Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Summary

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) seeks a Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (SVPAA) to lead the organization’s academic affairs portfolio. Key responsibilities of the SVPAA are to serve as an expert on academic and student success issues at public and land-grant universities, facilitate the development of timely and critical programming for the provosts of APLU institutions, and lead APLU’s Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) in supporting member institutions to continually advance their academic enterprises. OAA currently has 11 full-time employees working across a variety of issue areas including, Data & Policy Analysis, Digital Transformation for Student Success, Student Affairs, and STEM Education. A major focus of OAA is to grow the engagement of and service to member institutions through the Council on Academic Affairs (CAA), the Council on Student Affairs (CSA) , the Commission on Information, Measurement, and Analysis (CIMA) and the Steering Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI). OAA also has a portfolio of externally funded projects advancing various initiatives in partnership with APLU members to advance its work.

The SVPAA is a thought leader, both internally and externally, with respect to how national trends and federal policies affect public and land-grant universities, the evolving role of a national higher education association in assisting member institutions in responding to changing societal needs, and the development of the APLU-wide program strategy and agenda. The incumbent liaises with academic leaders, higher education associations, and national organizations, with attention to how federal policies and laws affect academic pursuits and purposes. To this end, the SVPAA works with the APLU Office of Government Affairs and the Office of Public Affairs in their roles – providing expertise internally and serving as a public voice for the association on academic issues – speaking to government and academic leaders and the news media. The SVPAA also promotes initiatives, collaborations, and projects to advance innovative and effective ways for public and land-grant university leaders to adopt new practices to further improve student success.

The ideal candidate will have experience as a senior university administrator, preferably a current or former provost, and possess deep knowledge of academic affairs as well as the duties of a provost at an APLU member institution. Candidates will also have a proven ability to build and advance coalitions, design and implement effective projects that promote positive student outcomes, secure funding for projects and activities, and cultivate strong, positive relationships and collaborations across the organization. This full-time position is based in Washington, DC. The incumbent must be eligible to work in the United States, reside in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, and pass standard background checks. They are eligible for a hybrid work schedule. For more information, consult www.aplu.org.

Background

APLU is a membership organization that provides advocacy and support to land-grant and public research colleges and universities. fosters a community of university leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities. The association’s membership consists of more than 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations spanning across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, six U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. Annually, member campuses enroll 5.4 million undergraduates and 1.5 million graduate students, award 1.5 million degrees, employ 1.4 million faculty and staff, and conduct $67 billion in university-based research.

Responsibilities 

·         Provide leadership on academic issues across APLU and in collaboration with other organizations focused on academic issues. Work to understand the needs of chief academic officers at APLU member institutions and help them understand national issues that may impact their work.

·         Be a thought-leader who brings a high level of expertise concerning academic-related issues in higher education, including: effective practices for student retention, persistence and graduation rates; relations with industry, and state and federal governments; university funding models and governance; faculty affairs; curricular and instructional design and delivery, including through the use of AI; free speech and academic freedom matters; and federal policies and regulations.

·         Advance student success, degree completion, and workforce preparedness initiatives across the association, further developing the APLU student success framework as a tool for coherence of initiatives to improve student retention and graduation at member institutions.

·         Foster and grow a robust and active network of  land-grant and public research university provosts through the Council on Academic Affairs (CAA). This includes providing regular and timely programming and opportunities for engagement throughout the year that address their greatest needs and building out a robust professional development program for future and new provosts.

