Lyon College
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LYON COLLEGE 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 PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST 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. LYON COLLEGE 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 Arkansas 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 PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST 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 LYON COLLEGE 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 PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST 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 LYON COLLEGE 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. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST An ethic of service is fostered within the academic program, co-curricular program, and among faculty staff and students. LYON COLLEGE 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. PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST Recreational facilities include an outdoor walking track, regulation soccer field, intramural field, six lighted tennis courts, and a sand volleyball court. Becknell Gymnasium LYON COLLEGE COLLEGE 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 PROVOST SEARCH PROFILE SEARCH PROVOST 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. LYON COLLEGE 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