Friends University is a Christian university of Quaker heritage in Wichita, Kansas. Friends is a vibrant private college that features a number of nationally recognized programs such as Zoo Science, Christian Spiritual Formation, Cyber Security and Fine Arts with an enrollment of approximately 800 undergraduates and 900 adult students.

The Vice President (VP) of Student Affairs serves as the University’s chief campus life officer and advises the President on all matters pertaining to non-academic campus life. This is an executive-level position, a member of the President's Cabinet, and reports to the President of the University. The VP of Student Affairs provides leadership for a comprehensive portfolio of campus life support services. The VP of Student Affairs is responsible for the leadership, development, and assessment of comprehensive campus life services for a diverse student body. The department of Campus Life at Friends University is committed to enhancing student academic success while creating an inclusive environment to promote a student's social, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being while attending Friends University. Counseling, Wellness and International Services provide programs to support student health and wellness, personal and professional goal setting, social involvement, motivation and academic self-efficacy.

Friends University seeks to hire a VP of Student Affairs who will embrace our mission and celebrate our commitment to equipping students, coaches, and staff to honor God in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives by adhering to the University’s RISE (Respect, Inclusion, Service and Excellence) core values.  The mission of the University is:

Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.

The VP of Student Affairs will develop and implement a vision for student life including creating an annual and long term strategic plan that will establish a culture consistent with the RISE values for the Student Affairs Division.  In addition, the VP of Student Affairs preforms the tasks below and is responsible for providing leadership and general management of departments within the division:  Campus Life & New Student Orientation, Counseling, Wellness & International Services, Community and Residential Development, Casado and Recreational Programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops a clear and robust vision and strategic plan for the Student Affairs Department.
• Manages the achievement of division goals by developing effective plans to guide the team toward expected outcomes.
• Assures the prompt and effective delivery of student services by monitoring workloads throughout the division and prioritizing staffing needs accordingly.
• Enables division employees to perform their assigned tasks by coordinating the annual budget and retaining executive authority over all budgets within the Student Affairs division.
• Encourages high morale and quality student service through a leadership style which causes employees to strive for the achievement of annually established goals and objectives.
• Promotes positive student relations by maintaining effective lines of communication with student leaders and serving as a strong advocate for the non-academic, extra-curricular, and co-curricular needs of students.
• Ensures that miscellaneous assignments related to Student Affairs are completed in the best interests of the University by accepting and accomplishing tasks which are delegated by the President.
• Supports the overall success of Student Affairs by participating in fundraising activities for the division and serving on committees as appropriate.
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Ensures the division is and remains competent and current in student development pedagogy and research through self-directed professional reading, attending professional development courses, training and/or conferences.
• Manages and resolved student conduct issues.
• Supports and assists the President by providing regular reports for the President and for the Board of Trustees, and by completing other tasks and duties as assigned.

Required:

A Master's degree is required.

Five years of progressively responsible administrative experience in higher education, experience in student affairs/student development is required.

Requires excellent leadership ability. The ability to project a strong positive image of the University through public speaking, personal interaction with parents, faculty, staff, students, and others is required.

Experience with the development, modification, and/or management of data systems is required. The ability to satisfactorily solve problems commonly found within the higher education environment is required.

Proficiency in organizing and managing complex functions and the ability to gain the trust and confidence of students is required.

Demonstrated ability to develop a future vision and strategic plan for student life.

Demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to diversity and inclusion.

Ability to recruit, motivate, supervise, and evaluate departmental personnel.

A demonstrated commitment to promoting a diverse environment is required.

Ability to travel as needed.

Frequent evening and weekend work required.

The ability to collaborate effectively across divisions.

Preferred: 

Competency in program and budget planning, management, and evaluation.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with both internal and external constituencies.

A passion for developing student leaders and seeing student reach their educational goals.

To be considered for the Vice President of Student Affairs position, applications must be received in full by May 1, 2018. All interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.  The cover letter must address the following questions.

1. Describe why you are interested in a position at Friends University.
2. Describe your philosophy of student development at a small private university.
3. Describe how you would contribute to the mission of Friends University as a Christian university of Quaker heritage.
4. Describe your leadership style and how you would lead an important department serving our students at the university.

Please visit our employment site at www.friends.edu/employment to apply.  Only applications submitted through this Friends University website application process will be accepted.