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Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students : Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

uniata College invites nominations for the College, , , position of Vice President for Student Life and Juniata College, , Muhlenberg JDean of Students. Reporting to the president, College, , , the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of and Washington & Jefferson College. Students is the senior student affairs officer responsible for leadership of the co-curricular Juniata is a nationally prominent, independent, student experience and the Division of Student co-educational college of the liberal arts and Life in support of the college’s mission to empower sciences enrolling 1,600 students. It occupies a students to lead lives of service and ethical very attractive 110-acre main campus located in leadership in a global community. The new vice Huntingdon, , amidst the scenic president will serve a dynamic ridge-and-valley Appalachian Mountains of the recognized for its commitment to experiential south central portion of the state. education, strong sense of community, and high- achieving students. Considered a College that Adjacent to the main campus is the College’s Changes Lives, Juniata was founded by members of 315-acre Baker-Henry Nature Preserve, and the Church of the Brethren, and Brethren values of located on nearby Raystown Lake is the 365-acre peace, community, simplicity, Raystown Field Station. With the guidance of and service continue to anchor two advisers, Juniata students are able to shape and animate institutional their own academic paths, termed Programs culture. Juniata is a member of of Emphasis and described further elsewhere the Pennsylvania Liberal Arts in this document, from courses offered in 23 Consortium, founded in 2013 academic departments and programs. The and funded by the Andrew College offers online courses, as well as Master’s W. Mellon Foundation. The degrees in Accounting and Nonprofit Leadership. Consortium comprises the following institutions: Bryn Additional information about the College is Mawr College, Dickinson available at www.juniata.edu. College, Franklin & Marshall | www.juniata.edu 2 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

THE COLLEGE

Institutional Background. Juniata College was founded originally in 1876 by members of the Church of the Brethren. The College has been and is governed by an independent Board of Trustees. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Baccalaureate College—Arts and Sciences, Juniata today is consistently acknowledged as one of the top 100 such colleges in the nation and is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s influential book, Colleges That Change Lives. It is recognized particularly for its distinctive academic climate and the achievements of its students. Juniata The Mission of Juniata College. In 2008, Juniata has earned recognition each year in the Chronicle College adopted the following mission statement: of Higher Education’s survey identifying “Great Colleges to Work For,” and in 2012 was one of Juniata’s mission is to provide an engaging just five colleges and universities to win the personalized educational experience Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive empowering our students to develop the Internationalization. skills, knowledge and values that lead to a fulfilling life of service and ethical Juniata is located in the county seat of leadership in the global community. Huntingdon, Pa., along the Juniata River in the heart of south central Pennsylvania, a half- In addition, the Juniata student government hour drive from the metropolitan areas of State developed, proposed, and had accepted a set of College to the north and Altoona to the west, nine principles of a liberal arts lifestyle, based on and halfway between Interstate 80 and the the adopted statement: Pennsylvania Turnpike. On the Baker-Henry Nature Preserve is the Baker Peace Chapel, As a community, Juniata is dedicated to designed by renowned architect Maya Lin. The providing an academically rigorous and Raystown Field Station provides one of the personally enriching liberal arts education. most distinctive opportunities in the nation Students have a responsibility to expand to study environmental science. On campus, and fulfill their lifestyles to embrace the many impressive redbrick buildings surround opportunities that lead to well-rounded a broad, open mall and quadrangle. Juniata citizenship. students, faculty, and staff enjoy the beauty and functionality of a quintessential small college The Strategic Plan: Courage to Act. In April 2015, campus and the strong sense of community that the Board of Trustees adopted a new strategic characterizes the College. plan, “Courage to Act.” The five pillars of the plan include scholarship, community, distinctiveness, resources, and presence. The plan positions the College to undertake key initiatives in the next five years including an articulation of the essential attributes of a Juniata graduate, a re-examination of the general education curriculum, a branding study, and a comprehensive campaign. The entirety of the plan can be found here: www.juniata.edu/strategicplan

Students and Student Life. Juniata College’s students form a talented, ambitious, and involved community. The enrollment trajectory generally has been rising, and 2,650 students applied for

Baker Peace Chapel | www.juniata.edu 3 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

Juniata students working for Habitat for Humanity.

