Vice President for Academic Affairs

Description

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application online and include the requested items below. 

· a letter of interest/cover letter

· resume’/ curriculum vitae 

· three letters of recommendation from professional references

· unofficial transcripts may be sent at the time of application 

· Additional documentation, including official transcripts, will be required as part of the selection and hiring process. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Division: Academic Affairs 

Reports To: President 

Classification: Full-Time, Executive Administrative 

Cabinet Membership: President's Executive Cabinet 

Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina 

Position Overview

Clinton College seeks a visionary, collaborative, and accomplished academic leader to serve as its Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and Chief Academic Officer. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the College's academic enterprise, advancing excellence in teaching, learning, research, scholarship, academic innovation, and student success. 

The VPAA will be instrumental in positioning Clinton College for its next phase of academic growth and institutional transformation. While preserving the College's commitment to high-quality, student-centered instruction, the VPAA will expand institutional capacity for faculty scholarship, undergraduate research, applied research, grant development, and externally funded academic initiatives. 

The ideal candidate will be both a visionary leader and an effective administrator—one who can articulate a compelling academic vision, translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes, manage complex academic operations, and build consensus among faculty and institutional stakeholders. 

The VPAA must demonstrate a deep commitment to shared governance, transparent communication, collaborative leadership, academic accountability, and the development of an institutional culture characterized by mutual respect, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the Executive Cabinet, the VPAA will advance the mission and strategic priorities of Clinton College as a historically Black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Academic Leadership and Strategic Direction 
• Research, Scholarship, and Grant Development 
• Develop and implement an institutional academic research and scholarship agenda that strengthens faculty productivity, undergraduate research, applied scholarship, and academic distinction. 
• Cultivate a sustainable culture of scholarly inquiry, creative activity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and externally supported academic innovation. 
• Identify, develop, and pursue competitive funding opportunities from federal and state agencies, private foundations, corporations, and other external sources. 
• Provide leadership in grant writing, proposal development, and the cultivation of faculty-led research and academic initiatives. 
• Establish systems for mentoring faculty in scholarly publication, research development, grant writing, and external funding opportunities. 
• Collaborate with the Office of Title III, Grants and Sponsored Programs to advance competitive proposals, support funded academic initiatives, and ensure coordination with applicable grant requirements. 
• Develop strategic partnerships with research universities, governmental agencies, industry organizations, and other institutions to expand research opportunities and academic resources. 
• Promote undergraduate research, faculty-student scholarship, conference participation, and dissemination of scholarly work. 
• Establish measurable goals for grant submissions, external funding awards, research participation, faculty scholarship, and academic partnerships. 

Faculty Leadership, Development, and Shared Governance

• Provide leadership, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation of academic department chairs, program directors, and faculty. 
• Develop and implement strategies for faculty recruitment, retention, professional development, and succession planning. 
• Strengthen faculty governance and ensure meaningful faculty engagement in academic decision-making. 
• Foster an academic environment characterized by collegiality, transparency, professional respect, accountability, and constructive dialogue. 
• Demonstrate the ability to build consensus among diverse constituencies while maintaining institutional priorities and clear performance expectations. 
• Empower department chairs and academic leaders through clearly defined responsibilities, professional development, and appropriate decision-making authority. 
• Promote equitable and transparent processes for faculty evaluation, workload assignments, promotion, and professional advancement. 
• Address academic concerns and conflicts fairly, professionally, and in accordance with institutional policies. 

Academic Student Success and Career Development

• Provide executive oversight of academic advising, tutoring, academic support services, and career development initiatives assigned to Academic Affairs. 
• Develop and implement strategies to improve student learning, academic progression, persistence, retention, and graduation. 
• Strengthen academic support systems for first-generation, transfer, adult, and academically at-risk students. 
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management and Student Affairs to promote a coordinated student success experience. 
• Expand opportunities for experiential learning, internships, undergraduate research, professional preparation, and career readiness. 
• Ensure academic programs provide students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for graduate study, employment, and lifelong learning. 

