About this role
ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.
The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs is the primary academic operational executive for the Dallas campus of Abilene Christian University, providing strategic leadership across the full portfolio of academic programs and is responsible for implementing academic policy, managing governance processes, and ensuring the day-to-day health of academic programs, faculty affairs, and registrar operations. This fully remote role reports directly to the Provost for the Dallas Campus, directs the work of college deans and program directors, and coordinates with the Vice Provost for Academic Development to collaborate on strategic direction.
Deans and program directors report directly to the Vice Provost under the general oversight of the Provost as the chief academic officer for the campus and in close coordination with operational divisions. This position requires strong institutional judgment, a systems orientation, and the credibility to represent senior academic leadership with faculty, staff, students, and partners.
Scope
The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs provides leadership and direction for the faculty, curriculum, and students in the colleges while supporting the management of a diverse portfolio of viable, market-facing, academic programs.
Necessary Criteria
As a senior academic leader, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs should hold a terminal degree and have demonstrated senior leadership experience in higher education administration, preferably at the level of academic dean, associate provost, or equivalent. The candidate must demonstrate effective leadership skills and knowledge of current practices in academic affairs and innovative program implementation. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs must advance ACU’s mission of teaching, scholarship, and service across the Dallas campus.
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Major Responsibilities
- Faculty Affairs and Performance Implementation
- Academic Administration
- Registrar and Enrollment Operations Liaison
- Strategic Project Implementation
- Operational Communications & Reporting
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Essential Duties
Faculty Affairs and Performance Implementation
In oversight and support of the deans, direct and manage processes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Manage the faculty load management process: maintain load calculator tools, track full-time faculty assignments, and flag capacity concerns to the Provost.
- Prepare faculty contract and merit documentation, including all contract processes and overload policy administration.
- Handle routine faculty correspondence on behalf of the Provost: course-related requests, scheduling conflicts, and academic policy questions.
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Academic Administration
In oversight and support of the deans, direct and manage processes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Lead the formulation and execution of multi-year academic strategic initiatives, collaborating with the Provost, Provost’s Cabinet, and Dallas campus leadership.
- Champion an inclusive, student-centered, and innovation-oriented academic culture across all Dallas campus programs and divisions.
- Manage Course Standards Committee operational processes on behalf of the Provost: agenda coordination, faculty submissions intake, tracking decisions, and communicating outcomes to deans and program directors.
- Administer the suspension appeals hearing process, coordinating with relevant faculty, staff, and student affairs to ensure timely and equitable outcomes.
- Implement academic policy directives from the Provost across the program portfolio, ensuring consistent application and follow-through.
- Track program performance data, accreditation-related documentation, and student outcomes across the academic unit.
- Oversee administration of integration and course of progress processes. Manage routine academic compliance documentation (syllabi submissions, library support memos, catalog coordination) in liaison with the registrar and academic support teams.
- Coordinate program director recruitment and onboarding, including maintaining SOPs for General Education and other curriculum areas.
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Registrar & Enrollment Operations Liaison
In oversight and support of the deans, direct and manage processes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Serve as the primary operational liaison between the Provost’s office and Registrar Operations: course builds, enrollment data, catalog updates, and student registration issues.
- Represent academic affairs in ACU’s ERP (Workday) implementation working sessions, ensuring that faculty load, curriculum, and academic foundation requirements are accurately documented and communicated.
Strategic Project Implementation
In oversight and support of the deans, direct and manage processes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Manage operational elements of external partnership and articulation agreement development (e.g., Salvation Army, community college alignment, international residency coordination).
- Prepare budget tracking reports and operational expenditure summaries for the Provost’s review.
Operational Communications & Reporting
In oversight and support of the deans, direct and manage processes including, but not limited to, the following:
- Draft and manage academic affairs correspondence on behalf of the Provost, including responses to faculty, program directors, students, and external stakeholders.
- Prepare and distribute weekly operational updates, meeting agendas, and action item summaries for the Vice Provost.
- Compile periodic productivity and progress reports across governance, faculty affairs, program development, and student support functions.
Qualifications
Proffesional
- A terminal degree is required.
- Five years of teaching or administrative experience in higher education, preferably at the level of academic dean, associate provost, or equivalent, or equivalent industry experience
- Relevant evidence of active scholarship [within Boyer’s (1996) model of scholarship], completed in the last ten years, preferred.
- Proven experience building and managing external academic partnerships, including corporate, community college, faith-based, or international relationships.
- Strong knowledge of higher education trends, accreditation standards (including SACSCOC), and best practices in academic governance.Exceptional strategic planning, policy development, and executive communication skills.
- Exceptional budget management experience and the financial acumen to make data-informed resource decisions.
- Experience teaching, designing, and developing online degree programs or coursework is preferred.
- Expertise in developing and implementing innovative interventions for improved college access for post-traditional students and/or diverse populations is preferred.
- Computer proficiencies in standard software and internet-based applications.
Personal
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, building collaborative relationships across faculty, staff, and institutional leadership.
- Ability to view and manage roles and responsibilities in relation to the larger mission, goals, and perspective of the University.
- Collaborative nature and excellent interpersonal abilities, with the ability to build consensus within cross-functional and multi-purpose teams, as well as diverse groups of people.
- Outstanding organizational and project management skills with the ability to consistently meet deadlines.
- Highly self-motivated and problem-solver, asking for input and initiating solutions as appropriate and reasonable.
- Ability to consistently make sound decisions and exercise good judgment in a variety of circumstances.
- A commitment to fostering an inclusive, mission-aligned, and student-centered academic community.
Physical Demands
- The majority of work is performed in front of a computer and on the telephone; must have the ability to use the computer and remain stationary for long periods of time.
- Manage conversations in person, online, and by telephone.
- Limited travel – locations vary, and some overnight travel may be necessary.
- Work well under pressure and manage stress well.
- Communicate clearly: speak, read, write, and hear clearly to perform essential functions.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.
ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.