York College of York, Pennsylvania

Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations

Position Specification January 2021

Prepared by: Lucie Lapovsky Principal Lapovsky Consulting

The Opportunity York College of Pennsylvania (the College), a four-year private college whose founding dates from 1787 is strategically located between Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, and serves more than 4,000 students. The College is embarking on a national search to find a forward- thinking, creative, results-oriented finance expert for Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations (VPFCO) to join its senior leadership team. The College prides itself on its student- centric and high-impact approach to education, its emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement, its dedicated faculty, and its long-standing commitment to affordability and accessibility.

York College ranks among the top 100 Best Regional Universities in the North according to U.S. News and World Reports and is considered a Best Value College. The College also operates the York Country Day School (YCDS), a wholly owned affiliate of YCP, a co-ed College preparatory school dedicated to educating students in preschool through grade 12.

The VPFCO, reporting directly to the President, is the chief financial officer of the College and oversees the following functions: business office, treasury, enterprise risk management, investments, human resources, campus safety, facilities management, and auxiliary enterprises. The VPFCO interacts with the Faculty Budget and Benefits Advisory Committees and also staffs the Finance, Investment, Facilities and Audit committees of the Board of Trustees.

Mission and Vision Mission: York College prepares its graduates for productive and purposeful lives. As a diverse community of educators and learners, we provide a high-quality, private education that emphasizes personal development, close faculty/student mentoring relationships, and real- world experiences. We partner with our community for the benefit of both our students and the broader region. We strive to make this world-class, private education financially accessible.

Vision: York College will be the premier destination for students seeking an education that integrates career preparation with a strong foundation in the liberal arts and will be a catalyst for positive change in higher education and in the broader community. York College will stand apart through:

• Our Graduates, known for their readiness to compete in dynamic and competitive global environments, and for the innovative spirit they bring to their life's work; • Our Faculty, known for their expertise, engaging teaching techniques and their commitment to student success; • Our Programs, known for their academic excellence and their relevance to a world of careers; and • Our Campus and Community, known for the distinctive curricular and co-curricular experiences that support student development and our commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

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Inclusivity Statement York College of Pennsylvania aims to provide access to high-quality education. To reach our mission, we value bringing different voices together to share their strengths. In this diverse environment, when we create a sense of belonging and equity, we enrich the learning experience and better serve our local and global communities.

As such, York College: - Welcomes and recognizes diversity in all of its forms and expressions. - Encourages civil conversations across our campus to promote understanding. - Stands up against prejudice and injustice in our college community. - Advocates for the well-being and dignity of our community members. - Enables marginalized identities to be their authentic self.

Strategic Plan The College developed a strategic plan in 2016 designed to guide decisions, resource allocation and fund development. The plan is organized under these central principles: high-quality, private education that emphasizes personal development, close faculty/student mentoring relationships, real-world experiences and financial accessibility. These themes provide the focal point for institutional priorities and serve as the foundation for advancement priorities and the comprehensive campaign, which was publicly launched in October 2020.

The President, Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith arrived on July 1, 2013 as York College’s fourth President. She is passionate about preparing students with a rigorous academic foundation and the tools and resources necessary to reach their highest professional potential. She previously served as Drew University's Provost and Academic Vice President and as the Porter Professor of Physiology at Spelman College. Gunter-Smith has also held academic appointments at the George Washington University (Washington, D.C.) and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Bethesda, Maryland). For 12 years before joining Spelman, Gunter-Smith was a research scientist and science administrator at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

Gunter-Smith has served on numerous committees that address science education and the underrepresentation of minorities in science. These include review panels for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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Gunter-Smith holds a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College and a Ph.D. in Physiology from Emory University. She conducted postdoctoral studies at the School of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She has published in the areas of gastrointestinal physiology and membrane ion transport and is the recipient of grants to support science education and her research. Gunter-Smith is a graduate of the 2001 HERS Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration. In 2003-2004, she was an American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Miami working with the university's President Donna Shalala.

Location – York, PA Located in the heart of south-central Pennsylvania and just north of the Mason-Dixon Line, York is a geographic, historic, and cultural crossroads of the east coast. Forty percent of North America's population is within a four-hour drive. Interstate 83 offers easy access to Harrisburg International Airport, Route 30 (America's first highway), Interstate 95, and Interstate 76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). York is nestled between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. (two-hour drives), Baltimore, the second largest east coast port (45 minute drive), Harrisburg, the state capital, (30-minute drive), and the Delaware and Maryland shore (three hours).