the 425 spaces in the class of 2017. The current of classes are canceled so students and faculty student population represents 37 states and 44 may enjoy the surrounding area, to Madrigal countries, is 57 percent women, 11 percent domestic Dinner served by faculty and staff, students ethnic minority, and 11 percent international. The look forward to annual traditions with much College’s current first-year retention rate is 87.8 enthusiasm. Those traditions have also worked percent, with a graduation rate of 75 percent in six their way into academic life. The annual “Liberal years. The College was recognized with the HEED Arts Symposium” features more than 125 students award by Insight into Diversity magazine in 2015, each year who share their research, creative, recognizing the College’s “level of achievement and and academic work while engaging with their intensity of commitment in regard to broadening fellow classmates around the presentations. The diversity and inclusion on campus.” traditions are one of the more public reflections of the community essence the College values. Juniata is a residential college, and 82 percent of the degree-seeking student body lives in 19 College- Beyond the campus community, Juniata is owned facilities, which include nine campus an integral part of the local and regional residence halls (predominantly traditional style community. Along with faculty and staff, students residences) and an additional 10 off-campus regularly participate in volunteer and internship houses. The College’s residence life program opportunities, and community members are showcases Juniata’s heritage of Brethren values welcomed to campus for speaker series, athletic by incorporating peace, service, simplicity, and events, public interest forums, and other activities. community into programming requirements. Since 2006, the College has frequently been named to the President’s Higher Education Community The College’s commitment to service and to co- Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition curricular learning activities is reflected in the a school can achieve for its commitment to service- existence of more than 90 student organizations, learning and civic engagement. clubs, committees, and leadership opportunities on and off campus. At the start of the school year Although chartered as an independent college, students are encouraged to attend Lobsterfest to Juniata has long recognized the importance of a peruse opportunities open to them for clubs and spiritual dimension as a part of individual growth. organizations, all while enjoying a lobster dinner. While service actions are certainly a component, The College takes pride in its traditions. From the Juniata also has several active denominational fall celebration of Mountain Day, on which a day and interdenominational religious clubs located | www.juniata.edu 4 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

in our Unity House, which is also the home of our Juniata has a strong tradition of athletic excellence Diversity and Inclusion office. Juniata’s religious including; eight National Championships, 21 programs are guided by the Chaplain, campus Academic All-Americans, and 120 All-Americans. ministry staff, and several student leaders. As a Division III member of the NCAA, the athletic program currently sponsors 19 varsity sports, and In student life, Juniata’s peace heritage is most will grow to 21 varsity teams with the addition of evident in our means of helping students resolve men’s and women’s in fall 2016. Juniata is a conflict, and hold one another accountable. founding member of the , Juniata’s Notice of Concern system, in which an affiliate member of the anyone can submit a message regarding concern in football, and a member of the Continental for the welfare of another student, is a core Conference in men’s volleyball. More element of student life’s ability to intervene and than 300 students participate annually in varsity help students resolve personal, academic, social, athletics, while more than 500 students participate and other issues. in a dozen club sport and intramural offerings each year. Student success is another focus of student life at Juniata. The College prides itself on a well- Varsity Sports at Juniata: developed extended orientation program, named Inbound, that enjoys a high rate of participation Men’s and Women’s from first-year students. Inbound is an immersive Men’s and Women’s Cross Country three-day experience prior to the start of the fall semester and students have an array of themes Football from which to choose. This program serves as the Men’s and Women’s Soccer basis for first-year programs that lead to excellent first to second-year retention rates. As a part of the Women’s community at Juniata, each first-year student is Men’s and Women’s given the chance to meet with a staff member for Indoor and Outdoor, Men’s and Women’s the first-year call in program, and select their two Track & Field advisors. The College also offers several forms of Men’s and Women’s Volleyball communication and interaction where students gain the feeling from the campus community that they are truly cared about. | www.juniata.edu 5 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

The Gambia Finally, Juniata College Public Safety works with both students and staff to ensure the safety of the campus by employing six full-time officers and seven part time officers. In addition to the physical safety of the student population, the College also offers a fully staffed Health and Wellness Center. A full-time nurse sees patients, and a doctor holds regular hours at the center. The College also offers mental health counseling with full time counselors and a psychiatrist.