Accreditation, Assessment, and Academic Quality

• Provide executive leadership for academic compliance with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), specialized accrediting bodies, and applicable federal and state requirements. 
• Ensure academic programs maintain appropriate standards for curriculum, faculty qualifications, instructional effectiveness, and student learning outcomes. 
• Collaborate with the separately administered Office of Institutional Effectiveness to support assessment, institutional reporting, accreditation documentation, and continuous improvement. 
• Lead academic program reviews and the implementation of evidence-based improvements. 
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of academic reports, compliance documentation, and required accreditation materials. 
• Promote a culture of assessment, evidence-based decision-making, and institutional accountability. 

Academic Administration, Budgeting, and Operational Management

• Develop, administer, and monitor the Academic Affairs budget in alignment with institutional priorities and available resources. 
• Ensure effective faculty staffing, instructional scheduling, workload management, and academic resource allocation. 
• Establish clear administrative procedures, reporting expectations, deadlines, and accountability measures throughout the division. 
• Evaluate academic operations to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, effectiveness, and responsible resource utilization. 
• Collaborate with Business and Finance, Enrollment Management, and other divisions to align academic planning with enrollment projections and institutional financial capacity. 
• Oversee the effective use of academic technology, instructional resources, and learning support infrastructure in coordination with appropriate institutional offices. 
• Provide timely, accurate, and comprehensive academic and operational reports to the President. 
• Demonstrate the ability to balance strategic leadership with disciplined execution and day-to-day administrative management. 

Institutional Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the President's Executive Cabinet and contribute to institutional strategic planning and executive decision-making. 
• Build productive working relationships across academic and administrative divisions. 
• Lead institutional change through consensus building, effective communication, collaborative problem-solving, and clear accountability. 
• Represent Clinton College in academic, professional, governmental, and community settings as assigned. 
• Support institutional initiatives that advance enrollment growth, financial sustainability, academic distinction, and community engagement. 
• Demonstrate ethical leadership, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, professional integrity, and a commitment to the College's mission and values. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the President. 

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree from an accredited institution. 
• Progressively responsible academic leadership experience in higher education, including supervision of faculty, academic programs, and administrative operations. 
• Demonstrated experience in academic strategic planning, curriculum development, program assessment, and academic quality assurance. 
• Evidence of research, scholarly engagement, grant writing, external funding development, or leadership of grant-supported academic initiatives. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, personnel, academic resources, and operational priorities effectively. 
• Knowledge of institutional accreditation, academic compliance, assessment, and higher education regulatory requirements. 
• Demonstrated success building consensus, supporting shared governance, and leading organizational change. 
• Strong communication, interpersonal, analytical, conflict-resolution, and executive decision-making skills. 
• Commitment to the mission and educational traditions of historically Black colleges and universities. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant senior academic leadership experience as a dean, associate provost, vice president, or comparable academic administrator. 
• Experience at an HBCU, small private college, or mission-driven institution. 
• Demonstrated success securing competitive grants or developing externally funded academic and research initiatives. 
• Experience establishing undergraduate research programs, faculty research development initiatives, or interdisciplinary scholarly collaborations. 
• Record of scholarly publication, research engagement, or creative activity appropriate to the candidate's academic discipline. 
• Experience developing academic partnerships with research institutions, foundations, government agencies, or industry. 
• Familiarity with TRACS accreditation standards and specialized program accreditation. 
• Experience leading graduate education, academic program expansion, and innovative instructional delivery. 
• Demonstrated success improving academic performance, student retention, graduation outcomes, and faculty engagement. 

Leadership Expectations

• The Vice President for Academic Affairs must be a leader who can both envision and execute. 
• Clinton College seeks an academic executive who understands that institutional transformation requires more than the development of plans and initiatives. It requires the ability to organize people, manage resources, establish priorities, build trust, and deliver measurable results. 
• The successful candidate will demonstrate the capacity to lead with vision, manage with discipline, engage with integrity, and cultivate a collaborative academic community committed to excellence. 
• The VPAA must be prepared to strengthen the College's academic foundation while advancing a more dynamic culture of scholarship, research, innovation, and external resource development. 

Application Process

Submit an online application and include requested documents listed below. 

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, current curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendations from professional references. Additional documentation, including official transcripts, will be required as part of the selection and hiring process. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Clinton College is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful learning and working environment. The College considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law. 

Employment Disclaimer

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work associated with the position and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications. Clinton College reserves the right to modify position responsibilities and organizational assignments consistent with institutional needs and applicable policies. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, including verification of credentials and background screening, as permitted by law.