Prospectus for the Provost Spring 2020
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Prospectus for the Provost Spring 2020 Katherine Haley, Ph.D. Haley Associates, LLC. Manchester, New Hampshire The Opportunity Franklin Pierce University seeks a Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs able to lead and support its faculty and students in a time of bold vision and purposeful action. Over the past 18 months, faculty, administrators and staff members have engaged in creative collaborations that have resulted in an academic reorganization that will better anticipate and respond to an evolving higher education landscape. Reporting directly to the President of the University, the Provost is the Chief Academic Officer of the University and is the first among equals on a highly collaborative senior administrative team. In this critical leadership role, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is integral to the University’s strategic and long-range planning process and goal achievement. The Provost’s responsibilities include the development, implementation, and assessment of new programs and the ongoing review and evaluation of programs across the curriculum. Broad collaboration and a commitment to shared governance are also significant expectations for this position. The Provost will be responsible for stewardship and allocation of budgets and resources, and will inspire and empower the faculty to maintain and improve instructional and pedagogical practices. As a result of the academic affairs reorganization, the University has established the College of Business, the College of Health and Natural Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, to integrate graduate and undergraduate programs within related disciplines rather than by degree level and location. This new structure gives prominence to our growing programs and prioritizes seamless faculty connections and curricular pathways for our students. The Provost’s direct reports include the College Deans, the Executive Dean for Assessment and Academic Affairs, the Executive Director of Professional Programs and Partnerships, the Executive Director of Institutional Research, the University Librarian, the University Registrar, the Director of the Honors Program, and the Assistant to the Provost. The successful candidate will be an academic leader who has held progressively responsible administrative roles in higher education. The candidate will have demonstrated a record of innovative leadership with excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusivity. The candidate will have extensive experience with shared governance and the ability to implement change with positive outcomes. With substantial knowledge of fiscal and resource management, candidates must be able to develop, execute, and assess the strategic and long-range goals of our complex academic organization. Experience in driving enrollment growth and program innovation and development is essential. Required credentials are an earned doctorate with a distinguished record of accomplishments and at least five to seven years as a senior academic leader. Experience with a faculty union is preferred but not required. Franklin Pierce is an accredited private university in New Hampshire that includes a 1200-acre residential campus in Rindge, N.H., as well as academic centers in Manchester, Lebanon and Portsmouth, N.H. and Goodyear, Ariz. Its 1,592 undergraduate and 514 graduate students earn degrees through the doctoral level in classroom-based and online programs. Franklin Pierce students graduate prepared for leadership positions in business, health sciences (including advanced professional credentialing in nursing, physician assistant studies and physical therapy), natural science, media and communications, behavioral science, education, and humanities. Institutional Overview Franklin Pierce College was founded in 1962 by Frank S. DiPietro, who had a vision of a “small college that fosters intimate relationships between those who learn and those who teach.” The College was formally recognized as Franklin Pierce University in 2007, reflecting the growth of undergraduate opportunities, the addition of graduate-level degrees, and the institution’s expanding national reach. Today, Franklin Pierce encompasses a broad geographic and virtual network that includes an undergraduate campus in Rindge, New Hampshire and four graduate centers in New Hampshire and Arizona. The University now includes the College of Business, the College of Health and Natural Sciences (which includes the School of Nursing), the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (which includes the School of Education), and professional programs and partnerships. Our campuses and programs share a common focus: cultivating students’ success and helping them achieve their goals within a highly personalized learning environment. Classes are intentionally small with an average student-faculty ratio of 12:1 so that students make the most of personal relationships with professors and mentors. Students have abundant opportunities to ask questions, clarify their understanding, articulate their viewpoints, and receive feedback, all of which contribute to developing the critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills so highly valued by employers. Our faculty are educators and mentors, and are consistently rated above the national average by our students on their commitment to help students discern their unique capabilities and interests. They are immersed in their fields, and are a valued source of industry and professional connections. In knowing their students on a personal basis, they are an invaluable resource in guiding students toward internships, jobs, and further education to reach their goals. As residential undergraduates, online learners, or participants in a full-time graduate program, Franklin Pierce students acquire the skills required for success in tomorrow’s workforce while cultivating the depth of knowledge embodied in a liberal education. Our Pathway programs, designed for undergraduates who aspire to enroll in one of our graduate offerings after completing their bachelor’s degree, illustrates the unified Franklin Pierce experience—for example, when undergraduates in our Health Sciences major continue on to our highly selective Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Student life is a vital part of the Franklin Pierce experience, with extensive opportunities for students to compete, excel, and lead. From our Student Government program and Environmental Club to our Fire Department volunteers, campus-based clubs and organizations reflect Franklin Pierce’s emphasis on shaping well-rounded students who understand the value of service and civic engagement. Undergraduates in our athletics programs demonstrate an impressive level of character and commitment—maintaining a high average GPA, completing thousands of hours of community service each year, and graduating prepared to succeed in their careers as conscientious team players and excellent communicators. Franklin Pierce is a NCAA Division II institution, with 24 varsity teams for men and women, and over 40 intramural programs/activities. Franklin Pierce Ravens have earned 86 NCAA Championship appearances, and our Hall of Famers include national titles, Olympians, World Cup stars, and an army of drafted professional athletes. Academics A new organization of Academic Affairs A Franklin Pierce University education is first and foremost about preparing our students for fulfilling lives and careers. We are 100% focused on helping our students find their passions and develop the skills and knowledge they need to contribute in their chosen fields. To fulfill that mission, this fall, the University has taken deliberate steps to align our academic structure to maximize learning, enhance advising, and broaden access to graduate and career opportunities for our students. Students and faculty are reaping the benefits of a new organization that groups faculty, programs and majors in colleges of related disciplines. The College of Business, College of Health and Natural Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences give prominence to our growing programs. Graduate and undergraduate faculties are seamlessly connected to help students progress from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s or doctorate in their field in affordable, time-efficient pathways, and find internship, research and career opportunities at every stage of their journey. Professional programs and partnerships serve as a responsive hub for workforce development and online and certification programs, as well as development of new programs and delivery methods that enhance academic offerings in the three Colleges. The catalyst for the reorganization was our students. More and more of our undergraduates are interested in pursuing their graduate degrees at Franklin Pierce. Under the new structure, both graduate and undergraduate faculty report to the same dean, creating synergies and opportunities. Also, more of our residential undergraduates are opting to take some of their courses online, so we have streamlined the integration of online and on-site programs. We expect the new structure to encourage faculty collaboration that will result in dynamic program development. A Franklin Pierce education integrates academic instruction with meaningful experiential learning through internships, clinical rotations, capstone projects, and concurrent work experience. Franklin Pierce partners with a wide variety of organizations, from local