Provost

The Provost provides leadership for academic affairs and student life, overseeing the University’s three colleges, academic support programs, student life, and campus ministry. Reporting to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the Provost collaborates with faculty, staff, trustees, and students to advance DWU’s strategic priorities and mission.

This is a rare opportunity to join a thriving institution at a moment of momentum, investment, and purpose.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide visionary academic and co-curricular leadership aligned with DWU’s mission and strategic plan
• Supervise and support the Associate Provost, three Academic Deans, Dean of Students, and key academic support leaders
• Partner with the President, Cabinet, and Board of Trustees to advance institutional priorities
• Lead efforts to improve student retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes
• Oversee faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and support
• Lead assessment, accreditation, and academic policy development
• Advance curricular innovation across traditional, adult, online, and graduate programs
• Provide fiscal oversight for academic and student life budgets
• Serve as (Principal) Designated School Official (P/DSO) for F-1 international students

EXPECTATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS

The Provost will be expected to demonstrate strength in:

• Faculty Leadership – Fostering a collaborative, innovative, and student-centered faculty culture
• Student Learning – Advancing excellence in teaching, learning, and holistic student development
• Collaboration – Strengthening shared governance and cross-campus partnerships
• Transparency – Communicating clearly and consistently with the campus community
• Fiscal Stewardship – Aligning resources with strategic priorities through thoughtful reallocation
• Innovation – Supporting DWU’s culture of experimentation and responsiveness
• Student Life – Valuing residential and co-curricular learning and overseeing key student conduct responsibilities

ESSENTIAL GOALS

In alignment with Wesleyan. On Purpose. (Strategic Plan), the Provost will help lead efforts to:

• Enhance student learning
• Improve student retention and success
• Strengthen student life and campus ministry
• Maintain and sustain institutional and programmatic accreditation (HLC assurance argument due March 2027)
• Expand health education and other high-demand programs
• Lead a collaborative review of general education
• Strengthen all academic programs
• Optimize academic program mix across learner populations
• Sustain an institutional culture that embraces timely, collaborative, and transparent decision-making, including difficult but necessary choices, in service of current and future students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution
• Record of successful college-level teaching
• Minimum of three years of senior academic administrative experience (Dean, Associate/Assistant Provost, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated commitment to shared governance
• Alignment with the University’s United Methodist identity