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Dillard University
New Orleans,
Louisiana
THE SEARCH
Dillard University, a selective, coeducational, residential,
private university located in the heart of New Orleans,seeks a Provost / Chief Academic and Enrollment Officer who is visionary, strategic,
collaborative, and inspirational.
The Provost/ Chief Academic and Enrollment Officer will serve as a Senior Vice President of
academic affairs and enrollment management member of the President’s Cabinet. The Provost will be charged with leading and advancing the
academic enterprise, fortifying enrollment, and increasing graduation and retention rates at this University with a storied legacy as one of
the country’s leading historically black universities, as it continues to fulfill its mission of cultivating leaders who live ethically,
think and communicate precisely and act courageously to make the world a better place. The Provost will also work alongside Dillard’s
President, faculty, staff, industry advisory boards, and administrators to create a more holistic student experience through advancing
Dillard’s living, learning, and serving the community.
This position is an exciting and challenging opportunity to help transform
Dillard into an even more effective and efficient enterprise in partnership with Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR, appointed in July 2022 as the
University’s eighth president.
Dillard University is known for its highly personalized and learning-centered approach. Dillard’s
students can meet the competitive demands of a diverse, global, and technologically advanced society. In 2023, the University had a 73%
career placement rate at graduation. Since Dr. Ford’s becoming President, the University sharpened its focus on retention with an all-campus
employee approach resulting in a 4% increase in returning students and an increase in students registering for the next academic year.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Dillard among the top HBCUs, #14 in 2023, #33 in the nation for social mobility, and #156 among
liberal arts colleges. Among its academic achievements, Dillard boasts a renowned 80-year-old nursing program and a prodigious physics
program, ranked third in 2020 by the American Institute of Physics in producing African American physics graduates. Its pre-law program is
also well known: in 2023, 100 percent of its students who applied for law schools were accepted.
Founded more than 150 years ago in
the aftermath of the Civil War in 1869, Dillard is located on a historic 55-acre campus in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. The
University is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church, receiving funding from members of the Louisiana
Conference and individual churches alike. Dillard’s distinguished faculty are dedicated to teaching, scholarship, internal and external
service, and innovative academic programs. It enrolls approximately 1,200 students at the undergraduate level in its four colleges with 22
academic degree programs. Students come from 33 states and 12 countries.
Reporting to the President, the Provost serves as the chief
academic and enrollment management officer of the University and shepherd of the institution’s mission. The position provides an outstanding
opportunity for a talented and thoughtful individual to lead a new student-centered, data-informed, outcomes-focused team making expedient
strategic changes in a vibrant academic community.
The next Provost must have a track record of success at a four-year college or
University and a working knowledge of HBCUs (or minority-serving institutions), with a deep respect for the critical role that they play in
the lives of historically underrepresented and marginalized students of color. To sustain that legacy and its impact on global society,
Dillard’s next leader must understand the existential threats facing many higher educational institutions and how they are especially
challenging for HBCUs. The Provost must be a collaborator who works closely with faculty to make strategic and expedient changes to enhance
academic programs to ensure the marketability of graduates, create new graduate, certificate, and professional development programs, and
increase graduation, retention, and persistence rates. The Provost will be highly visible, engaging with students, faculty, and staff while
deepening meaningful partnerships with feeder high schools, community colleges, and graduate and professional schools to enhance Dillard’s
enrollment.
Dillard’s President has charged a search committee composed of University stakeholders to review application materials
and vet potential candidates for final selection by the President.
All applications, inquiries, and nominations will remain
confidential and should be directed to the vice president of human resources as indicated at the end of this document.
MISSION
As a historically black institution, Dillard University cultivates leaders who live ethically,
think and communicate precisely and act courageously to make the world a better place.
MOTTO
Dillard University’s motto is “Ex Fide, Fortis,” which has been interpreted as “From Faith, Strength” and “With Courage, Confidence.” It
is this faith that keeps our vision clear, our hearts full, and our actions confident and deliberate as together; we transform the world
into the world that it should be.
VISION
Dillard strives to be a “communiversity”
dedicated to cultivating leaders who further develop healthy, safe, and innovative communities. Dillard would attract students from diverse
socio-economic levels committed to understanding and advancing Black Americans and other lives. Dillard strives to ensure students engage in
high-impact practices, ground in the liberal arts, and provide transferable skills that will prepare them for leadership roles.
