A SEARCH FOR THE PROVOST/DEAN OF THE FACULTY THE OPPORTUNITY

Lyon College is launching a national search for its next provost and dean of the faculty. The provost is Lyon’s chief academic officer and is administratively responsible for all academic and related programs. The provost will report to and partner with recently appointed Lyon President Joey King, at an exciting time of refocused planning, refined assessment, and renewed institutional vitality. The opportunity for new academic leadership to have a significant impact on Lyon’s educational culture is clear. The provost will be encouraged and supported by President King to assume a leadership role in assessing the need for academic change and implementing projects of improvement.

The provost will be asked to immerse her/himself in a comprehensive strategic planning process that will mobilize all campus constituencies. She/he will be responsible for aspects of the planning that deal directly with the academic program and initiatives that will enhance the success of Lyon’s undergraduate students. Moreover, the provost’s chance to contribute to a cohesive image of Lyon’s mission will be palpable early in her/his tenure. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON Working collaboratively with faculty, engaging in strategic 2 program development, and embracing change, the new provost will have the opportunity to make a measurable difference in the life of Lyon College. The provost will be invited to assume office and begin her/his work as soon after January 1, 2018, as possible.

ABOUT LYON

Lyon College is a selective undergraduate liberal arts college located in the city of Batesville (pop. 10,000) and in the foothills of the scenic Ozark Mountains. Undergraduates pursue 15 majors as well as several pre-professional programs (www.lyon. edu/academic-programs) at Lyon. Ninety-nine percent of Lyon students receive financial aid and the College offers extensive merit scholarships, need-based aid, and athletic grants (NAIA).

HISTORY Founded as College by Arkansas Presbyterians, Lyon College opened its doors in September, 1872. It was originally located on the “downtown” block now occupied by the First Presbyterian Church. The College was co-educational from the beginning and remained dedicated to a classical course of study into the early 20th century.

Lyon moved to its current campus in 1954; received accreditation in 1959; and saw significant physical expansion, as well as geographic and ethnic diversification of the student body, during the 1960s. In 1994, it adopted the name Lyon College to honor a family that had served it with distinction for more than a half- century. The College also created Arkansas’s only student-run PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON honor system in 1994. 3 ACADEMIC LIFE Lyon faculty members are highly qualified, talented scholars who regularly contribute to their fields. Full-time faculty, 95 percent of whom hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree appropriate to their field, teach almost all classes. A student- faculty ratio of 14:1 ensures personalized attention for students and high quality instruction. Fourteen Lyon professors have earned C.A.S.E./Carnegie Foundation Arkansas Professor of the Year awards, a record unmatched by any other institution in the nation. WATCH THE VIDEO.

The Lyon College Honors Program is a rigorous course of study designed to provide skilled and motivated students the opportunity to study, hone their research skills, and exchange ideas in a challenging and supportive academic environment. Honors Fellows work closely with Lyon faculty in small, specially designed courses to extend their academic experience beyond the scope of the traditional undergraduate curriculum. Honors Fellows have the opportunity to learn amongst their peers, customize their education through course contracts and points, travel domestically and internationally, and enjoy the benefits of living in Honors housing.

Independence, honesty, trust, and respect are the basic elements of Lyon’s Honor System. When beginning an academic career at Lyon, every student signs the Roll of Honor pledging to uphold high standards of academic integrity inside and outside the classroom. This includes taking exams without supervision and adhering to the Honor System when submitting homework and course assignments. The Honor System is governed and maintained by the Honor Council, which consists of student body members elected by their

PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON peers. The Honor Council fosters a spirit of honor on campus

4 and hears and acts upon alleged violations of the Honor Code. STUDENT LIFE Campus culture is strongly residential, with over 75 percent of students living on campus. More than 45 clubs and organizations, including Greek Life, foster an active campus life. Lyon competes in the NAIA Division I American Midwest Conference and fields intercollegiate athletic teams in baseball (men), basketball (men and women), golf (men and women), soccer (men and women), softball (women), volleyball (women), and wrestling (men and women). In 2013, Lyon reinstated football, which participates in the Central States Football League (CSFL). Lyon student athletes comprise over 40 percent of the total student body.

The College has nine residence halls two apartment-style living spaces. The residential system was originally modeled after the British collegiate house system, and strives to integrate the academic and residential programs of the College. Within each house is a suite for a Resident Faculty Mentor who is a current college faculty or staff member.

The Social System is an outgrowth of the honor system and keeps with the philosophy that students should assume a significant role in shaping their lives at Lyon. The system establishes a code of conduct by which Lyon students agree to abide in their interactions with other members of the Lyon community. The Social System is administered by students elected by their peers to the Social Council. The Council investigates allegations, conducts hearings when necessary, and may impose penalties up to and including expulsion.

