Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs / CAO
STATUS: Full time
DIVISION: Academic Affairs
REPORTS TO: CCS President
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
SUPERVISES: Deans and Executive Assistant
Position Summary
The College for Creative Studies seeks a creative, visionary, and entrepreneurial leader for the position of Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs/CAO (Provost/VPAA/CAO). Reporting to the President from the A. Alfred Taubman Center, the Provost/VPAA/CAO will have an extraordinary opportunity to advance a distinctive college incorporating a range of forward-looking programs in visual arts, media, and design. As the chief academic officer of the College, the Provost/VPAA/CAO is responsible for all matters related to academic operations including oversight of faculty and curriculum and is a catalyst for innovation. In collaboration with the President, leadership team, and faculty, the Provost/VPAA/CAO will implement and evolve the College’s strategic plan to build upon the College’s excellence through program development, faculty professional development, encouragement of greater interdisciplinary learning, integration of new technologies such as AI, and promotion of partnerships with varied outside organizations.
Position Accountabilities and Essential Functions
The Provost/VPAA/CAO is the chief academic officer of the College and is responsible for all matters related to the academic operations including oversight of faculty and curricular matters. In addition, the Provost/VPAA/CAO is also responsible for Student Affairs, Residence Life, Wellness and Counseling, Student Diversity, and Inclusion. The Provost/VPAA/CAO will serve as a spokesperson for the College locally, nationally, and internationally, working as an advocate for the value of art and design to society. The following is a list of the major responsibilities of the position:
• In close collaboration with the President and consistent with the College’s strategic plan, provide vision and leadership to maintain and foster academic programs and support services of the highest quality
• As the College’s innovation leader and along with the Deans and Academic Department Chairs, guide the development of new academic programs and initiatives consistent with the College’s strategic plan
• Promote the College’s national and international reputation during an extraordinary period in the city of Detroit’s transformation
• Work closely with the President and other senior colleagues in strategic planning, goal setting, budget planning and implementation, enrollment management, technology planning, and resource development
• Create a sense of unity and shared purpose within the College including across the curriculum and co-curriculum
• Enhance the role of interdisciplinary teaching and learning in the College’s educational programs
• Foster initiatives to expand research activities and promote scholarships in the creative disciplines
• Lead the college with the President and faculty towards a fully student centered institution
• Manage, recruit and advance an outstanding and diverse faculty appropriate to the College’s mission
• Through the Academic Dean and Deans of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, supervise, support, and empower the academic departments
• Manage the reappointment and promotion of full-time faculty, in collaboration with the Deans of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies and the President
• Manage the reaccreditation process and serve as the liaison between the College and the various accreditation agencies
• Supervise and annually conducts annual reviews of Deans and Executive Assistant. Provides oversight for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and their respective divisions.
• Play an active role in expanding corporate partnerships and integrating industry collaborations into academic programs, where appropriate
• Help to advance the University Prep, Art, and Design, focusing on strengthening its art and design curriculum and developing greater collaboration between the College and School
• Collaborate with the President and the College’s advancement team in developing resources to support the College’s educational programs
• Communicate the vision of the College to prospective students, alumni, foundations, employers, and external partners
Key opportunities for the College where the Provost/VPAA/CAO will have impact include:
• Attracting the best and brightest faculty and students in design and the visual arts
• Enhancing the international and national reputation of CCS
• Developing new and innovative degree programs
• Developing meaningful and relevant interdisciplinary programs
• Leveraging new technologies to extend our pedagogical and professional reach
• Exploring on-line learning systems and opportunities
• Expanding our presence and outreach efforts in the Detroit Metro area, and beyond
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS:
• Understanding the Mission: Knows art and design education and higher education more generally and possesses the mission-critical skills needed to do the job; understands how colleges operate; is able to learn and teach new methods to advance the mission.
• Making Complex Decisions: Can solve even the toughest and most complex of problems; great at gleaning meaning from whatever data is available; is a quick study of the new and different; adds personal wisdom and experience to come to the best conclusion and solution, given the situation; uses multiple problem-solving tools and techniques.
• Creating the New and Different: Is able to come up with the next great breakthrough thing to do; is creative, a visionary, and can manage innovation; is an effective strategist full of ideas and possibilities; sees multiple futures; has broad interests and knowledge; can both create and bring exciting ideas to fruition; is comfortable speculating about alternative futures without all of the data.
Communicating Effectively: Writes and presents effectively; adjusts to fit the audience and the message; strongly gets a message across.
• Getting Work Done Through Others: Manages people well; gets the most and best out of the people they have; sets and communicates guiding goals and motivates and inspires people to meet them; measures accomplishments, holds people accountable, and gives useful feedback; delegates and develops; keeps people informed; provides coaching for today and for the future.
• Acting with Honor and Character: Is a person of high character; consistently acts in line with a clear and visible set of values and beliefs; deals and talks straight; walks their talk; is direct and truthful but at the same time can keep confidences.
• Being Open and Receptive: is at ease and relaxes; is easy to talk to and get to know; listens attentively; is an open book; has a positive sense of humor; deals calmly with stress and gives people a chance to catch up.
Qualifications and Experience
• A terminal degree (MFA or Ph.D.) in an Art and Design field
• A minimum of 6-10 years of experience in higher education (in both administration and teaching)
• Substantive relevant commercial experience working in an art or design field outside of academia
• Excellent interpersonal skills, public speaking skills, and writing ability
• Knowledge of the contemporary digital technologies used in educational and professional art/design environments
• Demonstrated experience as an intellectual and creative leader
• A record of substantial administrative achievement, with demonstrated managerial and organizational skill and ability to recruit, manage, and motivate a diverse team
• Demonstrated experience in aligning programmatic and budgetary priorities
• A successful track record of forming creative partnerships
• Interest in and aptitude for institutional advancement and alumni relations, including building external relationships with partners who share common goals and values
• Appreciation for the College’s educational mission and for the role of the arts in our society
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office and college campus environment, located in the A. Alfred Taubman Center. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to maintain a stationary position, use a computer and other office equipment, and communicate effectively in person, by phone, and virtually. Frequent interaction with others, including staff, faculty, students and third parties is required. The employee may occasionally be required to move files or other objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including from low and high places. The ability to move around within the office and between buildings on campus, attend off-site meetings and events, and travel between Ford Campus site to Taubman Center site are required. CCS will make reasonable accommodations that will allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Application Procedure/Additional Information
The College for Creative Studies is being assisted by the partners of Hyatt–Fennell, Executive Search. Nominations and application materials should be submitted to Cheryl Hyatt or Jann Weitzel at CCSDetroit@Hyatt-Fennell.com.
Applications should include the following, submitted in separate documents: A cover letter, Current resume, and Contact information for five professional references
Nominations should include the name of nominee and current contact information.
All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
About CCS
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.
The College for Creative Studies, a leading college of art and design, represents a community composed of individuals with many perspectives, personal experiences, values, identities and worldviews and we value the diversity this brings to our organization. CCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, height, weight, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions and educational practices and strives to provide an environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are part of our Core Institutional Values and we encourage applications from all individuals.
posted on February 12, 2025 at 12:36 pm