A hub of industry and manufacturing with a growing arts scene, York is a perfectly sized city abundant with opportunities for connection, collaboration and professional growth. Just a York College of Pennsylvania 4 Vice President for Finance and Operations

15-minute walk from campus, you’ll find the bustling York Central Market, along with a host of boutiques and unique dining experiences. For those who want to explore, nearby cities Lancaster and Harrisburg are just a short drive away; and the Heritage Rail Trail offers a scenic tour through the Pennsylvania countryside.

York county is one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania and the fastest growing county attracting 20–35-year-olds in the state. York features a rich array of medical, manufacturing, agricultural, construction, professional, and tourism services and jobs. York has a downtown area of historic brick buildings. From the American Revolution to the Civil War, America's second Revolution, and through the industrial and high-tech revolutions, York remains a bedrock of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, currently the 16th largest economy in the world.

Academic Programs and The Faculty York College is described as the perfect-sized, cozy, and spirited school, which provides access to small classes with a focus on practicality and includes great laboratories and research opportunities at a low cost." The College offers more than 60 baccalaureate majors with the most popular being nursing, biology, education, business, psychology, sport management, criminal justice, and engineering. Master's degrees are offered in accounting, business administration, education, integrated marketing communication, leadership, music industry studies, nursing and public policy and administration, as well as a doctorate in nursing practice. All qualified students are guaranteed experience-based learning opportunities. In fact, project-based learning is something that differentiates YCP from its peer and aspirational schools.

The College has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 19. As of fall 2020, the College employed 261 full-time equivalent faculty. Of the 172 full-time faculty, 84% held a doctorate, 13% held a master’s, and 3% held another terminal degree. Full professors comprised 12% of the full-time faculty; associate professor, 41%; assistant professors, 33%; and instructors, 14%.

Enrollment, Tuition and Financial Aid The College has faced enrollment pressures over the last several years. Its undergraduate enrollment has declined from 4,004 FTE undergraduates in 2016-17 to 3,544 this past fall. York College is not unique in this situation as many of the colleges in Pennsylvania (and the region) have also faced declines in their undergraduate enrollment largely attributable to the decline in the number of high school graduates in the northeast. The situation was further exacerbated this fall due to COVID-19. In fall 2020, 58% of the new freshmen came from Pennsylvania and 23% from New Jersey. Among the full-time undergraduates, 31% are commuter students. The College has 2,418 residence hall beds; almost 60% of its undergraduates live on campus.

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The College’s graduate enrollment has been increasing with the addition of several new graduate programs, which has partially offset the decline in undergraduate students. The College has also added significant online instructional capabilities including a 100% online RN to BSN nursing program.

Academic Year 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 FTE Undergrads 4,004 3,953 3,838 3,803 3,544 FTE Graduate Students 123 126 148 153 163

Total FTE Enrollment 4,127 4,079 3,976 3,956 3,707

For fall 2020, undergraduate tuition is $19,670; the combined total of tuition, fees, and room and board are $33,390. York College’s are prices among the lowest of any private college in Pennsylvania. For this reason, York College is known for providing a top-notch, high quality education at a great value. Its freshman tuition discount rate is 41%. Almost all undergraduate students receive some institutional financial aid. Its discount rate has increased along with the increase in the tuition rate. Its graduate MBA tuition rate is $14,760.

2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 Tuition $16,970 $17,560 $18,180 $18,910 $19,670 Fees 1,810 1,870 1,920 1,976 2,030 Room & Board 10,460 10,780 11,200 11,540 11,690 Total Undergraduate Tuition & Fees $29,240 $30,210 $31,300 $32,426 $33,390

Graduate Tuition $14,310 $14,310 $14,760 $14,760 $14,760

Note: Graduate Tuition varies by program – amounts presented are for the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program.

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Student Life York College has more than 100 student clubs and organizations of various interests, sizes, and purposes. Organizations range from academic honor societies to Greek living, from drama to publishing, from exploring cultures to participating in student government. The student organizations are an integral and active part of campus life. These groups provide students with a wealth of opportunities to develop and further enhance their leadership skills and interests. The College has six fraternities and five sororities. YCP also supports WVYC, an FM 10-watt, noncommercial radio station operated completely by students under the guidance of the Department of Communication and the Arts. The station is on air seven days a week while school is in session.

