Vice President for Student Development - 500112
University of Richmond
Job Info
The University of Richmond invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for Student Development.
***For best consideration, please send all nominations and applications to:
Susan VanGilder, Co Practice Leader and Managing Director, Education Practice
Kamilah Allen, Senior Associate
Storbeck Search
Email: URichmondStudentDevelopment@storbecksearch.com
https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/20459-university-of-richmond-vp-for-student-development/
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
The University of Richmond (UR) is the nation's only top liberal arts college that is also home to a highly ranked undergraduate business school, the nation's first undergraduate school of leadership studies, a highly regarded school of law, and a school of professional and continuing studies that reaches thousands of individuals in the region each year. Richmond's learning and research environment is grounded in the liberal arts and is enriched by the integration of learning and scholarship across its five schools. It is defined by a culture of mentorship, interdisciplinary connections, collaboration, small class sizes, and robust curricular and co-curricular opportunities, guaranteeing students close interaction with faculty and the ability to shape their academic experience. The University emphasizes the importance of international experiences and educationally grounded civic engagement in transforming student learning and preparing students to be engaged citizens in a complex world. Consistently recognized among the nation's most beautiful campuses, Richmond offers exceptional academic and residential facilities. The University has nearly 4,000 students (about 3,200 undergraduates) and an endowment of $3.2 Billion as of June 30, 2023. UR adopted a new strategic plan in April 2023 - with five "guiding lights" (Academic Excellence, Belonging & Community, Access & Affordability, Well-being, and Community Engagement & Experiential Learning) - and is embarking on an ambitious fundraising campaign in the coming years to support the University's strategic priorities.
The University of Richmond traces its roots to 1830, when Virginia Baptists opened a seminary for men. The seminary soon added a program for literary studies and was incorporated as Richmond College in 1840. In 1914, President Boatwright, who served in office for over 50 years, led the move from downtown Richmond to the University's current location: a 350-acre campus in the west end of Richmond. In conjunction with its move to a new campus, the University opened Westhampton College for women in 1914. In 1990, the academic missions of Richmond and Westhampton Colleges were combined to form the School of Arts and Sciences.
ACADEMICS
Grounded in the liberal arts, the Richmond approach teaches students to think critically and draw connections between disciplines. The University offers 64 traditional undergraduate majors as well as minors and concentrations. It offers a wide array of high-impact educational practices from undergraduate research to experiential education to living learning communities and more. Personal engagement of students with experienced, committed faculty is a hallmark of the University of Richmond. The undergraduate student-faculty ratio is eight to one. Richmond's faculty exemplify the teacher-scholar model and are deeply dedicated mentors to students. Students participate in collaborative research and other creative activity with faculty during, and in some cases prior to, their formal matriculation on campus. Students have received prestigious honors and awards, including Rhodes, Marshall, Goldwater, Clarendon, Truman, and Fulbright scholarships. The University has been named a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students for four consecutive years.
More than 85% of traditional undergraduate students live on campus, providing significant opportunity to integrate academic dimensions into residential life. Distinctive living learning communities blend academic and campus life and allow students to join a diverse community of students who live together in a residence hall, take a class, do research, travel off-campus, and become engaged in a topic on a deeper level. The Richmond Endeavor is the University's premiere living-learning experience for first-year students. It begins the summer before matriculation, and students are assigned dedicated faculty and peer mentors, participate in a preorientation process, live together in a residence hall, and take linked topical courses throughout the year. Sophomore Scholars in Residence (SSIR) is a distinctive year-long experience for second-year students. Students apply to a specific thematic SSIR program and take a one-unit fall course, half-unit collaborative project course in the spring, and engage in full-funded travel in the U.S. and/or abroad during school breaks. The University also offers themed residential communities such as UR Living Well, Lavender Living, and Earth Lodge.
The University's commitment to global education is significant, including more than 70 study abroad partnerships in 30 countries and the award-winning EnCompass program, which provides fully-funded global experiences to students less likely to study abroad. Richmond has one of the nation's highest student participation rates in study abroad, at nearly two-thirds of its traditional undergraduate students. The University also leverages its location 15 minutes from the state capitol to promote civic engagement through community-engaged courses and other cocurricular experiences.
SCHOOLS
The University of Richmond is organized into five distinct schools:
The School of Arts and Sciences: The School of Arts and Sciences is the heart of Richmond's undergraduate liberal arts program and the largest of the schools. All traditional undergraduate students enter the University through the School of Arts and Sciences, and more than 60% of majors are earned in one of the Arts and Sciences disciplines. The School is home to 350 faculty in 24 academic departments and 12 interdisciplinary programs. At the University of Richmond, students belong to a College and a School. The College Deans cultivate the academic, co-curricular, and social life of the campus. The School of Arts and Sciences maintains a close partnership with the deans of Richmond College and Westhampton College, working alongside both college deans to holistically guide students through their experience at Richmond. To that end, both college deans are also associate deans in the School and part of the Student Development division.