The Academic Program. In awarding the undergraduate degrees Bachelor of Arts and , Juniata offers a flexible, individualized curriculum grounded in the liberal arts. In the 1970s, Juniata transformed its Experiential learning is one of the hallmark traditional curriculum of conventional majors and features of a Juniata education. The programmatic distribution courses into one combining a core opportunities supplemental to explicit degree curriculum within student-designed programs. requirements include: The Program of Emphasis (POE) asks students to shape their own program of emphasis with Global Engagement. Since 2009, the Global the assistance of two faculty advisers. Given the Engagement Initiative has functioned as a road enduring interest in specific fields for which map for Juniata’s comprehensive approach standard preparation exists, Juniata offers 60 to intercultural education. This cross-campus designated POEs, yet 25 percent of Juniata initiative aims to prepare students with the students use the flexible program to personalize skills they need to negotiate the 21st century and their education. responds to the institutional mission to empower Juniata students to provide “ethical leadership The most popular areas of study are biology in the global community” through cultivating and pre-health, accounting and business, intercultural competencies. environmental science, psychology, chemistry, and communication. Recent programmatic additions Study Away. Juniata offers 48 international include professional writing, entrepreneurship, study programs in 21 countries through its own integrated media arts, and wildlife conservation. exchange programs, with two consortia and with The academic calendar is the early-semester plan, partner institutions located on every continent with two 15-week terms. The College also offers (except Antarctica!). Every POE has at least one master’s degrees in Accounting and study abroad program that can meet POE and other Nonprofit Leadership. requirements, and between 30 percent and 50 percent of recent graduating classes have had an international experience.

Undergraduate Research. Faculty encourage students to pursue greater depth in their POE by conducting independent research under the guidance of a professor. Nearly half of Juniata students complete such a project, while many others work alongside faculty members in shared projects.

Performing Arts. One third of the student body is active in Juniata’s choral, instrumental, and theatre ensembles, and many Juniata graduates vividly remember acting in a play, creating a work of art, singing with the choir, or performing a recital for a live audience. Juniata Career Day | www.juniata.edu 6 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

Car wash for community service project.

Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. faculty, 93 percent have terminal degrees to their A vibrant hub for scholarship and activism in field, and 90 percent are tenured or on the tenure the field of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), it track. An additional 43 persons serve as part-time provides students of all POEs opportunities for instructors, bringing the full-time equivalent mentorship and experiential learning nationally faculty size to 120. Of the full-time faculty, six and internationally. Baker Institute programming percent are persons of color, and 42 percent are links students to an active and interdisciplinary women. The full-time equivalent student/faculty network of scholars and professionals at the ratio is 13:1. forefront of efforts to grow knowledge and wisdom, and build more peaceful societies. Library and Information Services. Juniata’s Beeghly Library collection makes a full range Nearly 95 percent of each graduating class have of information services available to the College earned their degrees within four years. Over community. Its automated catalog and circulation the past three years, more than 90 percent of systems provide access to holdings of more than graduates report either employment within six 420,000 books and government documents, months of graduation or enrollment in graduate 10,000 serial subscriptions, and 14 commercial or professional school. In the most recent year for on-line services. The Library also supplies access which data is available, 97 percent of graduating to materials in more than 21 libraries through its Juniata students who applied to medical or other membership in the Associated College Libraries health science schools were granted admission. In of Central Pennsylvania, and is an important the same year, law schools nationwide accepted 80 community resource through its of percent of Juniata graduating seniors, compared local newspapers and other historical and to the national rate of 67 percent. Success is in part genealogical records. attributed to the two-faculty adviser system, which ensures students own their academic experience. Technology. Juniata provides modern information technology to students, faculty, and Faculty. Juniata seeks the very best teacher- administration, including wireless Internet access scholars for its faculty. Its success is evident in in all academic buildings, laboratories, residence the high marks regularly awarded the College halls, and houses. Public and departmental by national college guides for the quality of computer laboratories are spread throughout teaching and mentoring. Distinctive at Juniata is campus to help support the computing needs of the Lakso Center for the Scholarship of Teaching students. All faculty are equipped with mobile and Learning. In 2015-2016, the full-time Juniata computing technology and all students are required faculty consists of 108 persons. Of the full-time to have access to a laptop for classes. In the fall of | www.juniata.edu 7 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