In July 2020, The College joined the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference, which is in the NCAA Division III. It offers ten sports for men and 11 for women. Sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball tennis, swimming, track and field, wrestling, and volleyball. The College also offers more than 30 intramural/club sports.

Comprehensive Campaign and Fundraising YCP launched its first ever comprehensive campaign: EVOLVE: The Campaign for York College on 1 October 2020. This campaign will support the successful completion of the College’s strategic

York College of Pennsylvania 7 Vice President for Finance and Operations plan and includes fundraising initiatives focused on scholarship support, programming support, faculty support, and facility improvements central to student life.

To date, the campaign has raised almost $60 million, which exceeds its initial $50M internal goal. As a result, the College is in the process of upwardly adjusting the campaign goal. During fiscal year 2020, the College received total gifts, including new pledges, of approximately $14.4 million. Alumni participation rate has averaged 5.8% a year.

Finance and Facilities York College had operating expenditures of $104M in FY 2020. The College consistently ran operating surpluses until FY 2020 when, due to COVID-19, it ran an unrestricted operating deficit of $76,000. The College is projecting a slightly larger deficit in FY 2021 again due to COVID-19 related expenses and revenue declines. York College, including YCDS, employs 219 professional administrative staff personnel (187 FT; 32 PT) and 226 service personnel (121FT; 105 PT) to support its academic, student life, and auxiliary programs. There is no collective bargaining unit or other labor union representative on campus. At fiscal 2020 year-end, YCP's pooled investments market value was approximately $206.1 million. The college's endowment spending policy is 5% of the three-year annual moving average market value of its pooled investments. The College has an A- bond rating from Standard and Poor’s. The College has a strong balance sheet.

Over the past few years, the College has actively taken steps to reduce operating expenses to largely mitigate the enrollment decline. The College has also increased development activities and implemented admissions initiatives to increase applications and acceptances and yield while maintaining its academic standards and its relationship management-based approach to admissions.

YCP’s campus sits on 190 acres and includes 79 buildings (including 30 residence facilities and 17 academic and administration buildings) for a total of 1,752,073 square feet of space. In addition to the facilities on the campus, the College also owns a shopping center next to campus and two downtown properties - one housing the College’s Center for Community Engagement and the other Marketview Arts, home to faculty and student art studios. YCP has invested $225 million in recent facility improvements to resident halls, labs & classrooms, athletic and fitness facilities, and a performing arts center. Much of this was supported through donations and grants although the College does have $100M in outstanding debt; 65% is fixed rate. The average age of the plant is 11.9 years. The debt is primarily related to funding residence hall construction.

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Key Indicators

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

Enrollment and demand Headcount 4,039 4,305 4,317 4,415 4,503 Full-time equivalent 3,707 3,956 3,975 4,071 4,127 Freshman acceptance rate (%) 96.4 94.9 87.7 89.7 83.3 Freshman matriculation rate (%) 21.0 22.8 24.8 27.3 25.4 Undergraduates as a % of total enrollment (%) 92.8 93.8 93.8 94.5 95.2 Freshman retention (%) 77.2 81.3 76.8 80.7 78.2 Graduation rates (six years) (%) 65.0 63.0 58.5 56.3 60.0 Income statement

Adjusted operating revenue ($000s) N.A. 130,540 130,427 128,633 124,502 Adjusted operating expense ($000s) N.A. 130,616 127,048 125,043 121,717 Net operating income ($000s) N.A. (76) 3,379 3,590 2,785 Net operating margin (%) N.A. (0.06) 2.66 2.87 2.29 Change in unrestricted net assets ($000s) N.A. (3,101) 6,015 9,348 13,740 Tuition discount (%) N.A. 29.6 28.3 26.9 25.0 Tuition dependence (%) N.A. 67.9 65.8 65.8 66.2 Student dependence (%) N.A. 86.8 87.8 88.0 89.2 Endowment and investment income N.A. 4.8 5.0 4.6 4.6 dependence (%) Debt

