Associate Commissioner of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer - University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
About the Job
Details
Open Date
Requisition Number PRN40989B
Job Title OCHE Associate Commissioner
Working Title Associate Commissioner of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Job Grade EXE
FLSA Code Professional
Patient Sensitive Job Code? No
Standard Hours per Week 40
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Shift Day
Work Schedule Summary
Monday – Friday
VP Area President
Department 01379 - USHE Commissioner
Location Office of the Commissioner - Downtown SLC
City Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment External Posting
Pay Rate Range $200,000 to $225,000
Close Date 02/07/2025
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
Job Summary
The Associate Commissioner of Academic Education represents the Commissioner’s Office, the Utah System of Higher Education ( USHE ), and/or the State of Utah as Chief Academic Officer. This position leads system oversight of institutional roles for degree granting institutions, academic program approval and review, instructional quality, faculty development, and undergraduate and graduate student research, academic success, and degree completion. Additionally, this position manages OCHE Academic Affairs staff and budgets.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions :
1. Provide support for the Board of Higher Education and the Commissioner, driving strategic and innovative initiatives that align with the Board’s and legislative priorities; prepare Board agenda items, meeting discussions, and presentations.
2. Provide forward-thinking oversight of academic program offerings to ensure they are within institutional roles and aligned with the changing educational landscape. Coordinate assessments of new program proposals to guide Boards of Trustees in academic approval, and coordinate Board of Higher Education approval of out-of-role programs, out-of-service-region offerings, and new academic units.
3. Advance strategies to enhance key initiatives related to access, affordability, and completion goals of the state in collaboration with institution Provosts.
4. Conduct cyclical, data-driven reviews of academic programs to ensure ongoing academic quality while meeting the state’s dynamic programmatic needs.
5. Serve as the point person on shared governance in the system, championing innovative solutions in the oversight of faculty workload and tenure processes and policies, academic freedom and coordination with Faculty Senate Leaders. Foster a culture of creative problem-solving to navigate challenges.
6. Lead the strategic planning, design, and coordination of initiatives that reimagine and enhance institutional academic offerings and students’ progress through degree pathways. Key responsibilities include:
+ Developing and implementing academic policies, particularly around transfer and articulation of general education and major degree pathways, ensuring pedagogical best practices and research-informed instruction.
+ Strengthening academic alignment with USBE / USHE by bringing creative solutions to: 1. college preparatory academic pathways (i.e., math, English, etc.); 2. Concurrent Enrollment; 3. Teacher/educator, school counselor, and principal graduate programs across the system.
+ Driving system-level academic success and degree completion initiatives, including: identifying and addressing barriers to student academic success and degree completion; redesigning curriculum through co-requisite remediation, inclusive pedagogy, etc. to address courses with low success rates; and scaling pedagogical innovations to ensure the success of all students.
+ Overseeing State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
+ Managing and enhancing the databases used to track and message academic programs, such as the Programs and Majors Guide and the Utah Transfer Guide.
7. Coordinate with institutional academic leadership, including:
+ Chair and oversee the Council of Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) and coordinate with the Council of Presidents as needed.
+ Coordinate expert groups necessary for the implementation of Board priority initiatives, such as the USHE Transfer Council.
+ Collaborate with and facilitate academic administration/faculty groups as needed, including through the Major Committees, the Utah Council of Education Deans, the General Education Council, the Prior Learning Committee, etc. to ensure academic quality and alignment and implementation of system priorities.
8. Represent the Commissioner’s Office and/or the State of Utah as Chief Academic Officer with external groups:
+ Participate as Utah’s CAO in national organizations like AASCU , AACU , SHEEO , NASH , WICHE , the Education Commission of the States, and CAEL .
+ Attend or coordinate staff participation in partnership meetings with the Utah State Board of Education, including various curriculum committees, the USBE accreditation committee, the math task force, and other college academic readiness alignment groups, the Utah Partnership for the Transformation of Education Preparation, the School Counselors Pre-service Coordination Committee, and the Principals Pipeline Initiative.
9. Review and respond to drafts and requests for information/materials from the Governor’s office, legislators, and legislative committees.
10. Plan, initiate, and oversee policy/procedure development and updates mandated by legislative action.
11. Manage and coordinate the Academic Affairs administrative unit, including:
+ Coordinating staff assignments, meeting regularly with staff as a unit and individually, and supporting staff in their work.
+ Completing travel, financial, and performance review paperwork; tracking various department budgets and completing required reports (e.g., Legislative Fiscal Analyst’s COBI reports, internal budget processes and audits, etc.).
12. Keep abreast of higher education research and best practices in order to inform system directions and decisions; engage in national conferences (e.g., WICHE , SHEEO , and NASH Chief Academic Officers groups); and read relevant publications from national groups, etc. in order to share perspectives and information with staff and consortia groups.
Comments
Typical office working conditions and hours with occasional meetings/events in the early morning, evenings, or weekends. Frequent local and statewide travel.
Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required
Nearly Continuously: Office environment.
Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
+ Doctoral degree required.
Experience:
+ 6+ years’ experience in senior academic affairs leadership at the level of dean or higher at an institution of higher education.
+ 5+ years’ experience serving as a faculty member at a degree-granting institution.
Preferences
+ Experience with curriculum development and program review.
+ Staff management, budget oversight, and excellent writing skills.
+ Experience drafting and interpreting academic policy.
+ Expertise in academic affairs oversight and faculty coordination.
+ Strong strategic thinking, planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
+ Forward-thinking, innovative, and creative.
+ High levels of internal-motivation, collaboration, and autonomy.
Type Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for all students and patients.