The Jepson School of Leadership Studies: Opened in 1992, the Jepson School of Leadership Studies is the nation's first-ever school of leadership studies and a distinctive hallmark of the University. The Jepson School draws upon the liberal arts to advance the understanding of leadership and the challenges of ethical and effective engagement in society. Jepson functions as a one-department school with 20 faculty. Nearly 10% of traditional undergraduate majors are earned in Leadership Studies.
The Robins School of Business: As a highly ranked business school at a top 25 liberal arts university, the Robins School of Business challenges and encourages students to draw real-world connections across disciplines. The School offers undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs. Robins is home to 103 faculty and more than 40 graduate business students. Approximately a third of traditional undergraduate majors are earned in the Robins School.
The School of Law: The University of Richmond's School of Law combines a rigorous and high-touch academic program with an extensive selection of clinical placements and experiential learning opportunities to create a cadre of lawyers uniquely prepared to meet the challenges of today's world. The School of Law enrolls approximately 425 JD and LLM students and is home to more than 90 faculty.
The School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS): SPCS extends the strengths and values of a liberal arts education to adult students and working professionals in the Richmond region. The School offers undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, enrichment opportunities, professional education, and summer programs to part-time and non-traditional students of all ages. SPCS is home to more than 10 full-time and 62 adjunct faculty.
STUDENTS
Richmond currently enrolls approximately 3,164 traditional undergraduate students in the School of Arts and Sciences, Robins School of Business, and Jepson School of Leadership Studies, as well as 726 students in the School of Law (JD and LLM), School of Professional and Continuing Studies (graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs), and Robins School of Business graduate programs. Richmond enrolls approximately 830 first-year and 60 undergraduate transfer students annually. The University's student body also includes over 400 NCAA Division I student-athletes in 17 sports. 26% of students participate in fraternity and sorority life.
The undergraduate student body currently represents 47 U.S. states and 62 countries. Last year, over one quarter of students were U.S. students of color, and 14% are first-generation college students. Ten percent are international citizens. Among domestic students, 43% are from the Northeast, 36% are from the South (including Virginia), 5% are from the Midwest, and 5% are from the West. 56% are from public high schools and 43% are from independent high schools.
The University is committed to access and affordability and is one of only approximately 80 institutions in the nation that is both need-blind and meets full need for domestic traditional undergraduate students. The Richmond Guarantee bestows each undergraduate student up to $5,000 to participate in a faculty-mentored summer research project or an unfunded or under-funded internship. Undergraduate Virginians with family income under $60,000 receive a grant equal to tuition, room, and board. Moreover, full need is met through grant aid for graduates of Richmond Public Schools and participants in designated community partner programs. The University also has a robust merit aid program. The institution's commitment to access and affordability is strengthened by ongoing efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in pursuit of creating a campus where all students, faculty, and staff feel a sense of welcome and belonging.
THE CAMPUS AND LIVING IN RICHMOND, VA
The University's 350-acre campus is built in the Collegiate Gothic style on hillsides surrounding a lake. It is consistently recognized among the nation's most beautiful campuses (#1 Most Beautiful according to The Princeton Review in 2023). Major capital improvements to the campus in recent years have included significant renovation to the University's performing and visual arts facilities; expansion of the main humanities building; a multiphase library renovation; updates of existing campus student residences; a new Center for Admission and Career Services; and a newly constructed state-of-the-art Well-Being Center. There is a dedicated budget for ongoing residence hall renovations and classroom renovations to ensure that all teaching spaces are continuously refreshed. All new buildings constructed on campus are required to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver status or better, or an equivalent green building standard. There are now 17 certified green buildings on campus, an eco-corridor, pollinator meadow, and solar array.
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is frequently recognized for creativity and livability. Richmond is home to seven colleges and universities as well as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; the Richmond Symphony; the Virginia Opera; the Richmond Ballet; the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens; and the Flying Squirrels, a double-A San Francisco Giants affiliate baseball team. The James River runs through the center of the city and offers white-water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing. The city and surrounding area have a vibrant local food scene, with some 900 restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines, plus many microbreweries, distilleries, and wineries.