Outstanding debt ($000s) N.A. 78,913 81,381 83,533 83,611 Proposed debt ($000s) N.A. 21,485 N.A. N.A. N.A. Total pro forma debt ($000s) N.A. 100,398 N.A. N.A. N.A. Financial resource ratios Endowment market value ($000s) N.A. 147,918 152,175 150,015 145,718 Cash and investments ($000s) N.A. 224,857 224,553 218,630 211,403 Unrestricted net assets ($000s) N.A. 310,505 313,606 307,591 298,243 Expendable resources ($000s) N.A. 200,960 201,312 195,373 189,743 Average age of plant (years) N.A. 11.9 11.5 11.1 10.8

Source: S&P Global Ratings Nov. 2, 2020

Governance The College is governed by a Board of Trustees which currently numbers 25 active members, not including non-voting emeritus members. The Board elects Trustees for renewable three-year terms. The Trustees meet three times a year and the Executive Committee of the Board meets six times a year in months when the full Board is not meeting. The Board has nine standing Committees: Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Audit Committee, Investment York College of Pennsylvania 9 Vice President for Finance and Operations

Committee, Advancement Committee, Academic and Faculty Affairs Committee, Student Life Committee, Facilities Committee, and Trusteeship Committee. The College also has two Advisory Councils: Center for Community Engagement (CCE) Advisory Council and York Country Day School (YCDS) Advisory Council.

Center for Collaborative Innovation The Center for Collaborative Innovation (CCI) and its constituent parts—the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), the York Engaged Scholars Honors Program, and the Knowledge Park—elevates the learning experience for the College students. It does so by connecting students to real-world projects, programs, and partners as they apply learning in their fields of study to key business and community problem solving. These curricular/co-curricular elements, motivated scholars, and spaces for collaborative work create a reciprocally beneficial environment for the College’s evolution and the economic and community development of the York region.

The Knowledge Park (currently in the design phase of construction) will provide an additional site on York College’s campus where high-impact pedagogies can be activated, and where students can learn by doing, while also supporting the region’s economic development. In today’s highly competitive knowledge economy, institutions that understand the importance of nurturing partnerships between higher education, industry, and community partners are at the leading edge of problem solving and innovation.

As the central physical location that will enhance York College’s opportunity to form key partnerships, the Knowledge Park will act as a learning lab for students and faculty as well as a source of innovative human and intellectual capital for industries. Embedded industry and community partners will work with students and faculty to give students experiential learning opportunities and chances to use the pedagogies developed within the CAI.

York College’s COVID-19 Operations The College successfully operated in a hyflex mode in fall 2020 and is expecting to operate that way this spring. Most of the College’s faculty and staff have been on campus as well as a majority of its students, while classes are offered both on-line and in-person.

The number of positive cases on campus remained relatively low throughout September 2020; however, a pattern of concerning cases led President Gunter-Smith to institute a “Fall break” designed to decrease the opportunity for students to gather. These restrictions, in general, advised students to minimize their interactions with others to further reduce the chance of community spread. Compliance led to a flattening in the number of cases, and York College was able to successfully complete the Fall 2020 semester with students departing before Thanksgiving to take finals remotely. The campus is planning to operate in this same manner when it begins its spring term in February.

York College received $3.2M in CARES funding from the Federal Government to help offset the lost revenue and additional expenses that it faced from the pandemic. York College of Pennsylvania 10 Vice President for Finance and Operations

The Position: Vice President for Finance and Operations York College is seeking a forward-thinking, strategic, creative, results-oriented finance expert to serve as Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations (VPFCO). This is a new position for the College developed through an administrative reorganization. The VPFCO, reporting directly to the President, will be a key member of the senior leadership team and will serve as a strategic partner for the President.

The VPFCO is the chief financial officer and oversees the following functions: business office, treasury, enterprise risk management, investments, human resources, campus safety, facilities management, and auxiliary enterprises. The VPFCO interacts with the Faculty Budget and Benefits Advisory Committees and also staffs the Finance, Investment, Facilities and Audit committees of the Board of Trustees.