An ethic of service is fostered within the academic program, co-curricular program, and among faculty staff and students. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON

5 CAMPUS Lyon’s handsome 136-acre campus is located in a comfortable residential setting in Batesville. It features modern, attractive academic facilities including the black box Holloway Theater, Lyon Business and Economics Building, Derby Center for Science and Mathematics, and historic academic buildings like Brown Chapel and the Alphin Humanities Building. The Mabee-Simpson Library contains 215,000 books and sound and video recordings, and provides access to more than 20,000 periodical subscriptions.

Recreational facilities include an outdoor walking track, regulation soccer field, intramural field, six lighted tennis courts, and a sand volleyball court. Becknell Gymnasium

PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROFILE PROVOST SEARCH COLLEGE PROVOST COLLEGE LYON LYON includes a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool. Lyon’s state of the art student center and dining hall (Edwards 6 Commons) includes a game room and cardio room. SURROUNDINGS Batesville serves as a commercial, medical, governmental and cultural hub for the surrounding region, all enhanced by the presence of Lyon College. The proximity of the Ozarks and the beautiful White River offer an abundance of opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, caving, rock climbing, water skiing, scenic photography, fishing, and hunting. To help students take advantage of these natural resources, the College developed the Lyon Education and Adventure Program (LEAP), providing students with information and access to many of these activities.

For over a quarter of a century, Lyon and the larger community have annually opened their doors to the Arkansas Scottish Festival, one of the premier gatherings in the south that honors Scottish heritage. Lyon recently introduced a Celtic Studies minor with exposure to language and literature, and a strong emphasis on history. In addition, the Scottish Heritage Program at Lyon has become one of the most significant in the nation for students interested in bagpiping, drumming, or Highland dancing.

The Main Street Batesville project has worked for three decades to promote the city’s viability. During the last couple of years, new businesses and restaurants have been established. In mid-2015, the Chamber of Commerce, collaborated on a ten-year strategic plan that provides a long-term vision to promote organized, sustained community development. A strong town-gown relationship has existed between Lyon and Batesville for several decades. Batesville is 90 minutes northeast of Little Rock and just over two hours west of Memphis. WATCH THE VIDEO. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON

7 THE NEW PROVOST’S AGENDA

Lyon provides a new provost with the chance to join creative administrative leadership at a defining moment of change for the College community. The opportunity to serve this small vibrant college while extending a culture of academic strength in the liberal arts, a practice of transformative student-centered education, and a willingness to explore the needs of the 21st Century learner will be attractive for good-match candidates.

Critical to the new provost’s success will be her/his ability to be in consonance with the strength of the faculty and staff and the clarity of the new president’s vision. In doing so, critical elements of the provost’s philosophy should include: • a fundamental belief in the centrality of teaching, student-learning, scholarship,and support for the efforts of the Lyon faculty to enhance the undergraduate experience; • an understanding of and belief in the human potential as seen in Lyon’s students; • a practice of setting high standards and developing workable administrative systems; • diversity and inclusiveness as a foundation for further building a meaningful learning community; and • assessment efforts applied to all aspects of the educational program and decision-making based on the retrieval and analysis of good data.

At this pivotal moment in Lyon’s history, several important agenda items emerge for the new provost.

ENGAGING IN STRATEGIC PLANNING The provost is joining Lyon at a moment of renewal, redesign, and institutional engagement, all achieved through a comprehensive strategic planning process. With an anticipated focus on strengthening Lyon’s financial equilibrium and the development of more robust revenue streams from enrollment and

PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON philanthropy, the strategic plan will call on the provost to be a nimble contributor to the plan’s articulation and implementation. 8 8 While many traditional academic issues will continue to be of concern in this plan, the context in which these issues are considered will take on a fresh perspective and will demand creative and progressive thinking. For example, the potential afforded by greater integration of academic affairs and student affairs could have significant impact on retention, graduation rates, and overall student success. The provost’s leadership in tapping the creativity of the Lyon faculty will enhance the potential development of possible new programs, new pedagogies, and new curricula.

PROVIDING ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP Championing the academic program and supporting the faculty’s teaching and scholarship remain at the core of this agenda, but the provost’s oversight extends to a broader portfolio of responsibilities. Within this portfolio are several meaningful opportunities that await a new provost’s experience and leadership.

• Interpreting the liberal arts for 21st Century learners Whether examining Lyon’s current core curriculum for greater cohesion or eliminating traditional academic silos in favor of more interdisciplinary opportunities, the provost’s encouragement of a creative and welcoming environment for contemporary learners will be welcomed.

• Considering high impact educational experiences A thoughtful exploration of the practical application of theory beyond the classroom may help to advance student success. Whether supporting student engagement in internships, independent research, community-engaged learning, or international experiences, the new provost’s embrace of such programs could further distinguish Lyon’s profile as a liberal arts college.

