Position Overview
The University of Utah (the U) seeks an experienced, innovative, and distinguished academic leader to guide the academic affairs division as its next Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost (SVPAA).
The University of Utah was founded in 1850, and its main campus is located in Salt Lake City on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, neighboring seven world-class ski resorts. Its Utah and international campuses sere more than 34,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world. With more than 100 major subjects at the undergraduate level and 90 major fields of study at the graduate level, the university prepares students to live and compete in the global workplace. the U, with its emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility, encourages active, holistic lifestyle and collaborative thinking to engage students, faculty, and business leaders. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Utah as an R1: Doctoral University-Very High Research Institution. In 2019, the University of Utah was invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities, which requires its member institutions to engage at the highest levels of research, scholarship, and education. Notably, in fiscal year 2021, the university obtained a historic high of over $640 million in research funding and awards, which benefits higher education, the state of Utah, and society as a whole by creating new knowledge, jobs, and patents. In 2017, the Milken Institute recognized the U as No. 1 in its Best Universities for Technology Transfer listing. The U is also a member of the Pac-12 Conference, reflecting and enhancing not only athletics but our academic and research excellence.
The U leads not only in research and instruction but in innovation as well, including in its nationally heralded health care system. In 2022, for the seventh consecutive year, the University of Utah Hospital was ranked No. 1 in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. Unique among its peers, the university's health sciences campus and principal campus are contiguously located, providing unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and discovery.
The university is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, which is central to its mission and is evident throughout its campuses and curriculum. Candidates must be inclusive in their methods and perspectives and create a culture where these practices can flourish. The next SVPAA/Provost of the university musts be committed to developing leadership across races, genders, and cultures. The SVPAA/Provost must cultivate supportive environments where all university community members feel safe to engage in intellectual exploration.
The SVPAA/Provost carries primary responsibility for setting the academic vision and strategic focus and for directing and enhancing the academic mission of the University of Utah, at both the undergraduate and graduate/professional levels. Responsibilities include academic planning, long-range planning, oversight of academic personnel, budget planning, enrollment management, institutional information resources, and student admissions and retention. The incumbent reports directly to the university President and is responsible for the alignment of the academic and budget priorities. The university seeks an SVPAA/Provost who possesses a strong academic background, research, and teaching credentials sufficient to quality for the rank of tenured professor, and who demonstrates a commitment to both undergraduate and graduate/professional education. Knowledge of the current higher education environment and related academic affairs issues and a strong commitment to shared governance is also required. As a member of the executive leadership team, the incumbent must have the ability to actively participate in the strategic direction of the university.
Applications materials should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Utah in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by July 22, 2022. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Zachary A. Smith, Ph,Dl, Jeff Compher, and Julia Bradley at UtahSVPandProvost@wittkiefer.com.
About the University of Utah
The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate and 90 graduate degree programs, and an enrollment of more than 34,000 students. In November 2019, the university was selected as a new member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 65 leading research institutions in North America marked by excellence in academic expertise and research impact, student success and securing resources in support of core missions. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Utah as an R1: Doctoral University–Very High Research Institution.
The University of Utah’s success in achieving excellence in research and teaching reflects the values of Utah: An unparalleled work ethic and a spirit of entrepreneurship, collaboration and community service. These qualities have enabled the University of Utah to innovate across many fields and pioneer new programs with social impact, generate path-breaking discoveries, fuel critical research, and inspire innovative approaches to education. More facts, stats and data on the university are available here.
The U is the University for Utah just as it is the University of Utah. It strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation and the world. The University of Utah’s reputation for excellence draws top-tier faculty and attracts motivated students from across the country and internationally. These students bring with them diverse experiences and outlooks—representing traditional and nontraditional students alike—thereby enhancing the exceptional educational experience the University of Utah offers.
The University of Utah honors the fact that its campus is located on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute and Ute tribes, as stated in its Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Statement. The U also has a memorandum of understanding with the Ute Indian Tribe to use the Ute name for its sports programs.
Mission
The University of Utah fosters student success by preparing students from diverse backgrounds for lives of impact as leaders and citizens. We generate and share new knowledge, discoveries and innovations, and we engage local and global communities to promote education, health and quality of life. These contributions, in addition to responsible stewardship of our intellectual, physical and financial resources, ensure the long-term success and viability of the institution.
Strategic Vision
In 2020, the main and health campuses at the University of Utah launched a strategic roadmap that ensures a One U approach to the future—a blueprint designed to accelerate the university’s rise as it focuses on four overarching goals: student success, knowledge transfer, community engagement and institutional vitality. Strategy 2025 is the result of a process launched in spring 2019 that harnessed the creative power of our campus community and stakeholders to shape a new vision, with strategies and measurable outcomes to guide us for the next five years. More information about the University’s strategy plan is available at https://strategy.utah.edu/
Salt Lake City
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