All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu
https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
Open Date
Requisition Number PRN40989B
Job Title OCHE Associate Commissioner
Working Title Associate Commissioner of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Job Grade EXE
FLSA Code Professional
Patient Sensitive Job Code? No
Standard Hours per Week 40
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Shift Day
Work Schedule Summary
Monday – Friday
VP Area President
Department 01379 - USHE Commissioner
Location Office of the Commissioner - Downtown SLC
City Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment External Posting
Pay Rate Range $200,000 to $225,000
Close Date 02/07/2025
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
Job Summary
The Associate Commissioner of Academic Education represents the Commissioner’s Office, the Utah System of Higher Education ( USHE ), and/or the State of Utah as Chief Academic Officer. This position leads system oversight of institutional roles for degree granting institutions, academic program approval and review, instructional quality, faculty development, and undergraduate and graduate student research, academic success, and degree completion. Additionally, this position manages OCHE Academic Affairs staff and budgets.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions :
1. Provide support for the Board of Higher Education and the Commissioner, driving strategic and innovative initiatives that align with the Board’s and legislative priorities; prepare Board agenda items, meeting discussions, and presentations.
2. Provide forward-thinking oversight of academic program offerings to ensure they are within institutional roles and aligned with the changing educational landscape. Coordinate assessments of new program proposals to guide Boards of Trustees in academic approval, and coordinate Board of Higher Education approval of out-of-role programs, out-of-service-region offerings, and new academic units.
3. Advance strategies to enhance key initiatives related to access, affordability, and completion goals of the state in collaboration with institution Provosts.
4. Conduct cyclical, data-driven reviews of academic programs to ensure ongoing academic quality while meeting the state’s dynamic programmatic needs.
5. Serve as the point person on shared governance in the system, championing innovative solutions in the oversight of faculty workload and tenure processes and policies, academic freedom and coordination with Faculty Senate Leaders. Foster a culture of creative problem-solving to navigate challenges.
6. Lead the strategic planning, design, and coordination of initiatives that reimagine and enhance institutional academic offerings and students’ progress through degree pathways. Key responsibilities include:
+ Developing and implementing academic policies, particularly around transfer and articulation of general education and major degree pathways, ensuring pedagogical best practices and research-informed instruction.
+ Strengthening academic alignment with USBE / USHE by bringing creative solutions to: 1. college preparatory academic pathways (i.e., math, English, etc.); 2. Concurrent Enrollment; 3. Teacher/educator, school counselor, and principal graduate programs across the system.
+ Driving system-level academic success and degree completion initiatives, including: identifying and addressing barriers to student academic success and degree completion; redesigning curriculum through co-requisite remediation, inclusive pedagogy, etc. to address courses with low success rates; and scaling pedagogical innovations to ensure the success of all students.
+ Overseeing State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
+ Managing and enhancing the databases used to track and message academic programs, such as the Programs and Majors Guide and the Utah Transfer Guide.
7. Coordinate with institutional academic leadership, including:
+ Chair and oversee the Council of Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) and coordinate with the Council of Presidents as needed.
+ Coordinate expert groups necessary for the implementation of Board priority initiatives, such as the USHE Transfer Council.
+ Collaborate with and facilitate academic administration/faculty groups as needed, including through the Major Committees, the Utah Council of Education Deans, the General Education Council, the Prior Learning Committee, etc. to ensure academic quality and alignment and implementation of system priorities.
8. Represent the Commissioner’s Office and/or the State of Utah as Chief Academic Officer with external groups:
+ Participate as Utah’s CAO in national organizations like AASCU , AACU , SHEEO , NASH , WICHE , the Education Commission of the States, and CAEL .
+ Attend or coordinate staff participation in partnership meetings with the Utah State Board of Education, including various curriculum committees, the USBE accreditation committee, the math task force, and other college academic readiness alignment groups, the Utah Partnership for the Transformation of Education Preparation, the School Counselors Pre-service Coordination Committee, and the Principals Pipeline Initiative.
9. Review and respond to drafts and requests for information/materials from the Governor’s office, legislators, and legislative committees.
10. Plan, initiate, and oversee policy/procedure development and updates mandated by legislative action.
11. Manage and coordinate the Academic Affairs administrative unit, including:
+ Coordinating staff assignments, meeting regularly with staff as a unit and individually, and supporting staff in their work.
+ Completing travel, financial, and performance review paperwork; tracking various department budgets and completing required reports (e.g., Legislative Fiscal Analyst’s COBI reports, internal budget processes and audits, etc.).
12. Keep abreast of higher education research and best practices in order to inform system directions and decisions; engage in national conferences (e.g., WICHE , SHEEO , and NASH Chief Academic Officers groups); and read relevant publications from national groups, etc. in order to share perspectives and information with staff and consortia groups.
Comments
Typical office working conditions and hours with occasional meetings/events in the early morning, evenings, or weekends. Frequent local and statewide travel.
Work Environment and Level of Frequency typically required
Nearly Continuously: Office environment.
Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
Nearly Continuously: Sitting, hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
+ Doctoral degree required.
Experience:
+ 6+ years’ experience in senior academic affairs leadership at the level of dean or higher at an institution of higher education.
+ 5+ years’ experience serving as a faculty member at a degree-granting institution.
Preferences
+ Experience with curriculum development and program review.
+ Staff management, budget oversight, and excellent writing skills.
+ Experience drafting and interpreting academic policy.
+ Expertise in academic affairs oversight and faculty coordination.
+ Strong strategic thinking, planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
+ Forward-thinking, innovative, and creative.
+ High levels of internal-motivation, collaboration, and autonomy.
Type Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for all students and patients.
All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu
https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
Source : University of Utah