Challenges and Opportunities York College presents several exciting opportunities and challenges for the next vice president of finance and campus operations. The new vice president will find a College that is on solid financial footing, but currently experiencing financial challenges due to recent enrollment declines, changes in the undergraduate/graduate enrollment mix, demographic challenges, increasing tuition discount rate, and the added financial stress related to COVID-19. YCP has created new strategies to maintain and enhance its competitive position. It is a College that is in the middle of a comprehensive campaign and is fortunate to have a relatively low tuition and discount rate for a private college. The VPFCO will face the following challenges and opportunities:

Continue to maintain a healthy financial equilibrium - The College has operated with positive bottom lines for the last several years and the FY 2020 budget was the first in many years to end in deficit. It is expected that the new vice president will insure continued positive financial results and will partner closely with the vice president for enrollment management and institutional advancement to maximize the College’s revenue streams.

Reinvision the College’s Business Model – Significant changes to the business model of the College have occurred over the last few years and the new VPFCO will need to be a key player in developing a new model that will maintain the College’s financial health moving forward. The new VP will need to be innovative, entrepreneurial and flexible as s/he works to develop the new model.

Refine the operating budget process and increase transparency - The College needs to increase clarity about how priorities are decided and how outcomes are assessed. A system for determining and measuring the return on various alternative investments needs to be incorporated into the process and defined in a way that is clear and transparent to all involved. The new vice president needs to work effectively with the board of trustees, the cabinet, and with the Faculty Budget Committee in development and monitoring of the budget. The new VPFCO needs to insure clarity over the use of the endowment, donations, and restricted funds.

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Create a strong team – With the reorganization that has resulted in this new position, the VPFCO has key positions to fill and will have the opportunity to organize the team for maximum effectiveness. The new VPFCO will need to mentor, develop and empower all of the staff in the division. Assess the adequacy of the technology supporting the work of the division – The College uses the Banner System but, as is often the case, it has not been fully implemented and does not meet all the needs of the users. In addition, the College still has paper-based processes which lend themselves to automation. These include purchasing and payroll, for example. Enhance Customer Service – The division has many functions which deal with students, faculty and staff. There is a need to increase the customer service provided by the division. Communicate Clearly to All Constituencies – It is critical that the new VPFCO be able to communicate financial information in a way that the board of trustees, senior leadership, faculty, staff, and students can understand. It is important that the new VPFCO has outstanding persuasive powers and the patience to work with all of these groups to enhance their understanding of financial issues and to get their input.

Qualifications The successful candidate will demonstrate unquestioned integrity, be an outstanding communicator, a strategic thinker and possess strong and effective interpersonal skills that engender trust and cultivate collaboration. S/he will be an exceptional financial and administrative leader with superior analytical and management skills as well as experience in the use of financial management systems and a willingness to explore new and creative opportunities for ensuring the College’s financial health. The successful candidate will be an excellent manager, be adept at managing multiple priorities simultaneously, be entrepreneurial in spirit, willing to think outside the box and take prudent risks. The new vice president will have an appreciation for the College’s close ties to its region coupled with experience creating partnerships with business and/or nonprofit organizations. S/he will understand the higher education landscape, shared governance and the challenges that higher education is currently facing. S/he will be able to understand and negotiate complex financial transactions and the ability to achieve goals using influence and negotiation skills. The successful candidate will have the fortitude to make difficult choices when necessary and the ability to convey decisions with clarity. The new VPFCO will be a human-centered, compassionate leader who will be adept at collaborating with the community.

The new vice president will be knowledgeable about the critical areas in the portfolio and will have experience working with boards of trustees. S/he will have at least ten years of progressively increasing experience in the finance area, managing a large staff with diverse responsibilities. Higher Education experience is highly desirable as well as experience in business, non-profits and/or other sectors. A bachelor’s degree is required and a CPA, MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.

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Nomination and Application Process Nominations and applications are invited for this position. Review of applications will begin immediately. Candidate material received by February 26 will be assured full consideration although recruitment will continue until an appointment is announced. Applications (including a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of four references) must be uploaded at: http://lapovsky.hiringthing.com. Lapovsky Consulting is assisting York College in this search. For nominations, questions, or additional information, please contact:

Lucie Lapovsky [email protected] 917-690-1958

York College of Pennsylvania hereby restates the established policy of nondiscrimination and equality of opportunity in all personnel matters. The College will recruit, hire, compensate, and promote staff and faculty without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, age (over 40), disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

York College is committed to building a diverse college community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

York College of Pennsylvania is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For a copy of York College's Annual Security Report, you may contact the Office of Campus Safety or visit the website: Annual Security Report

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