Vice President for Student Life

Responsibilities of the Position

Summary

Reporting to the president and serving as a member of his executive leadership team, the vice president for student life provides strategic leadership and vision for programs, services, and opportunities that enable students to succeed in a diverse and global society; fosters a vibrant, engaging, and inclusive campus environment; and effectively manages all departments and functional areas in the Division of Student Life at the University of Oregon (UO). Departments include the Office of the Dean of Students, the Erb Memorial Union, the Department of Physical Education and Recreation, and the University Career Center, while the functional areas include assessment and research, human resources, major student events, financial services, parent and family programs, and student government engagement and success.

The vice president for student life is responsible for developing and implementing the Division of Student Life’s strategic plan in alignment with the institutional strategic plan and works collaboratively across divisions to advance university priorities and strategies in support of the university’s mission. The vice president works to define the role of Student Life in relation to other university divisions and establish a presence as a decisive leader capable of moving ideas forward and coordinating initiatives across the institution. The vice president represents the university in various external capacities, as both a university administrative leader and a spokesperson on Student Life issues, and serves as the central administration liaison to the recognized student government, the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO).

The vice president manages and supervises a professional staff of approximately 225, including seven direct reports, and administers an operating budget of $45 million.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategic leadership and student engagement:

• Ensure that the division’s activities enhance the students’ university experience by working collaboratively with academic leadership and other administrators to streamline the student experience, provide services that are complementary, and remove barriers to learning and engagement in campus life, including for students who live on- and off-campus and students who attend UO Portland.
• Engage with faculty and administrators to build community, enhance experiential learning, service-learning, and career preparation opportunities, and develop co-curricular programs and activities aimed at enriching mind and body, celebrating diversity, preparing students for success after college, and advancing an inclusive and stimulating campus culture where students are involved in campus and community affairs as well as global issues at large. 
• Protect and enhance students’ physical and mental well-being through effective policies, services, and programs.
• Serve as a key liaison between central administration and students, directly engaging with individual students on issues, as needed, on the president’s behalf and by serving as the administration’s liaison to the recognized student government, the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO).

Administrative management and oversight:

• Provide leadership to ensure Student Life’s programs and services are effective and that the division’s mission, priorities, goals, and the activities of every office and functional area support the institution’s strategic direction.
• Hire, supervise, train, discipline, and manage the performance of the division’s senior leadership, including associate/assistant vice presidents and department directors.
• Ensure the division’s work and goals align with best practices and with the goals and priorities of the university.
• Encourage a culture of openness and inclusivity across the division and provide training and professional development opportunities that enable employees to achieve the highest level of excellence in fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Ensure the financial health and performance of the division, working closely with the vice president for finance and administration and others to plan, budget, and deploy resources effectively and with University Advancement and others to identify and raise new funds as needed. 

Community relations and crisis management:

• Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the Division of Student Life, maintaining strong relationships with the area community, leaders, local businesses, and other members of the community in the cities in which the UO operates.
• Promote the activities of UO students in the broader community to enhance students’ experiences while serving the needs of the local community.
• Partner, as needed, with colleagues in University Communications, Government and Community Relations, Safety and Risk Services, the Office of the General Counsel, and with Student Life team members to respond to student crises and issues as they arise.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

Required Qualifications

Requirements include a master’s degree (terminal degree preferred), a minimum of seven years of experience and demonstrated leadership in higher education, preferably in a student affairs division at a major university, and five years of demonstrated experience with budgeting, financial controls, and fiscal accountability.

Professional Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices specific to the division’s work: holistic student well-being, career preparation, student engagement, student conduct, and support services.
• The ability to interact with political and social structures internal and external to a complex institution, mobilize a diverse constituency around a common cause, and engage students and student leadership as appropriate.
• A commitment to serving as a mentor and advocate for students.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current national trends, models, and best practices in college student development and success.
• Proven ability to relate effectively and engage with a wide variety of people (students, faculty, administrators, and staff) from diverse backgrounds and a strong understanding of the intersectionality of a diverse student population.
• Proven ability to develop and articulate a vision that brings diverse people and programs together.
• A commitment to interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to education.
• A strong public presence, evidenced by superior communication skills and the confidence and competence needed to communicate difficult decisions and manage crises.
• An inclusive management style that fosters respect and empowers others to succeed.
• A history of decisive and innovative leadership, including managing human, financial, and physical resources, oriented toward successfully carrying out organizational goals.