CURRENT PERSPECTIVE
President Ford created the role of the Provost in the fall of 2022 by
combining the Vice President of Enrollment and the Vice President of Academic Affairs to have a more cohesive, seamless, integrated
experience from being recruited to and showing interest in a Dillard University education, enrolling and matriculating through Dillard and
becoming an alum. When the previous vice president of enrollment management left the University in the Spring of 2022, and the vice
president of academic affairs accepted another role and sequentially became a university president, President Ford appointed a retired
college president and former Provost to serve as an interim provost to help assess the culture and practices of the University. During this
interim year, President Ford and the Board of Trustees have aligned their vision for Dillard’s future and have further developed a
university strategic plan that aims to stabilize enrollment; maintain accreditations; improve student outcomes related to graduation, job
placement, retention, and persistence; strengthening financial stability; enhance quality academic programs; and enhance institutional brand
recognition. The interim Provost is committed to remaining in the role through the transition to the new Provost.
The University’s
strategic plan has five pillars related to value proposition, academic excellence, enrollment, facilities, and cultural climate. The
University’s plan is grounded in “sprints” that allow for focused, strategic, cross-disciplinary efforts executed within three years to see
a meaningful outcome. The University’s strategic plan aims to make Dillard more agile and responsive to the changing landscape of higher
education and the world outside academia by offering innovative academic programs and curricula that align with societal needs and workforce
demands. The plan calls for the University to take thoughtful, calculated risks that bolster innovation and balance while maintaining
Dillard’s unique voice.
A UNCF member institution, Dillard participates in academic research, policy planning, and philanthropy
dispersed to community members. The University has been deeply engaged in UNCF’s Transformation Project, sponsored by the Blue Meridian
Group. This project has infused significant funding to bolster enrollment management and student graduation outcomes.
Ideally, the
new Provost will begin in the late second quarter of 2024 and by August 1 at the latest.
ACADEMICS
Dillard University is a private four-year liberal arts institution with a robust academic
tradition that embodies a commitment to the intellectual and personal development of its students. The faculty is dedicated to teaching and
research, promoting comprehensive student development, ethical decision-making, leadership, and service. Dillard offers 22 degree programs,
professional certificates and master’s degree in nursing with specializations in entrepreneurship, administration and education, all within
four colleges. Dillard University is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. Currently, the
University has four Colleges, each with a Dean. The Provost will play a central role in ensuring the University maintains its accreditation,
continually improves student outcomes, and operates academic affairs more efficiently and effectively. Each College is led by a Dean who
reports directly to the Provost. In addition, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences serves as the Associate Provost.
The University College provides a foundational academic experience to support Dillard’s mission of cultivating precise
thinkers, communicators, and leaders. To deliver the University’s signature academic and social support to entering students, the University
College provides a robust menu of resources, including The Academic Center of Excellence, where students will find First Year Experience,
Academic Advising, Service Learning, the Daniel C. Thompson/Samuel DuBois Cook Honors Program, the Emerging Scholars Program and the Honda
Campus All-Star Challenge Team. The University College also houses the General Core Curriculum.
The College of Arts and
Sciences offers students an array of liberal studies options, ranging from public health to the arts to natural sciences. True to
its liberal arts identity, Dillard’s College of Arts and Sciences boasts intellectually and well-rounded alumni. The College comprises four
schools: Health and Wellness, Humanities, STEM, and Social Sciences.
● The School of Health and Wellness
prepares students for positions in health systems management, community health education, and health sciences (pre-professional) through
practical experience and education. Dillard Health and Wellness provides the highest quality of undergraduate education based on excellence
in teaching, applied research, and services. The school emphasizes service to Louisiana while serving students throughout the United States
and other countries.
● The School of Humanities concerns the systems of thought based on the nature,
dignity, interests, expressions, ideas, and values of humankind. The Humanities Program encompasses ancient philosophical foundations and
modern modes of inquiry from a global perspective, as expressed in literature and the creative arts. The School of Humanities develops
graduates who are critical thinkers, skillfully creative, and well-prepared for the academy and the workplace.
● The
School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), in the tradition of liberal arts education, strives to
offer students a broad spectrum of courses and experiences. The program’s hallmark has long been its commitment to providing quality
education for biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics students.
● The School of Social
Sciences is committed to producing graduates who are grounded in the finest traditions of the liberal arts. The school
prepares students to understand themselves and others within regional and global contexts shaped by the African-American commitment to
social justice and community empowerment. Each major in the school strives to teach students critical thinking and writing skills and the
latest research-based practices to successfully compete in graduate school or the workplace.