Richmond has a strong network of public and private schools, both within and outside the city limits. The city is also home to a number of federal and state agencies, a dynamic biotech research center, a highly respected academic medical center, a Federal Reserve Bank, two of the nation's top 100 law firms, and five Fortune 500 companies. The metropolitan population is over 1.3 million, and Richmond's neighborhoods showcase a diversity of settings, building styles, and demographics. The campus location in the west end provides options for urban, suburban, or rural residential lifestyles within a few easily commutable miles of campus.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING
The University of Richmond is committed to making its transformative education accessible to students from all backgrounds; to promoting thoughtful, intellectually rigorous, and respectful engagement with a wide range of backgrounds, viewpoints, and perspectives; and to fostering a diverse learning community and workplace in which all Spiders feel as though they belong in our web and can fully and authentically participate in University life. Members of the University community strive to embrace the dignity, worth, and well-being of all individuals.
Over the past two decades, the University of Richmond has strengthened and accelerated its ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), incorporating it into pillars of strategic plans and the University's mission, values, and vision. In November 2023, President Hallock announced a search for a new Cabinet-level position - the Vice President for DEIB. This position will report to the President and lead the University's continued DEIB efforts, in partnership with a campus ecosystem of students, staff, and faculty who share in this important work.
INSTITUTIONAL FINANCES
Through generations of extraordinary philanthropic support and prudent stewardship, the University of Richmond has maintained an excellent financial position. The University's annual operating budget is $356.4 million, and its endowment stands at $3.2 billion as of 6/30/2023. The University's bond ratings are excellent - Moody's Aa1 (November 2021) and S&P AA+ (April 2022) - both of which reflect the University's sterling balance sheet, an ethos of careful budget management, and strong student demand.
The University's annual fundraising in the past five years has averaged $34 million. Increasing fundraising and alumni engagement are a priority, and early planning for the University's first major comprehensive campaign in more than a decade is underway.
UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP
Dr. Kevin Hallock became the University of Richmond's 11th President in August 2021. Prior to coming to Richmond, President Hallock spent a total of 26 years on the faculties of the University of Illinois and Cornell University. Most recently he was Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and served as Joseph R. Rich '80 Professor and Director of the Institute for Compensation Studies at Cornell.
An award-winning teacher, President Hallock is a labor market economist and author or editor of 11 books and over 100 publications. He holds the appointment of Distinguished University Professor of Economics at UR and most recently taught a First-Year Seminar for Richmond students on why people earn what they earn. President Hallock's research has included areas such as the gender pay gap, executive compensation, quantile regression, and job loss. President Hallock graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned a PhD in economics from Princeton University. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He serves on the boards of the Jepson Scholars Foundation, Venture Richmond, and Homeward, a Richmond nonprofit dedicated to preventing, reducing, and ending homelessness.
THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
The Vice President for Student Development provides executive leadership to all Student Development offices, overseeing a large division that plays an integral role in the lives of undergraduate and graduate students at University of Richmond and fosters their holistic development. Student Development offices work collaboratively to create a dynamic campus community, offer services for healthy living, and provide learning resources that build on the classroom experience.
Student Development consists of the following areas:
- Center for Student Involvement
- Chaplaincy
- Counseling & Psychological Services
- Disability Services
- Health Promotion
- New Student & Transition Programs
- Residence Life and Housing
- Richmond College
- Student Center for Equity & Inclusion
- Student Health Center
- University Recreation
- Westhampton College
The Vice President's direct reports include:
- Associate Vice President of Health and Well-Being
- Dean of Student Equity and Inclusion and Director of the Student Center for Equity and Inclusion
- Dean of Richmond College
- Dean of Westhampton College
- Director of Student Involvement
- Director of Residence Life and Housing
- University Chaplain
The next Vice President for Student Development will join an exceptional organization composed of an experienced and dedicated staff, all of whom are committed to maximizing the student experience at University of Richmond. The next Vice President will be energized by the following opportunities and challenges, among many others:
Building upon a solid foundation, shape the direction for the next chapter of Student Development at University of Richmond: Student Development is a high functioning division with staff who are skilled at supporting students and developing innovative programming and initiatives that prioritize student success and wellbeing. Looking forward, the Vice President will work with staff to identify areas of strength and areas of needed growth to ensure alignment with the goals and aspirations of the University. The Vice President will ensure that the vision is inclusive of the diverse needs of undergraduates, graduate students, and part-time/non-traditional students and that there are robust engagement opportunities for students within and outside of fraternity and sorority life. The vision will account for the unique complexities of the institution, including the coordinate college system and its impact on the student experience.