2015, students connected an average of 2.3 devices Finances. The College’s operating budget for per student to our campus network. They often 2015-16 is $45 million, and the market value of the carry multiple mobile devices with them to various endowment as of May 31, 2015 was $111.6 million. campus buildings consuming large quantities of Tuition, room and board, and fees for the 2015-16 video and media content. academic year come to $51,740, and the current overall tuition discount rate is approximately Facilities. Juniata’s physical plant includes 43 51 percent. There are currently 471 full and part- buildings on the main campus. In the last 15 years, time employees. In July 2015, Standard and Poor’s more than $78 million has been invested in major Ratings Services gave Juniata College an A- stable capital projects to benefit the student academic bond rating. experience. Notable projects include the recently renovated and LEED-Gold Certified Founders Juniata College raised $10.6 million in gifts in Hall; LEED Certified Shuster Hall and two student 2012-13, with an alumni participation rate of 28 residences supporting the environmental sciences percent. Major fund-raising successes include the program at Raystown Lake; the 88,000 square- seven-year $103 million “Uncommon Outcomes” foot state-of-the-art von Liebig Center for Science; Campaign that concluded in 2005 and the $4.5 the Sill Business Incubator; Carnegie Hall, home million “Restoring the Heart of Juniata” campaign of the Shoemaker and Malloy Galleries; and the in 2009 that renovated and expanded Founders Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts. Nathan Hall for the departments of English and history. Hall, a residence hall comprised of 77 single By October 2013, the College’s endowment building occupancy rooms, was opened in 2014 and in its initiative, “Changing Lives to Change the World,” design and construction demonstrates the College’s successfully met its goal of raising more than commitment to accessibility, sustainability and $40 million in cash and planned gifts to push the community. In addition to being completely endowment’s market value to more than accessible, the building also includes various $100 million. communal spaces and incorporates various “green” technologies including geothermal heating and Governance. Juniata College is governed by a energy-efficient lighting. Board of Trustees presently consisting of 35 voting members (of a possible 40) filling renewable three-year terms. Each year, the Board holds three full board meetings and one executive committee meeting. It conducts its work largely through seven committees. The President serves as an ex officio member (without vote) on all board committees and plays an active role, together with trustee leadership, in setting goals and direction for the College and the board. The Vice President for Student Life is an ex officio member of the Education and Student Life Committee as is the Provost.

Juniata College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges. The College completed its self-study in 2012 and the College was reaccredited in 2013. Juniata also holds accreditation for programs in chemistry, education, and social work and is a member of numerous national and regional organizations of higher education, including the , the Council on Undergraduate Research, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, and the Council of Independent Colleges. | www.juniata.edu 8 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

Freshman Welcoming Ceremony THE OPPORTUNITY

The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students is the senior student affairs officer of the College. The Vice President is responsible for strategically shaping, operationalizing, and integrating student programs and services through the oversight of the co-curricular and extra-curricular student experiences. The Vice President supervises the various units within the Division of Student Life. These include: Residential Life, Athletics, Student Activities, Public Safety, Campus Ministry, Health and Wellness, Community Service and First-Year Programs as well as the student conduct process.

The new Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students represents a new vision for the College. Historically, the senior student affairs officer has been a dean of students reporting directly to the Provost. In 2013, the dean of students became a direct report to the president. Today, we envision a vice president who will partner with the Provost and the Senior Leadership Team to imagine and implement a strategic vision for the student experience consistent with the recently adopted strategic plan, “Courage to Act.” The Vice President will be expected to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and alumni in crafting and executing this vision. The ethos of the College also | www.juniata.edu 9 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