Opportunities and Challenges of the Role

The new vice president for student life must possess a broad and deep understanding of national best practices in student affairs, including complex fiduciary considerations, technology, policies and procedures, student mental and physical well-being and career preparation, and legal compliance. The vice president should be a seasoned or aspiring leader who is unwaveringly committed to student advocacy at the highest level and capable of managing multifaceted situations and staffing, devising strategic initiatives, and administering multiple priorities. Furthermore, the vice president will need to quickly build a deep understanding of the culture of a large, public flagship institution of higher education and be equipped to contribute significantly at both a strategic and operational level to the current and future success of the University of Oregon.

For this role, a competent and forward-thinking leader is needed who can promote and develop the Student Life team, set both extended- and short-term priorities, and work daily to progressively, innovatively, and comprehensively move the division and the university forward.

The following were identified as priorities, opportunities, and challenges for which the vice president will exercise vision, lead change, and foster success:

• This position’s scope of responsibilities is streamlined compared to many student life divisions at other institutions. University Housing and University Health Services are two examples of typical student affairs departments not included in the portfolio (though they are closely interconnected and interactive). However, the departments that are represented within Student Life (the Office of the Dean of Students, the University Career Center, the Erb Memorial Union, and the Department of Physical Education and Recreation) remain critical elements to the success, satisfaction, and retention of UO students, as well as the ongoing mission and goals of the institution. The vice president must quickly assess the full range of these departments and the other functional areas under their purview, get to know the staff in each unit, and develop a comprehensive list of priorities.

• With students’ career readiness named as a critical goal in the university’s forthcoming strategic plan, the vice president must promote, support, and challenge the Division of Student Life leadership to integrate increasingly sophisticated levels of career preparedness into their programs, services, and activities. Identifying and engaging new businesses and employers as partners, working effectively with academic deans on career-enhancing initiatives, and seeking innovative new endeavors around career readiness will be critical for future success.

• It will be essential that the vice president commit to a comprehensive culture of collaboration, partnering, and clear and transparent communication within the division and across campus. The University of Oregon is committed to building strong, healthy, and mutually supportive relationships as a foundation of a significantly decentralized campus culture. Strong collaboration is necessary for all endeavors to ensure success in this role. As the vice president and the Division of Student Life effectively touch all departments across and around campus involving students, it will be crucial to quickly reach out to reconfirm any previous relationships and continuously build new, mutually beneficial partnerships that foster ongoing positive interactions. Solid partnerships with the Division of Student Services and Enrollment Management; Office of the Provost, which includes the Divisions of Undergraduate Education and Student Success; University Advancement, Division of Equity and Inclusion, and the Office of the General Counsel will be necessary to carry out the goals and mission of the division. It will also significantly benefit the vice president to conduct a series of “listening tours” early in their tenure to gather as much input as possible from the UO community. These connections are essential to assess and address the real needs of students, provide exceptional programs and services for the campus, and ensure a cutting-edge approach to achieving the department’s mission.

• It will be crucial that the vice president for student life be viewed as a high-level student advocate who listens carefully to students and student organizations, seeks solutions in their best interest, and is willing to try bold, innovative initiatives promoting student success. The vice president must be visible and accessible throughout campus, get involved with students and the community, promote divisional programs and services, collaborate with colleagues on projects and committees, and serve as the “face” of Student Life on campus. To achieve these goals, it will be critical for the vice president to be known as a problem-solver, a consensus-builder, a proactive listener, and a voice of reason within the student community and among their peers on the executive leadership team.

• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of the University of Oregon community, and the vice president for student life is expected to be a leader in supporting, understanding, embracing, and nurturing these concepts to develop and foster an organization committed to ensuring that all students feel a sense of belonging.There are many underrepresented populations throughout the institution, and the vice president and the entire Division of Student Life must be a model for maintaining a strong sense of equity and an unbiased, supportive environment. The vice president will engage with many students with multiple identities at the University of Oregon. Therefore, learning about, engaging, and collaborating with diverse students is critically important.

• This is an outstanding opportunity for the successful candidate to join an energetic and collegial community, put their professional mark on the Division of Student Life, and work with the team to build it to greater heights over time. There is tremendous support from the president, provost, and other administrators to foster a dynamic and student-facing division that addresses the needs of current students and effectively prepares for the evolving needs of the next generation. As priorities are set and plans are initiated, the vice president should be prepared to identify programs and services that are working successfully, as well as those areas that are not as efficient or effective, and be willing to enhance, promote, and sunset programs as necessary.

• Under new leadership— the president started in July 2023, and a search for a new provost is underway—the university is engaged in a university-wide strategic planning effort. The development of this strategic framework, which includes priorities around student learning and achievement, elevating the university’s outstanding scholarship and service, and campus belonging, will be developed over the coming months, and the new vice president for student life will arrive amid this rollout process. Quickly learning the current state of this plan and how the elements that make up the Division of Student Life are integrated into it should be a high priority upon arrival. As their tenure progresses, the vice president will be expected to ensure the division’s mission, priorities, and goals holistically support, promote, and enhance this new strategic direction.