Advance vital and dynamic partnerships across campus, including with faculty, administrators, students, and staff: The next Vice President will work successfully within the collaborative culture at University of Richmond and further the successful relationships the Student Development Division has established across the university community. The Vice President will champion efforts to unite, build campus spirit, and foster an engaging environment for students, families, alumni, and the University.
Shape and advance strategic priorities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging (DEIB) and wellbeing: The university is committed to an ethos of taking time to care for ourselves and others. Similar to campuses across the country, the University of Richmond has been active in responding to an increase in student needs for mental health care and support. Student Development has been a leader in wellness and DEIB efforts on campus, and the Vice President will continue this work by playing a key role in further defining and operationalizing these efforts for the campus community. The Vice President will also advance the work of the Well-Being Center, which opened in 2021 as a centralized place to provide critical student services related to physical health, mental health, and nutrition. It is essential that the Vice President possesses the skills and passion to articulate and galvanize these efforts as the University follows through on its commitment to become a place where all students find wellbeing and belonging.
Serve as a visible representative and spokesperson for student development: The Vice President for Student Development will be an active presence with students as they engage in a variety of activities and endeavors outside of the classroom. The Vice President will connect with students in these environments and others, earning their trust and providing a model of student engagement for other administrators and faculty. The ideal candidate will be highly visible to and involved with students, both through one-on-one engagement and through being present at campus events and within the community. Externally, the Vice President will serve as a representative and spokesperson on matters related to student life. They must be comfortable speaking to a wide range of audiences with both prepared and extemporaneous remarks on important and sometimes difficult topics.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The Vice President for Student Development will be well-informed on and experienced in addressing the current and future challenges of residential campuses. Ensuring students have a sense of belonging will require a leader who is innovative and comfortable using data and assessment as part of the decision-making process. The Vice President will also need to understand the changing needs and expectations of students as they navigate the world in the current social, health and political climates. The Vice President will bring a comprehensive and holistic view of the entire student life cycle at University of Richmond and will play a critical, visible, campus-wide leadership role, partnering collaboratively with a wide range of academic and administrative units throughout the University. The Vice President must be approachable and accessible to all students and embrace the opportunity to engage deeply with the campus community.
The successful candidate will be a student-centered, forward-thinking leader who thrives in a highly collaborative environment and holds great appreciation for the value of experiences that contribute to student's understanding of themselves and the world.
In addition to demonstrated leadership in an academic setting, the next Vice President for Student Development will be someone who possesses:
- Deep passion for student life and the holistic residential student experience
- Ability to engage others in creating, implementing and articulating a comprehensive and inclusive student development vision and plan
- Deep leadership in an academic environment, including extensive budget, personnel and space management experience
- Proven track record of prioritizing student academic success along with wellness and belonging on campus
- Unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism, as well as a record that evidences success in championing these principles
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, parents, trustees and donors
- Ability to work across all student development areas to support and engage all students from a range of socioeconomic, racial, sexual identity, and other backgrounds
- Ability to work collaboratively and obtain buy-in within academic and administrative structures to advance the interests of student development
- Experience managing crises with demonstrated calm under pressure and a positive approach to navigating challenges
- Approachable, inclusive, engaging, and transparent leadership style
- Demonstrated knowledge of student engagement with athletics and Greek life
- Collaborative decision-making style that emphasizes close listening, balanced with the ability to make data-informed decisions
- Track record of welcoming collaboration with a range of partners and constituencies across a campus to advance the overall student experience
- Ability to build teams and to lead, inspire, mentor, advocate for, and retain staff within a complex division with clear, measurable goals
- Desire to engage with and seek input from students
- Capacity to be a dynamic and influential advocate for students
- Deep knowledge of the latest trends and research in the field
- Skill in advancing new initiatives and change, while appreciating history and traditions
- Record of serving as a collaborative member of leadership teams
- Record of successful donor engagement
- High energy, exquisite listening skills, intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, and passion for the work of a student-centered university
- Ability to lead with fun, genuineness, warmth, and a sense of humor
- Flexibility to address challenges, respond to crises, and attend events outside of regular working hours
- An advanced degree
Salary is highly competitive and commensurate with experience.
CONTACTS
For best consideration, please send all nominations and applications to:
Susan VanGilder, Co Practice Leader and Managing Director, Education Practice
Kamilah Allen, Senior Associate
Storbeck Search
Email: URichmondStudentDevelopment@storbecksearch.com
https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/20459-university-of-richmond-vp-for-student-development/
The University has a policy of non-discrimination with regard to race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, status as a veteran, or any classification protected by local, state or federal law. It is the intent of the University's employment and personnel practices to conform with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding non-discrimination. It is the obligation of each employee of the University in his or her area of responsibility to adhere to this policy.
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