Gonzaga University

Gonzaga University | 502 East Boone Avenue | Spokane, WA 99258-0102 | (800) 986.9585

Academic Vice President

Gonzaga University, a Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic university located in Spokane, Washington, seeks an Academic Vice President who will provide strategic leadership, direction, and policy formation for the university's six major academic divisions: The College of Arts and Sciences, The School of Business Administration, The School of Education, The School of Engineering and Applied Science, The School of Law, and The School of Professional Studies. The Academic Vice President also supervises the Deans of Admissions and University Libraries, and the Directors of Student Academic Services, Studies Abroad, and the University Registrar. Furthermore, he or she will guide faculty, students, and academic administrators in integrating faith, service, justice, ethics, and leadership into a vibrant learning community.

The University: One of the 28 Jesuit universities in the United States, Gonzaga University is a private, coeducational institution founded in 1887. Gonzaga is located in the heart of the Northwest's beautiful Inland Empire, a vibrant and growing metropolitan area with a population of over 450,000. The University is Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic in its mission, and ecumenical in its faculty, staff, and student body. As Jesuit and Catholic, Gonzaga is committed to the advancement of faith and justice, instructional excellence, the centrality of scholarship, open inquiry, diversity, and innovation in learning and teaching. The University places special emphasis on maintaining a student-centered environment that promotes teaching and learning in both curricular and extra curricular settings. Gonzaga University considers its fundamental mission to be the education of men and women who will be leaders whose actions reflect a faith that promotes justice, the pursuit of truth, a dedication to service, and a commitment to the common good.

Over the past eight years, Gonzaga University has experienced dynamic and rapid growth in its student body, faculty, staff, programs, facilities, and support infrastructure. Current enrollment is approximately 6,900, consisting of 4,425 full-time undergraduate students, 1,900 graduate students, and 560 law students. There are 75 undergraduate majors and programs, 23 masters' programs, a doctoral program in leadership studies, and a law degree program. Through a highly successful capital campaign, the University has recently built or remodeled a large number of facilities across its beautiful 108 acre campus. The University has consistently been ranked among the top institutions of higher learning by U.S. News and World Report, having been ranked among the top four in the West category each of the last four years. Gonzaga also is listed among Barron's best-value universities in the nation and in Princeton Review's best colleges for undergraduate education.

Responsibilities of the Academic Vice President: The Academic Vice President must demonstrate an unqualified commitment to foster, promote, enhance and maintain the Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic character of the University as expressed in its vision, mission and strategic plan documents. Concomitantly pursuing the University's vision, mission and strategic plans, the Academic Vice President is expected to provide creative and dynamic leadership during a time of challenges and change, to coordinate instructional operations efficiently, to encourage excellent teaching, to maintain high standards for academic excellence, to conduct objective review and evaluation of academic programs, and to support faculty scholarship and development. The Vice President is also engaged in strategic planning, fiscal decision making, and resource allocation that is supportive of the goals of the University. The applicant's leadership style should reflect an ability to listen well, and to welcome and listen to the concerns of all members of the University community. He or she should develop and support avenues required for effective faculty governance, and facilitate communication from faculty to administration, and from administration to faculty. The Academic Vice President reports directly to the President and serves on the cabinet.

Qualifications: We seek an academic leader who can advance the Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic mission of Gonzaga and draw upon its tradition of intellectual rigor, the faith that promotes justice, and the education of men and women for others in charting new academic initiatives. While there is no requirement that the successful applicant must be a Jesuit or Catholic, this senior academic officer must have an unqualified commitment to implement the mission values of the University.
All applicants should have:

an earned doctorate;
a teaching and scholarly record that would allow appointment to a tenured full professorship;
demonstrated success in administrative positions of increasing responsibility;
a strategic (broad and visionary) and integrative perspective of university administration;
a proven ability to lead and manage change in a dynamic, cross-disciplinary environment through consultative decision making;
a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, continuing professional development, and service to the University and to the community;
excellent organizational and human relations skills.

Application procedure: The search committee will begin reviewing applications October 15, 2007. The position is open until filled, yet it is recommended to submit application materials as soon as possible, preferably by November 15, 2007. Applicants will submit a letter of interest, current resume, contact information of five references, application, and the Notice of Intent form. All inquiries and applications will be completely confidential. Current employers and references will not be contacted without prior approval of the candidate. FOR A FULL POSITION DESCRIPTION AND TO APPLY: visit http://www.gonzaga.edu/employment and apply on-line. Questions? Call 509-323-5996.
Gonzaga University is a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic institution, therefore, we are interested in candidates who will advance our distinctive mission. Gonzaga University is an AA/EEO employer committed to diversity.

For more information on the University’s Vision, Mission and Strategic Plans visit http://www.gonzaga.edu/strategicplan