·         Provide leadership for OAA on its projects and initiatives, including grant-funded work and the various subgroups that fall under its purview to best serve APLU’s membership. This includes, but is not limited to:

o   Overseeing the Office of Digital Transformation for Student Success and ensuring that it effectively advances, highlights, and promotes the use of information technology to enhance student learning and outcomes.

o   Overseeing the Council on Student Affairs (CSA) ensuring that it provides programming and opportunities for student affairs leaders at APLU member institutions on issues they are facing related to student affairs and the college student experience in general. 

o   Overseeing the Department of Data & Policy Analysis (DPA) to ensure that it effectively plays a central role in the association’s initiatives to improve student success and graduation, enhance digital learning, spur institutional transformation, increase the use of data-informed decision-making, and advance scientific research at member institutions. Provide leadership and direction for the Commission on Information, Measurement, and Analysis (CIMA).

o   Overseeing the existing Offices’ grant-funded work in STEM Education.

o   Providing leadership and direction for the newly formed Steering Group on Artificial Intelligence.

·         Represent APLU to other higher education associations and organizations on issues related to academic affairs.

·         In coordination and partnership with APLU’s Office of Governmental Affairs, provide policy analysis and policy recommendations for current and pending federal legislation pertinent to academic matters; speak with federal policy leaders as appropriate.

·         In coordination with APLU’s Office of Public Affairs, serve as a public voice on academic affairs-related issues in the news media.

·         Design, develop, and implement new programs and initiatives in the area of academic affairs that respond to member institution needs, including academic and college deans.

·         Maintain and develop relationships with funders from private foundations and federal agencies in support of APLU projects and initiatives conducted with its members.

·         Provide guidance and direction on potential grants others at APLU pursue. Serve as the lead for reviewing all internal grant proposals and grant reports from the association staff for quality, coherence, and alignment with APLU’s overall mission and objectives.

·         Serve as an integral member of APLU’s President’s Cabinet. Collaborate with other APLU VPs to help ensure the effective implementation of the association’s strategic goals and annual objectives.

·         Provide leadership, oversight, and supervision to OAA staff and consultants, promoting a supportive, effective, and positive team environment within the office and providing coaching, support, training, and development opportunities as needed.

·         Manage the OAA budget, and any related projects, etc., to ensure funds are spent effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with APLU, donor, and other relevant policies.

·         Perform other duties as assigned to advance the mission of APLU.

Preferred Qualifications 

·         Minimum of 15 years of academic experience comparable to that of a tenure-track faculty member, preferably at a public or land-grant university.

·         Experience as a successful provost or senior administrator in the provost’s office (e.g. vice provost, associate provost, or equivalent) of an APLU member university.

·         Subject matter expert in areas of academic affairs, student success, digital learning, AI, academic freedom, and other initiatives as identified in the higher education landscape. Accomplishments in higher education policy, development, and implementation, as well as publications in the candidate’s field.

·         Significant experience in project leadership, including planning, design, management, and implementation, as well as a proven ability to collaborate within or across universities and organizational partners.

·         Detailed understanding of the workings of APLU’s member institutions and a deep commitment to their mission and values as land-grant and/or public research universities.

·         A proven ability to bring together academic affairs leaders to partner with one another on new and innovative ways to address challenges and seize opportunities.

·         Exceptional leadership and management skills, with successful experience in building and maintaining positive, supportive, and effective work environments.

·         Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build successful and effective relationships with a variety of staff, partners, and constituencies.

·         Effective written and oral communication skills. Excellent presentation skills with experience speaking at the national level concerning higher education issues.

·         Strong program design and management skills; experience designing and implementing successful programs, meetings, workshops, and conferences.

·         Excellent analytical skills. Ability to understand and utilize data (both quantitative and qualitative) to accurately diagnose and report on key issues and develop strategies and plans. 

·         Proven ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with donor organizations, including building and sustaining relationships with foundations, federal and other non-governmental funding agencies.

·         Demonstrated experience creating and managing budgets.

·         Ability to travel domestically as needed several times per year.

To Apply

Please send a letter of interest and resume to APLU’s Human Resources Department at resume@aplu.org with the subject line: SVP, Academic Affairs. Applications will be reviewed as received and continue until the position is filled, with preference given to those applications received by February 28, 2026. The salary for this position ranges from $270,000 - $295,000, depending on experience and qualifications. APLU is committed to a welcoming work environment and supports staff with a generous benefits package.