"Associate Provost and Dean for Student Success"

Job Details

Randolph-Macon College invites applications for the full-time, 12-month position of Associate Provost and Dean for Student Success, a senior academic leader who will provide strategic vision and operational leadership for a comprehensive, integrated approach to student success.

Reporting directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and serving as a member of the President’s Cabinet (during the first year of appointment), the Associate Provost and Dean for Student Success will lead institutional efforts to support student learning, persistence, timely degree completion, and post-graduate outcomes. This role serves as a connector, strategist, and steward of the College’s strategic initiative focused on improving student outcomes during and following enrollment.

The Associate Provost and Dean for Student Success leads a broad portfolio that includes academic advising, academic support, accessibility resources, career development, orientation, and first-year and transfer transition programs, as well as institution-wide retention and student success initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision and leadership for comprehensive, integrated student success framework spanning academic advising, academic support, accessibility resources, career development, and transition programs.
• Lead the design, implementation, and assessment of strategic initiatives focused on improving student outcomes, including persistence, completion, equity gaps, and post-graduate success.
• Translate institutional priorities into actionable plans with clear timelines, metrics, and accountability structures.

Oversight of Student Success Units

• Provide strategic leadership and alignment for units reporting through the Associate Dean of Academic Wellbeing and the Associate Dean for Career Development.
• Support associate deans through goal setting, performance management, professional development, and resource planning.

Retention, Persistence, and Equity

• Lead institutional efforts to improve student retention and persistence, with particular attention to equity-minded practices and outcomes for historically underserved populations.
• Collaborate with faculty, institutional research, student affairs, and enrollment management to analyze data, identify barriers, and implement evidence-informed interventions.
• Promote proactive, strengths-based, and preventive approaches to student support.

Faculty and Shared Governance Engagement

• Partner with faculty leaders to strengthen advising practices and clarify roles between faculty and professional advisors.
• Partner with academic departments to align curricular pathways, advising, and career development.
• Participate in faculty governance bodies as appropriate and communicate transparently about student success initiatives and outcomes.

Provost’s Office Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the Provost’s senior leadership team, contributing to academic planning, policy development, accreditation, and institutional decision-making.
• Collaborate with associate provosts and other academic leaders to ensure coherence across academic affairs initiatives.
• Represent the Provost and the institution with internal and external stakeholders as needed.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement

• Establish clear goals, metrics, and assessment processes for student success initiatives.
• Use data to inform decision-making, demonstrate impact, and guide continuous improvement.
• Prepare reports and analyses for senior leadership, the Board of Trustees, and external audiences.

Qualifications

• Earned terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D., or equivalent) preferred; master’s degree required.
• Significant leadership experience in higher education with responsibility for student success, academic advising, academic support, or closely related areas.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional change initiatives.
• Proven ability to build and sustain collaborative teams across faculty, staff, and administrative roles.
• Strong understanding of the academic mission of a residential liberal arts college and the role of faculty in student learning and advising.
• Evidence of equity-minded leadership and commitment to inclusive student success practices.
• High emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, and strong political and organizational acumen.
• Ability to lead effectively through challenge, resistance, and institutional change.

The College

Founded in 1830, Randolph-Macon has about 1800 students and is located in Ashland, VA, a residential community 15 miles north of Richmond and 90 miles south of Washington D.C., thereby having all the benefits for its students, faculty and staff of a dynamic metropolitan area which serves as the state capital. Over 85% of students reside on campus. For more information about the College see www.rmc.edu.

Randolph-Macon College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.

Application

To apply for the position, submit the following documents to https://bit.ly/4tumBXg in Microsoft Word or PDF format: a current resume, cover letter addressing the position responsibilities and qualifications, and contact information for two professional references to Sharon Jackson, Director of Human Resources. The review and interview process will commence as strong applications are received, and the search will remain open until the position is filled.