Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (Texas A&M Internal Search)

The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (VPFA) is responsible for leading a faculty affairs unit that provides an infrastructure to support faculty by facilitating faculty recruitment and hiring, promotion and tenure, and overseeing workflows and committees. The VPFA is responsible for faculty recruitment, retention, development, honors and awards, partner placement, university level grievances, and for keeping faculty related university guidelines current.

Stephaney Davis is leading this search with Texas A&M University Executive Searches.

The VPFA has the responsibility and authority to ensure that faculty are treated fairly and equitably and that faculty interests are elevated and promoted. The VPFA is responsible for safeguarding and supporting academic freedom. The office of VPFA provides a platform for shared governance relationships and transparency in the distribution of faculty resources and evaluation of faculty. The VPFA works to help ensure faculty are provided with growth and development opportunities and that standards of quality control are applied in evaluating faculty and academic administrators. This role will foster a transparent and direct line of communication and collaboration between the institution, faculty, and senior administrators and will provide focused effort on an infrastructure to better support faculty by facilitating best practices that build faculty and advance excellence in executing recruitment, hiring, growth, and retention processes. The VPFA will effectively collaborate with the President, Provost, and Deans to align resources to help ensure faculty success and sustain high-level professional development opportunities and recognition/reward programs for faculty.

65%: Faculty Affairs

Coordinates and participates in the promotion and tenure process to help ensure a thorough and objective review of the substance and merits of each faculty member’s case following customary methods. Communicates with academic administrators and the faculty generally regarding tenure and promotion procedures. Encourages and facilitates support of faculty academic freedom.

Provides focus on faculty hiring strategies, outreach programs, financial incentives and marketing approaches to attract high-quality faculty hires.

Supports initiatives to improve and sustain faculty retention, incorporates practices to monitor the welfare and health of colleges and schools, and support functions, and promotes an engaging culture within the institution.

In conjunction with the Division of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness, coordinates hiring and onboarding processes and assists dual career couples with partner placement issues while continually supporting initiatives relative to succession planning, mentoring, coaching, and developmental opportunities for faculty. Participates in efforts relating to development programs for academic administrators.

Leads efforts to recognize and celebrate the excellence of Texas A&M University faculty by partnering with awarding entities to gather nominations, convene review committees, and oversee final selection and recognition of honorees, such as Regents Professors.

Ensure that international faculty, researchers, and staff attain the appropriate nonimmigrant status.

Administers the faculty development leave program, providing faculty with an awareness of how participation optimizes transformational experience opportunities and expands the impact of scholarship. Proactively administers programs and partners with key finance and operations units to formulate strategies to monitor and evaluate salary and other budgetary recommendations to support a sound compensation strategy and resource management based on faculty qualifications and performance.

Prioritizes opportunities to interview prospective faculty members, academic administrators and department heads for the purpose of providing each with an overall perspective of related goals and objectives impacting scholarly efforts at Texas A&M University. This may include the recruitment of academic administrators, including chairing search committees if requested.

Provides oversight of the appointment and evaluation process for distinguished professor positions and coordinates the awarding of emeritus status/faculty retirement recognition.

25%: Faculty Affairs Liaison

Serves as an administrative liaison to the Faculty Senate, its Executive Committee and other recognized faculty/staff networks. Serves in leading priorities affiliated with critical programs.

Collaborates with the Faculty Ombudsperson to ensure faculty are treated fairly and equitably. Serves as a resource and responsible official for the faculty portion of the federally required Affirmative Action Program and Report.

Serves as the central administration liaison with the Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure, and the University Grievance Committee. Assures teaching loads are in compliance with minimum standards. Provides guidance and University information to department heads. Serves on various University committees, leads academic programs, and participates in faculty credentialing for accreditation.

10%: Supervision

Supervises faculty affairs team and works strategically with the Provost, VP of Finance, VP of HROE, and the VP of Research to ensure programs and initiatives lead to faculty and academic administrator success.

Other Duties

Performs other duties as assigned, including participating in faculty civil rights investigations according to the University's SAP.

Doctorate degree or other terminal degree.

Required Experience:

Ten years of teaching and scholarly research/creative activity to include five to ten years of academic administration.

Tenured full professor

Required Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Scholarly competence as judged by one’s peers in an academic discipline, including substantial research knowledge and experience. Ability to objectively evaluate requests and proposals. Ability to work well with all segments of the University community and external agencies. Tact, diplomacy, and judgment. Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Experience:

At least five years of senior academic administration. Professional experience in a higher education setting. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic plans. Experience with faculty recruitment and personnel actions. Experience with aspects of Academic Programs Review and its process. Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution.

Preferred Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of faculty recruitment and personnel actions. Proven record of successfully navigating faculty-related issues, including conflict resolution and appeals. Ability to communicate and work with all groups in a complex and dynamic environment.

Ability to work collaboratively with deans and other senior administrators to align the activities with the greater interests of Texas A&M University. Seasoned financial and budgetary management skills. Knowledge of aspects of Academic Programs Review and its process.