• The current Division of Student Life staff are highly committed to the vision of a solid and supportive team, dedicated to providing an outstanding college experience to the UO students, and devoted to continuously improving all aspects of the university community. The vice president must prioritize getting to know the departmental staff as individuals, learn their specific needs and career goals, ascertain and understand the various responsibilities they perform and roles they play, be available and approachable, provide comprehensive professional development opportunities and support for all, oversee the development of a robust and cohesive team, and foster the well-being of the staff at all levels.

• A recent significant development is the formation of a student employee representative union at UO. Though a collective bargaining agreement has yet to be completed, it will be imperative that the new vice president for student life quickly seek out this initiative’s leaders, understand the labor union’s goals and mission, and work to formulate a solid working relationship. Given the large number of student employees within Student Life, this relationship will be vital for the future. Additionally, there are other labor unions to which various Student Life employees belong, so a working knowledge of the function, purpose, and activities of labor unions in higher education will be beneficial.

• On-campus stakeholders consistently reiterated that they liked working at the university, are very supportive of each other, enjoy the vibrant and exciting environment of the UO, feel an excellent sense of collegiality among both faculty and staff, and believe that there are many opportunities for the new vice president to make a tremendous difference in so many ways. One stakeholder described the student body as “super energized and passionate,” and many reiterated this as a significant reason for their love of the institution and their long tenure at the university. Innovation is also occurring in many corners of the UO, which leads to exciting new ways to address problems and produce solutions. The new vice president will join a very engaged president and leadership group, all with great aspirations. This atmosphere of positive momentum sets the perfect stage for the next vice president for student life to thrive and succeed.

• The University of Oregon’s geographic location, in the western part of the state on the heralded I-5 Pacific Highway midway between Portland and Medford, makes it an ideal environment for individuals from all walks of life. The surrounding communities contain a robust assortment of restaurants and food options, many cultural and arts-related events, opportunities for recreation and sports, and abundant year-round outdoor activities that appeal to a wide array of interests. The city of Portland is only two hours away, making it convenient and relatively easy to access the considerable opportunities and amenities of a major metropolitan area.

The Student Body

• Total enrollment: 23,202
• Undergraduate: 19,568
• Graduate: 3,634
• Oregon residents: 52%
• Out-of-state residents: 38%
• International students: 10%
• Student-to-teacher ratio: 19 to 1

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

The Division of Equity and Inclusion (DEI) puts equity and inclusion into practice so that the University of Oregon can benefit from the excellence of diversity. By partnering with faculty, students, staff, alums, and community members and groups, the members of DEI work collaboratively to strengthen individual capacity and community bonds to advance the academic mission of the university. DEI’s efforts are facilitated through the IDEAL framework, which is comprised of the following five pillars:

• Inclusion: Cultivating a more welcoming and respectful environment for all
• Diversity: Developing and implementing equitable strategies for recruiting, retaining, and advancing a cadre of students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences
• Evaluation: Using assessment and measurement strategies to evaluate its processes in meeting the university’s goal of equity and inclusion
• Achievement: Ensuring that its policies, processes, and practices provide access for all to achieve their personal best
• Leadership: Develop, nurture, and coach leadership to facilitate inclusive environments and the resources for success

Land Acknowledgement

“The University of Oregon is located on Kalapuya Ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. Following treaties between 1851 and 1855, Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homeland by the United States government and forcibly removed to the Coast Reservation in Western Oregon. Today, descendants are citizens of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, and continue to make important contributions in their communities, at UO, and across the land we now refer to as Oregon.”

“We express our respect for all federally recognized Tribal Nations of Oregon. This includes the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Klamath Tribes. We also express our respect for all other displaced Indigenous peoples who call Oregon home. We seek to lead in curricular, pedagogical, research, and public scholarship innovations and interventions that redress inequitable, oppressive, and violent histories and provide generative futures for all students, families, faculty, staff, and communities.”

Application and Nomination

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

Public Salary Range: $290,000-$315,000

Visit the University of Oregon website at https://www.uoregon.edu/.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This publication will be made available in accessible formats upon request. Accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided if requested in advance.

The term “diversity” can be defined in a number of different ways. The UO looks at it broadly and inclusively, encompassing race, ethnicity, disability, thought, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and economics. The UO seeks to promote further diversity among its faculty, staff, and student body through active recruitment and intentional retention.

Related Links

About the University of Oregon

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