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Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), one of the world’s leading technological research universities,
seeks a dynamic and experienced leader for the role of Vice Provost for Online Learning and Educational Innovation. Joining the university
during an exciting transformational era, the Vice Provost will serve as an influential change agent by providing strategic direction and
oversight over a growing portfolio of online, distance, and hybrid educational offerings. The incumbent will also lead efforts to broadly
enhance program development and pedagogical delivery across the university, partnering with key stakeholders in instructional design,
faculty development, graduate education, enrollment management, marketing and communications, and many other domains. As a result of these
efforts, Missouri S&T will become a global leader in online learning and substantially broaden access to its high-quality academic
offerings in science, technology, business, and organizational development.
About Missouri S&T
Designated
as both a land-grant and space-grant institution, Missouri S&T has a rich academic tradition dating back to its founding in 1870 as the
Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. The university currently enrolls over 7,000 students and is home to more than 350 faculty, many of
whom are recognized as among the top two percent in their respective fields. Missouri S&T is frequently commended as a leading
institution for career
placement and return on investment and a top destination for
engineering majors. The university counts around 60,000 living alumni that include world-famous astronauts, scientists, engineers,
inventors, and business leaders. One of four universities within the University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T also benefits from shared services, partnership agreements, and other
forms of collaboration with its peer institutions.
Under the leadership of Chancellor Mohammad Dehghani and Provost Colin
Potts, Missouri S&T is pursuing three primary “North Star Goals” in the coming years: growing enrollment, elevating the university’s rank and reputation,
and advancing to an R1 Carnegie Classification. A substantial portion of the university’s enrollment growth in the coming decade is
projected to occur in the online education space, with emphases on non-thesis master’s degrees, certificate programs, and similar
graduate and/or continuing education offerings. The university has a solid foundation for this growth trajectory, with several established
online programs in each of its three academic colleges. Missouri S&T’s online programs in engineering management and
industrial-organizational psychology were recently ranked among the Top 10 in the nation according to U.S. News
and World Report and Forbes
Advisor, respectively.
Missouri S&T is located in the community of Rolla and surrounded by the scenic beauty of the
Missouri Ozarks. Known as a welcoming, family-friendly, and affordable community, Rolla offers plentiful opportunities for outdoor
recreation, quality K-12 schools, and a comprehensive medical center. Rolla is approximately one hour away from numerous urban amenities in
the St. Louis area, including world-class museums, shopping, sporting events and other cultural attractions.
The
Role
Building upon a long history of online and distance education and customized educational solutions for corporate
partners at Missouri S&T, the Vice Provost for Online Learning and Educational Innovation will be tasked with galvanizing new and
continued innovation within these areas. Missouri S&T has well-established online program offerings in fields such as engineering
management, industrial-organizational psychology, technical communication, engineering, and business and information systems. The university
holds the potential to scale these offerings more broadly as well as developing new offerings across each of Missouri S&T’s three
colleges in fields such as data science, innovation management, and artificial intelligence. The successful candidate will demonstrate the
ability to successfully navigate this dynamic landscape, while serving as a thought leader and change agent by helping faculty to reimagine
the possibilities for successful curriculum delivery in online and distance education venues.
The Vice Provost will cultivate several
close working partnerships on campus, including staff members in Enrollment Management, the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE),
the College of Engineering and Computing, and Missouri S&T’s distance education facility in St. Louis. The university anticipates
the need to recalibrate organizational structures and/or add additional staff capacity in accordance with the vision and strategy proposed
by the incumbent. The Vice Provost will also be responsible for developing and maintaining the university’s partnership with Missouri Online, a centralized support unit established by the
University of Missouri System to facilitate online education program development.
Desired Qualifications
A
doctoral degree is strongly preferred for this role. The minimum requirement for the Vice Provost position is a master’s degree and 10 years
of related experience. Candidates with advanced subject matter expertise in online education, pedagogical innovation, and various and
emerging models of curriculum delivery (e.g., degree programs, certificates, stackable credentials, both synchronous and asynchronous
approaches) will be particularly competitive for this role. Candidates must have a background that includes budgetary and administrative
oversight of major online learning and/or educational innovation initiatives.
Leading candidates will also possess the ability to
cultivate complex networks of partnerships among faculty, staff, administrators, and external partners. It is necessary for the Vice Provost
to serve as a credible influencer among faculty colleagues across a variety of disciplines. Although not a requirement for hire, candidates
with the necessary qualifications may be considered for a tenured appointment within a relevant academic discipline at Missouri S&T.
Additional qualifications for the Vice Provost of Online Learning and Educational Innovation are as follows:
- Demonstrated
thought leadership in curriculum development and innovation, particularly as it relates to the diverse STEM and STEM-adjacent academic
disciplines at Missouri S&T - Subject matter expertise in online and distance education and experience leading educational
delivery across a variety of modalities; must demonstrate an understanding of current and emerging best practices in online learning - Relevant technical expertise to effectively support the design of innovative online education programs
- A strategic and
resourceful leadership approach with the ability to effectively parse complex problems, nurture key partnerships, and drive progress toward
institutional goals - Significant administrative experience and demonstrated understanding of the principles of shared governance
– the incumbent must be able to broker and execute mutually beneficial incentive structures to facilitate the growth of online
education at Missouri S&T - Ability to serve as a convener of and meaningful contributor toward strategic discussions about
online student recruitment, marketing and outreach, or related corporate partnership development
Application
Instructions
To apply, please submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and list of five professional references.
Professional references will be contacted later in the process prior to any hiring decision and the university will not contact references
without prior candidate authorization. All applications received by January 21, 2024 will receive full consideration.
Nominations and inquiries for this search may be directed to Andrew Crain ([email protected]), Lead Recruitment Consultant with the University of Missouri System.