Nathan Hall

demands that the successful candidate will and Marketing who have provided consistent function as a Dean of Students who will be visible, leadership for the past decade. accessible, and responsive to the needs of the student body. The Office of the Vice President for “Courage to Act” provides the strategic foundation Student Life and Dean of Students will play a key for the launch of several initiatives noted in this role in fostering student success and supporting profile. The increased commitment to scholarship retention, persistence and completion efforts. The and community provides an important opportunity successful candidate will have the opportunity to in the life of Juniata for a dynamic senior craft a retention plan and lead a retention task student life officer to work with the Provost and force in collaboration with Enrollment Services the academic division in unprecedented ways. and Academic Affairs. In addition, the new vice The creation of collaborative learning spaces on president will have the opportunity to help select campus and increased coordination of support the next Director of Residential Life, the Director of services will be part of the agenda of the successful Student Activities and will support the hiring of a candidate. Community engagement is a priority new diversity and inclusion officer as well. of President Troha’s administration; the new Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students The College is in a period of significant changes in will help lead efforts to strengthen community its leadership. The new Vice President for Student partnerships that provide Juniata students with Life and Dean of Students will join a cohesive and service and outreach opportunities. The successful energetic Senior Leadership Team led by James candidate will have the opportunity to build and A. Troha, who became president in 2013. Since develop the Division of Student Life team. The President Troha’s arrival, new leaders in the roles successful candidate should embrace purposeful of Provost, Vice President for Enrollment Services change while demonstrating a respect for and Chief Information Officer have been appointed. institutional culture and ethos in ways that inspire New members of the Strategic Leadership Team others to embrace new directions, take initiative, are balanced by a Vice President for Finance and and imagine alternative ways to engage students, Operations and Vice President for Advancement while remaining true to our mission. | www.juniata.edu 10 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

Essential Functions of the Vice President/Dean In light of these opportunities and emphases, it is • Provision of effective supervision, management expected that the new Vice President for Student and oversight of personnel, budgets, programs Life and Dean of Students will be responsible for: and offices. • Articulation of a long-term vision for the • Fostering inclusive excellence with a student experience that is consistent with the demonstrated commitment to domestic and strategic plan of the College. international diversity throughout the college. • Participation in the Senior Leadership Team as • Assessment of student learning in the co- it establishes strategic and budgetary priorities, curriculum based on established institutional and allocates resources. learning outcomes. • Responsiveness to the needs of students, • Leading the conversation about retention, individually and collectively, consistent with persistence and completion in collaboration the personalized educational experience that is with other offices to promote student success. a hallmark of Juniata culture. • Building linkages with Academic Affairs on • Leadership of student affairs professionals in essential programs including New Student the development of co-curricular programs Orientation, First Year Programs, Community based on a deep knowledge of student Service/Service Learning, and the Global Village, development theory and consistent with life at among others. a residential liberal arts college.

Juniata students working in Washington D.C. soup kitchen. | www.juniata.edu 11 Juniata College: Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Profile

Community clean up during Inbound program for first-year students.

Qualifications and Characteristics The Vice President for Student life and Dean of • Promote a culture of assessment of student Students will be a bold, creative and energetic learning including the articulation of student leader with a student-centered record of progressive learning outcomes, assessing student learning, leadership in student life. Preference will be given to and using analysis of data to allocate resources candidates who hold an earned doctorate although and effect change as necessary. candidates with a master’s degree and significant • Knowledge and experience with Division III experience will also be considered. Other key athletics and support of the student-athlete qualifications include: in a commitment to holistic approaches to • Boundless energy and enthusiasm especially education. in terms of working with traditional-age • A collaborative, inclusive and transparent undergraduates. management style. • Experience with, and a commitment to, the • A commitment to being highly visible on residential liberal arts experience. campus and among students coupled with • Familiarity and experience with residence life strong interpersonal skills. and residential programming models. • Demonstrable evidence of innovative and • A demonstrated record of commitment to progressive thinking which has effected promoting diversity and inclusion. positive change. • An understanding of Title IX and the Clery Act • A record of appointing, mentoring and coupled with an authentic commitment to developing a staff. compliance with governmental directives. • A well-developed sense of humor. • Evidence of a commitment to internationalization of the residential liberal Questions and inquiries can be directed to arts including support of international students. Lauren Bowen, Provost and chair of the search • Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act committee at [email protected]. Review of and familiarity with best practices in supporting applications will begin on January 15, 2016; it is students with documented disabilities. expected an appointment will be made in early • An understanding of health and wellness March with an anticipated start date of June 1, programs coupled with experience in supporting 2016. Application materials can be submitted at: students at the individual, policy and www.juniata.edu/jobs institutional level. | www.juniata.edu 12