Description of CPHE Vice President Positions

About the Commission

The Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) is a first-in-kind institutional accreditor founded by six public university systems to serve public colleges and universities across the United States. CPHE advances academic quality, student outcomes, and institutional improvement through a model that maximizes the advantage of being focused exclusively on public institutions of higher education.

CPHE’s approach emphasizes

• a focus on student success and outcomes; true peer review grounded in public higher education; and efficient, transparent accreditation processes that reduce burden while maintaining quality.

As an emerging accreditor, CPHE is actively working toward U.S. Department of Education recognition while onboarding initial institutional cohorts and refining its standards and processes.

Summary of Positions

CPHE’s newly elected President and Chief Executive Officer seeks two Vice Presidents who will collaborate to provide strategic, operational, and external leadership during a formative period of organizational growth and national visibility for CPHE.

Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, both Vice Presidents will assist in CPHE’s evolution from a start-up accreditor to a recognized national authority, ensuring alignment with federal requirements while advancing an innovative, outcomes-based accreditation model tailored to public higher education.

Each Vice President will maintain a separate portfolio of institutions to manage for accreditation and communication purposes. To the degree that Vice Presidents possess specific subject-matter expertise, separate portfolios may be overseen for these purposes as well. Otherwise, however, the Vice Presidents collaborate to achieve shared goals with the President’s guidance as to separate and sometimes overlapping duties.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Assist in leading the continued build-out of CPHE as a new national accrediting body. Execute a strategic vision aligned with CPHE’s mission of improving student outcomes and institutional quality. Advise President and Chief Executive Officer regarding strategy and tactics.

Accreditation Leadership & Innovation

• Assist in the implementation and refinement of CPHE’s accreditation standards and evidentiary guidance. Ensure accreditation processes are rigorous and compliant with federal regulations, and streamlined and efficient for member institutions.
• Promote quality and continuous improvement through peer review and evaluation grounded in unassailable data and evidence. Lead innovation in accreditation practices, including transparency and use of objective data.

Membership Growth & Engagement

• Assist in recruitment and support of a growing membership of public colleges and universities. Build trust and credibility with institutional leaders navigating accreditation transitions. Assist in development of services, training, and engagement opportunities that add value to member institutions.

Relationships with Institutions & Oversight of Accreditation Practices

• Serve as point-of-contact for a subset of institutional clients. Maintain regular communication with institutional clients regarding CPHE news and updates. Guide institutions through accreditation processes, using proactive communications. Participate on site in CPHE visits to client institutions’ campuses. Lead post-accreditation assessments and discussions of lessons learned.

Key Opportunities & Challenges

These roles present a rare opportunity to shape the future of accreditation. Key priorities for the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice Presidents will include the following: achieving and maintaining federal recognition, scaling a new entrant accreditor in a competitive and scrutinized landscape, balancing innovation with regulatory compliance, advancing a model that prioritizes student outcomes over inputs, and demonstrating value to public institutions through efficiency and reduced administrative burden.

Required and Preferred Experience

Senior leadership experience in public higher education is preferred. Experience engaging with varied stakeholders is required. Deep familiarity with accreditation processes (through work with an accreditor or with an institution seeking accreditation or reaffirmation) and policy is required. Potential growth and specialization among CPHE’s business practices may merit preference for candidates with detailed experience in executing student-success initiatives and/or in working at or with two-year, community, and technical colleges.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate will demonstrate: strategic vision paired with operational execution; political acumen and credibility with diverse stakeholders; strong communication and public leadership skills; a service approach to working with institutional partners; commitment to student success, public mission, and accountability; and ability to lead both internally and externally.

Required Education

Earned doctoral or terminal degree from an accredited university

Approximately 10-20% of work will require travel by Vice Presidents to institutions and to other higher-education events. Otherwise, Vice Presidents will work remotely and must reside near a major metropolitan airport.

All interested parties and/or nominators should send a cover letter and resume to contact@cphe.org. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.