountability
Demonstrated ability to attract, recruit, onboard and develop a strong faculty
Recognized as having an academic vision with attention to the future of higher education and emerging trends
Be highly ethical, trustworthy, credible and respectful of diverse views and opinions and as someone who is known for building consensus and being a good listener
Possess highly effective communication skills
Preferred
Practicing Catholics who will advance the mission of the school are preferred for this position
Company
University of St. Thomas (TX)
Founded in 1947 by the Basilian Fathers, the University remains Houston’s first and only Catholic university. The University of St.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Joshua Hren
Co-Founder of the MFA at the University of St. Thomas, Housto
Arthur Ortiz
Chief Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Officer (Chief SPACE Officer)
Recent News
Government Technology US
2025-08-26
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