• Strengthening enrollment and branding To the extent that academic enrichment and student success are impacted by the provost’s initiatives, improvement in admissions, retention, and graduation rates will follow. The work of the provost and the faculty in these areas will likely be guided by anticipated objectives of the new strategic PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON plan. 9 8 • Capitalizing on shared governance The commitment of the Lyon faculty to the welfare of Lyon College and its students is one of the assets available to the new provost. It is expected that she/he will be comfortable in building on this commitment by working with faculty in a constructive and collaborative manner. Early progress in this area will be possible as the Academic Policy Handbook is in need of attention and revision.

PRIORITIZING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS Diversity and inclusiveness are key ingredients in a fulfilling and meaningful institutional climate at Lyon. To that end, the provost’s embrace of diversity and her/his abilities to engage the Lyon family around issues of inclusiveness must be a priority. The welfare and stature of all underrepresented groups and ideas on campus are critical to the quality of life at the College. The provost’s fresh ideas and action toward this ethos, particularly in the advancement of a more diverse faculty, staff, and student body, will be widely welcomed.

MODELING CREATIVITY While the provost accepts ongoing responsibility to empower current faculty and staff, and support current programs, there is also a need for her/him to bring a creative outlook for considering change at Lyon. The ability to “lead by ideas” and to advance a vision for the College’s future will help to define the new provost’s success. Advocating for the faculty and the academic program, while also advocating for the College as a whole, can often be one of the most challenging items on PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON the provost’s agenda. Both areas of advocacy will benefit 10 from the provost’s ability to approach issues with a positive, creative, and results-oriented manner and to identify success on the evaluation of good data.

BALANCING LEADERSHIP WITH ADMINISTRATIVE SKILL The provost will be called on to manage and empower the work of her/his staff, including the offices of the registrar, supplemental instruction, library, athletics, honors program, Nichols International Travel Program, and Lyon’s current Title III grant program. With accountability for this range of academically related activities and a significant number of professional and support staff, the provost’s skill at delegating, evaluating, and holding accountable members of her/his team will bring strength and clarity to the work of the academic programs. The importance of transparently maintaining up- to-date administrative systems throughout Lyon’s academic program will be essential.

ENGAGING CAMPUS LIFE Staff and faculty provide a supportive, warm, and distinctly caring dimension in the mentoring of Lyon students. It is no accident that students say how much they are drawn to the strong sense of campus community and a recognizable commitment to student-centeredness. The new provost must be comfortable with the personality of the Lyon environment and authentic in her/his visibility, accessibility, and participation in the life of the College. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON

11 DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OF THE NEW PROVOST

The successful candidate at Lyon should possess a combination of personal qualities and professional experiences that match the expectations outlined in The New Provost’s Agenda. The provost will bring integrity, energy, an uncompromising work ethic, transparency, and a sense of humor. Previous experience that reflects the candidate’s ability to think progressively will be especially significant.

An earned doctorate or terminal degree in her/his discipline, teaching experience, and achievements as an academic leader will all be attractive qualities. In addition, the Lyon provost will be expected to: • Lead by ideas with a style that is visionary, innovative, and action oriented; • Provide accomplished strategic thinking and planning skills, while practicing collaboration as a foundation for effective planning; • Practice a primary advocacy for the faculty and the academic program, while providing leadership in all-college issues that may reside outside of the academic program. • Base decisions on the analysis of data; • Bring a strong assessment background to Lyon; • Demonstrate a genuine intercultural competence, with an ability to develop a model of diversity and inclusivity throughout the College and the larger community; • Interpret the changing face of higher education for all campus constituents, while responding effectively to the needs of future generations of Lyon students; • Be an effective communicator; • Be committed to Lyon’s mission and the learning-centered culture that is prevalent on campus; • Support the work of the provost’s administrative team by carefully evaluating and empowering all staff; • Demonstrate a working appreciation of shared governance, and;

PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON • Be an energetic and approachable campus presence, actively engaging in

12 the student-centered life at Lyon while modeling traits that will enrich collegiality and community on campus. THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The Provost Search Committee will accept nominations and applications on a rolling basis through the summer months. The committee will narrow the candidate pool in August, although it will accept applications until it selects a new provost. For the most favorable consideration, applicants should submit their materials by Friday, August 18, 2017. Lyon will invite the provost to begin work as soon as possible after January 1, 2018, and no later than May 31.

Dr. Thomas B. Courtice is the search consultant assisting with this search. Nominators and prospective candidates may contact him at: [email protected] or at (614) 395.6631.

Application materials should be submitted to

Dr. Scott Roulier Chair, Provost Search Committee [email protected]

Materials should include a letter of candidacy that responds to The New Provost’s Agenda, a CV or résumé, and the names and contact information (email and phone) for three references, none of whom the committee will contact until a later stage of the search and not without the formal permission of the candidate. The committee will receive and evaluate all inquiries and applications with full confidentiality. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST COLLEGE LYON Lyon College is an equal opportunity employer. 13