The College of Business
enables students to apply acquired knowledge in solving problems and participating in civic engagements. Business practitioners and eminent
scholars are invited to share their insights, expertise, and experience with students. Business seminars allow students the opportunity to
interact with executives on local, state, national, and global platforms. Students participate extensively in service learning, such as
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). The Applied Business Laboratory Executives Program (ABLE) allows students to put learned theoretical
skills to work by engaging the community and learning to operate a for-profit business. Students develop holistic business acumen to enable
their success in a competitive global environment. The College is accredited by theAccreditation Council of Business Schools and
Programs (ACBSP).
The College of Nursing has traditionally been one of Dillard’s strongest and most popular
academic programs. It graduates students who are broadly educated, technologically astute, and responsible practitioners of nursing.
Graduates utilize the liberal arts, sciences, and critical thinking to provide care that improves the human condition in a diverse,
value-rich, global society. For over 80 years, Dillard’s historic nursing program has proudly produced culturally sensitive, board-certified
practitioners. In the fall of 2023, the College of Nursing welcomed its inaugural masters of nursing with specializations in
entrepreneurship, education, and administration. The College of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in
Nursing.
STUDENT LIFE
As a small, tight-knit community, Dillard University attracts
leaders, thinkers, artists, scientists, scholars, and future professionals by focusing on high-quality instruction, research, service, and
community involvement. It equips them with the tools to imagine and build a better world for everyone. Students do not acquire knowledge in
a vacuum; they develop compassion and high ethical standards alongside it. They think critically and do not choose the easy path over the
right one. Their commitment to excellence and integrity is a source of inspiration for them and others. Beyond the classroom, they are
encouraged to participate in athletics, student government, student organization, fraternities, and sororities. Dillard’s dynamic Greek
life, which includes nine National Pan Hellenic Council organizations, helps students build meaningful, lifelong relationships with each
other and the faculty and staff.
The Provost will be central in bridging tighter connections between academic affairs, admissions,
enrollment management, and the Office of Student Success staff. It is critical that this role works collaboratively to advance the
University’s vision of being a leader in living, learning, and serving communities that extends learning beyond the classroom into the
residence halls where faculty and staff may also live, and together faculty, staff, and students serve the community locally, nationally and
globally. The Provost will also work closely to ensure non-residential students, whether commuter, hybrid, or online, feel a strong
connection to the University and have opportunities to engage with our “communiversity”.
While Dillard’s pre-and post-Covid-19
enrollment has fluctuated at or below 1,200 students, applications for admission have remained strong. As an inclusive institution, Dillard
enjoys an impressive yield of acceptances from students with steadily higher GPAs and SAT/ACT scores, although the University remains
test-optional. About 78% of students are Pell eligible, and Dillard’s discount rate is about 51%. Increasing the pool of scholarship dollars
is a constant effort. The Provost, as Chief Enrollment Officer, will lead the University’s efforts to determine the appropriate discount
rate for affordable tuition.
The student’s first-year retention rate exceeds 70%, supported by academic advising and counseling. The
graduation rate is over 50% in six years, with student financial instability causing downward pressure on that rate. The University’s
successful effort to increase student retention and graduation rates is supported by the Student Assistance for Financial Emergencies (SAFE)
Fund, which is now endowed. This endeavor, created in 2013, provides gap funding for students who would otherwise be unable to continue
their Dillard education due to unmet financial needs. The incoming Provost will build upon the University’s desire to be holistic and broad
in its recruitment of both international and domestic students, including veteran and military families, dual enrollment programs, community
college transfers, and adult learners. The Provost must support graduate students and certificate and professional development programs.
The University’s many traditions and storied customs are a draw for students who find a foundational sense of belonging and familial
well-being at Dillard. Dillard’s students join an intellectually demanding, rigorous community where faculty and peers will challenge them
and encourage them simultaneously. They can discover their strengths in a nurturing community that supports their identity and builds their
skills. The Provost Office is responsible for planning major university academic events, including opening convocation, founder’s day,
commencement, senior awards, faculty and student research and internship showcases, and graduate and professional school signing days.
A Division I member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, Dillard has a
robust and vital athletics program, an important component of the Dillard student experience. Affectionately known as the “Bleu Devils,”
Dillard student-athletes compete in the following sports: softball (women), baseball (men), basketball (men and women), cross country (men
and women), tennis (men and women), track and field (men and women), volleyball (women), and cheerleading and dance (women). The Provost
will work closely with athletics to recruit, retain and graduate Dillard’s scholars/student-athletes.
