Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

The University of Wisconsin-Madison invites nominations and applications for an innovative leader to serve as the next provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. This position provides an opportunity to be the top academic leader of one of the most research-active, student-committed universities in the nation.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is distinctive in its scale and breadth, the premium we place on our relevance to society, and our commitment to fostering a community where students, staff and faculty with a broad range of experiences, identities, and viewpoints can reach their potential and contribute to our state, nation and the world. The combination of these attributes fully equips us to address the complex problems facing the modern world.

As the chief academic officer of the university, the provost is responsible for creating and implementing the academic vision of the university in close partnership with the chancellor. The provost leads the deans from UW-Madison's schools and colleges, the Division of Continuing Studies, Extension, the International Division, and University Libraries to collaboratively advance our academic mission, focused on excellence, creativity, community and the Wisconsin Idea, and works closely with other institutional leaders and broader constituencies to build and execute a vision for the university.

To sustain a world class university, the provost must be a close collaborator with the chancellor and also work collaboratively and effectively with senior administrative officers.

The provost reports directly to the chancellor and must have the chancellor's complete trust and confidence. The provost represents the university on academic issues with internal and external constituents and acts on behalf of the chancellor when appropriate.

Build the Academic Enterprise

• The provost supervises the deans and, in consultation with the chancellor, is responsible for evaluating their performance.

• The provost plays a primary role in the recruitment and appointment of new deans. The provost provides leadership and mentoring to the deans on academic, educational, organizational, entrepreneurial, budget, and leadership issues and ensures that schools/colleges are aligned with campus strategic initiatives. Working with the chancellor, the provost has budget authority over all academic matters.

• The provost oversees several vice provosts who support the academic vision for UW-Madison. Please see https://provost.wisc.edu/leadership-and-executive-staff/ to learn more about the leadership and executive staff within the Office of the Provost.

• The provost has broad management responsibilities as they relate to faculty and staff. Most campus-wide professorships are managed by the Office of the Provost. In addition, the provost is involved with all faculty and staff disciplinary actions and oversees all appeals of institutional actions for faculty (such as tenure and promotion decisions) and the grievances and appeals of all academic staff.

• In collaboration with the vice chancellor for finance and administration, the provost leads programs designed to recruit, hire, support, and retain talented, high performing faculty and staff.

• The provost is responsible for all academic planning and compliance issues, including accreditation of programs and federal/state regulatory issues, as well as coordination with the UW System and UW System institutions.

Provide Leadership and Supervision for Key Academic Offices and Governance Structures

• The provost is responsible for managing the Office of the Provost, leading and building an excellent team, and providing effective leadership and mentoring to the staff.

• The provost chairs the University Academic Planning Council and the Campus Planning Committee on behalf of the chancellor. The provost has regular meetings and consultations with shared governance partners.

• The provost supervises and mentors campus leaders and directors responsible for several cross-campus units, including the Chazen Museum, the Division of the Arts, the UW Press, and Wisconsin Public Media.

Partner with Senior Leaders Across the University to Create a Teaching and Learning Environment that Serves the Entire Academic Community

• The provost is expected to provide direct oversight and leadership on campus-wide efforts to foster a healthy and supportive climate that enables success for all faculty, staff, and students.

• Working closely with the vice chancellor for student affairs, the provost is a central partner in promoting an excellent student experience on campus, with oversight over the academic dimensions of the student experience.

• The provost is directly engaged in the creation/dissolution/re-structuring of cross-cutting centers and institutes on campus. While campus-wide research centers typically report to the vice chancellor for research, the provost is a key partner in considering significant organizational changes and strategic investments.

Lead Academic Innovation and Growth Strategies, Including the Strategic Prioritization of Resources

• The provost works closely with the vice chancellor for finance and administration to establish a budget decision-making process for schools and colleges, as well as other major academic entities on campus.

• The provost works closely with the vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate school to coordinate budget, student, and faculty-related issues as they affect the graduate school and research enterprise.

• Jointly with the vice chancellor for finance and administration, the provost oversees UW-Madison Information Technology (DoIT) and the Office of Strategic Consulting.

Serve as a Key Representative of the University to UW System, National and Affiliated Organizations, and Advances the University's Outreach Mission through Oversight of Statewide Entities

• The provost is expected to stay abreast of issues relating to the State and to the UW System of campuses.

• The provost is expected to build relationships with key university donors and represent the university when needed at major events such as athletic contests, artistic performances, or international academic conferences held on campus.

• The provost is expected to be active in, and as appropriate, play a leadership role in professional organizations that facilitate conversations with senior academic officers from other campuses, such as Big Ten Academic Alliance, APLU, and the AAU.

University Administration - Office of the Provost

Negotiable

UW-Madison offers an excellent benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced insurance plans, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Learn more here.

Candidates must possess a record of scholarship, teaching, and experience that qualifies them for tenure and for the most senior academic leadership role at UW-Madison.

The skills needed by an effective provost include:

1. Deep knowledge of the research, teaching, and public-service missions of large public, research-intensive, land-grant universities. This includes:

• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationship with a variety of partners and constituents in an environment of shared governance;

• Experience working effectively in an environment that requires prioritization and efficient use of existing resources and strategic creation of new resources;

• Experience in managing faculty and staff grievances, complaints, and crises;

• Experience in effectively managing staff and budgets;

• The ability to build consensus in a complex organization;

• The creativity and problem-solving skills needed to address both challenges and opportunities and to drive positive change.

2. Substantial experience in higher education and the skills to create a vision for the future of large public research universities. This includes:

• Demonstrated experience in creating innovative educational programs;

• Demonstrated experience in faculty and staff hiring, retention, and professional development;

• Evidence of and commitment to fostering a healthy climate that enables success for all members of the university community;

• Evidence of and commitment to, and a record of success in, fostering diversity of background and viewpoint across an organization;

• Evidence of and commitment to, and experience creating and sustaining, an excellent student experience that includes both in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning experiences;

• Experience in working with alumni and other supporters, involving them on campus and promoting philanthropy.

3. Personal skills and values that result in effective leadership at UW-Madison. This includes:

• A collaborative approach to working with staff, faculty, and students in which everyone is treated as a respected partner;

• A commitment to fostering an environment in which students and employees, regardless of their background, their identity, or their viewpoint, can reach their full potential, and in which we recognize that diversity of all kinds - from identity to viewpoint - strengthens our ability to fulfill our mission;

• Commitment to the highest level of ethical behavior in all aspects of the job;

• Ability to get things done in a timely and effective manner, achieving measurable progress on top campus priorities and initiatives under the guidance of the Chancellor and in close collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and shared governance leaders;

• A commitment to the Wisconsin Idea and the importance of outreach and service beyond campus boundaries;

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to address complex issues with sound judgement and effective change-management strategies. Proven ability to make difficult decisions after consultation with diverse stakeholders.

PhD or equivalent terminal degree required.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in this search

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-wisconsin-madison/provost-and-vice-chancellor-academic-affairs

Tiffany Weber, Search Consultant

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.