The University has played such
a central role in the history of Black America that it draws readily on family loyalty: each class of entering freshmen includes legacy
students with at least one parent who earned a Dillard degree. Dillard’s modern strength and reputational legacy are also enduring assets:
Dillard’s students do well upon graduation. Over the past decade, about 18.5% of Dillard graduates have completed a subsequent academic
credential. Today’s businesses, universities, and governmental and nonprofit organizations are pleased to find young people who possess
certifiably strong intellectual, ethical, technical, and professional skills. The Provost will work closely with the deans and directors,
Office of Career Services, and Institutional Advancement team to implement industry advisory boards to build stronger connections with
alumni and other professionals.
FACULTY AND STAFF
Dillard University’s approximately 150
faculty members (75 full-time; 66% tenured) and 250 staff members are devoted to the University’s mission and the support of student
development, advising, counseling, and mentoring. Many members of the faculty and staff have distinguished records of service at the
University and are deeply committed to the well-being of the student body and the future of the institution. The student-to-faculty ratio is
14:1, and the average class size is 18. The Provost will actively recruit and retain faculty and ensure the University optimizes classroom
efficiency while increasing student enrollment.
Drawn by the University’s commitment to their scholarly work and the caliber of
students, eminent scholars join Dillard’s faculty. Dillard faculty members often take on a personal mentoring role with their students and
invest heavily in their success. The University is both a teaching and research institution. Still, its faculty is committed to making a
profound difference in student’s lives, and their commitment to students aids the University in recruitment and retention. The Provost is
tasked with working collaboratively with Human Resources and providing professional development opportunities and mentoring/coaching faculty
and staff to improve their mentoring, advising, teaching, and supporting students.
Additionally, faculty consistently receive annual
awards for research and publication, receiving almost $10 million from federal agencies such as the NEA, NIH, NSF, and DOD. Opportunities
for student research abound, whether self-directed or partnering with faculty. The President created an incentive fund to encourage faculty
and staff to seek external funding. The Provost must ensure that faculty and staff collaborate across disciplines and with external funders
to conduct research, produce creative and professional projects that impact society, and engage undergraduates and graduate students in
research and creative productions.
FINANCES AND FACILITIES
Dillard University has an
operating budget of approximately $29 million. Through adept management, the total value of the investment endowment portfolio has exceeded
$100 million. The Provost will play a pivotal role in creating a multi-year tuition and fees strategy and a multi-year budget that align
well with the strategic plan, right-sizing the discount rate, students’ estimated family contributions, market challenges, and enrollment
trends.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the University renovated or demolished more than 30 on and off-campus
properties, focusing on environmental remediation and fire and flood protection. The campus exhibits an attractive, compelling landscape
through investments in infrastructure and facilities. The Provost will be intimately involved in implementing the Master Plan, including the
living learning and serving communities plans of mixed-use public and private partnerships with housing for faculty, staff, and student, and
classroom and community space.
GOVERNANCE
Dillard University operates under the authority
of its Board of Trustees, vested with the legal authority for the governance of all policies and decisions pertaining to the property,
business, and affairs of the University Corporation. The current Board consists of 21 voting members.
The Board has delegated the
day-to-day operation of the University to the President, the Chief Executive Officer. The President and the Board approve all educational
and/or administrative policies. The policy-making functions of the Board are clearly defined, and the Board does not interfere with the
administration and faculty in the implementation of those policies. The Provost is the administrative liaison to the Board’s enrollment and
academic affairs committees, participates in Board of Trustee meetings, and supports the President in preparation for Board engagement.
Dillard University participates in a strong shared governance model. All full-time faculty serve as members of the General Assembly,
which recommend policy and practice changes pertinent to academic life. The President and Provost are invited to each meeting. In addition,
a newly formed Staff Council offers insight into the administrative staff’s suggestions and concerns.
ALUMNI
There are thousands of enthusiastic and dedicated Dillard alumni throughout the U.S. and the
globe. Dillard alumni are leaders in their fields and are loyal to their alma mater. They participate in alumni chapters to support the
post-graduate life of classmates, exercise professional, civic, and spiritual citizenship, and eagerly offer their time, talent, and
treasure to strengthen Dillard University and its students. The Provost will work collaboratively with the Dillard University National
Alumni Association (DUNAA) and University Institutional Advancement to engage in recruitment, internships, class projects, service learning,
and other engagements.
THE ROLE OF THE PROVOST
Reporting directly to the
President, the Provost is the administrative officer next in line to the President and acts on behalf of the President in the
President’s absence. As a member of the cabinet, the Provost assists the President in coordinating the collective and collaborative efforts
of the other senior officers. All matters of academic affairs and enrollment management fall into the purview of the Provost. These include
but are not limited to undergraduate and graduate admissions, registrar, library, research centers, institutional effectiveness, certificate
programs, continuing education, domestic and international study away, service learning, academic advising, academic support programs,
family engagement, academic and enrollment strategic planning, annual budget preparation, assessment of program outcomes, and
accreditation.
The Provost serves as the Chief Academic Officer for the University. The Provost provides and
sustains an intellectually rigorous community of scholars and learners. The Provost is charged with offering competitive academic programs
aimed at cultivating leaders, taught by excellent faculty and administered by dedicated professional staff in an environment that offers
opportunities for discipline-related research, service-learning/civic engagement, and self-exploration.
The Provost serves as the
Chief Enrollment Management Officer and ensures the University has a stable and robust undergraduate and graduate enrollment. The Provost
ensures the University generates interest from prospective students to apply for the University’s credit and non-credit bearing programs and
supports students through recruitment, admissions, orientation, registration, matriculation, making academic progress (persistence and
retention), and graduation.
Essential Duties and Functions
Academic
Personnel: The Provost is responsible for the search, hire, verification of academic credentials, promotion and tenure, and
dismissal of all faculty and academic administrative officers. This includes oversight of the tenure track process, an annual evaluation of
faculty performance, merit compensation, peer review of teaching, and post-tenure academic performance review.
Academic
Administration: The Provost is responsible for the maintenance of an Academic Affairs Office, the staffing of the office, and the
evaluation of the performance of staff employees and administrative officers in that office. Responsibilities include but are not limited to
maintaining the academic calendar, the university catalog, scheduling of classes, scheduling of examination periods, oversight of the
academic advisement and student retention process, schedules of academic program reviews, schedules of program accreditation, maintenance of
SACSCOC accreditation standards, and oversight of the tenure review process. The Provost will provide strategic support to increase Dillard
students’ engagement in high-impact practices of internships, undergraduate research, service learning, leadership development, and domestic
or international study abroad.
Academic and Enrollment Budget: In collaboration with the Office of Business and
Finance, direct reports, and academic divisional deans, the Provost develops and manages the academic affairs and enrollment management
budgets. The Provost creates an environment that encourages and supports revenue-generating programs and initiatives, including sponsored
programs, grants, contracts, professional development programs and certificates, and industry collaborations. The Provost approves all
expenditures, monitors external grant and sponsored program funds secured by academic affairs and enrollment management personnel, provides
oversight for endowed chairs and professorships funds, and approves funds for new academic programs and initiatives. The Provost ensures the
effective and efficient use of funds. The Provost collaborates with the CFO and other cabinet members to set tuition and fees.
Academic Research: The Provost is responsible for encouraging, promoting, and providing support for students, faculty,
and staff engaged in sponsored research, applied research, theoretical research, and institutional research. The Provost Office oversees the
work of the Institutional Human Subjects Research Review Committee. The Provost works closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement
to identify potential areas for engaging faculty, staff, and students in sponsored research opportunities.
Domestic and
International Study Abroad: The Provost leads the University’s efforts to provide domestic and international study away
opportunities and to globalize the curriculum, faculty, and student body. The Provost proactively establishes domestic and international
partnerships where students, faculty, and staff may study, conduct and present research, create and showcase creative and professional
projects, and complete public service and service-learning projects. The Provost will collaborate with other cabinet members to develop
robust study-abroad programs. The Provost shall seek funding to support globalization efforts.
Enrollment
Management: The Provost is responsible for leadership in designing the institution’s admissions and enrollment strategies. The
Provost must make sophisticated, high-quality, data-driven, evidence-based enrollment decisions and utilize best enrollment management
practices. The Provost will oversee and be responsible for the leadership, management, and direct supervision of the offices of Recruitment,
Admissions and Programming, and Records and Registration. The Provost works closely with the Office of Financial Aid and the new Office of
Student Financial and Wealth Management services, both housed in the Office of Business and Finance. The Provost manages articulation
agreements with community colleges and other university partners (graduate and professional programs). The Provost manages Dillard’s dual
enrollment programs with high schools and other universities with graduate or specialized programs. The Provost is responsible for
developing, implementing, and evaluating programs to support students’ family engagement with the University. The goal is to increase
retention, persistence, and graduation rates while maintaining a stable enrollment.
