Associate Vice Provost for Academic Programs, CSU Spur

Position Location - Denver, CO

Work Location - Position is fully in-office/in-person

Research Professional Position - No

Posting Number - 202500329AP

Position Type - Admin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification Title - Executive Leadership I

Number of Vacancies - 1

Work Hours/Week - 40

Proposed Annual Salary Range - $220,000 - $260,000

Employee Benefits

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To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 03/23/2025

Description of Work Unit

Colorado State University is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research I Extensive land-grant institution with world-class programs in education, research, and engagement. CSU has a student body of over 34,000 students, 7,400 employees, 245,000 living alumni, and annual research expenditures over $500 million. CSU is located 60 miles north of Denver in the beautiful city of Fort Collins adjacent to the Rocky Mountains. With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year and low humidity, Fort Collins residents enjoy pleasant weather and outdoor recreation year-round.

The Colorado State University (CSU) System, along with its partners, has developed a unique and exciting public facility called CSU Spur at the National Western Center in Denver, Colorado. The CSU Spur campus houses three buildings focused on water, food and agriculture, human and animal health, and sustainability. Within the Spur buildings, CSU conducts research and convenes experts from around the globe; students of all ages engage with science and have opportunities for exploratory learning, transforming their thinking about food, water, and health, and the careers available in these fields; and partners join in programming the space and bring evolving content to the year-round campus. As a land grant university committed to the principles of education, research, and service, CSU has been a long partner of the National Western Stock Show and the National Western Center campus in north Denver. CSU Spur is part of a larger 250-acre redevelopment project, which started in 2013 and reimagines what the National Western Center can be, creates a site that will support the Stock Show long-term, and makes the space a year-round destination. CSU Spur was created with an Anchor Institution framework and is committed to supporting the surrounding communities through the programming and activities developed at the campus.

The CSU System is made up of CSU in Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, CSU Global, and initiatives like CSU Spur. More information about CSU Spur is available at .

Position Summary

The Associate Vice Provost for Academic Programs (AVPAP) leads academic programming at the CSU Spur Campus. The AVPAP will lead the efforts to develop, grow and launch “Spur Start”, a new first year experience located at Spur. In addition, the AVPAP is responsible for setting strategic direction for academic programming, fostering an environment of collaboration, and managing and growing a portfolio of programming in education, research, and innovation. Educational programming is defined as formal and informal offerings spanning a continuum of lifelong learning and complementing existing P-12 efforts. These may include dual enrollment and career discovery programming, undergraduate and graduate education for degree seekers, and degree alternatives for professionals such as short courses, certifications, micro-credentialing and upskilling.

The AVPAP supports CSU-Fort Collins (CSU-FC) academic units in all aspects of programmatic engagement at CSU Spur. As a member of the CSU Spur Executive Leadership Team and the Provost’s Leadership Council, the AVPAP contributes to the establishment of CSU Spur goals that align with the 21st century CSU land grant mission and Principles of Community and the development and execution of cohesive CSU Spur operational models and strategies to achieve those goals. The successful candidate will have the option of establishing a primary office location at the CSU Spur campus in Denver or the CSU campus in Fort Collins as the role will require a regular physical presence at both campuses.

Required Job Qualifications

• PhD or comparable terminal degree

• Appointment or qualification for appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a significant academic leadership role supporting a variety of student populations. Examples might include director of an undergraduate or graduate program, center director, department chair or head, academic associate dean, or other position of influence and leadership over academic matters

• Documented strategic leadership experience including formal and informal strategic planning resulting in program success

• Commitment to educational access manifested in documentable professional outcomes

• Documented history of collaborative and transparent leadership that includes success working with and leading teams, with and without the benefit of formal authority

• Experience managing complex interpersonal interactions and successful change management

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of the role and mission of a public land-grant institution

• Success in fundraising and revenue generation to support programmatic growth. Examples might include expansion of student credit hours, procurement of external competitive funding (i.e., grants), growth of fee-based services, and/or philanthropic or industry partnerships

• Significant experience in curriculum development and student instruction in a higher education setting

• Experience working in a “startup” or entrepreneurial space

• Professional experience with Extension programming or engagement

• Professional experience with P-12 programming and student development

• Experience with multi-campus programming and operations, preferably in a leadership context, demonstrated through collaboration and cohesive mission-focus across sites

• Experience managing complex budgets

• Experience in personnel management and program evaluation

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category

Strategic leadership of academic programing

Duty/Responsibility

• On an ongoing basis, the AVPAP collaboratively refines CSU Spur academic strategic direction to capitalize upon emerging opportunities 

• The AVPAP will lead the ongoing design of the “Spur Start” experience including the development of core curriculum, design of retention strategies, implementation of student supports and create connections between Spur Start cohorts and CSU-FC 

• In close partnership with college deans and other CSU-FC unit leaders, the AVPAP aligns academic programming at the CSU Spur campus with initiatives and goals of CSU-FC academic units 

• The AVPAP collaborates with other CSU Spur leaders on the allocation and alignment of resources (including financial, space, and staff resources) to support the inclusion of academic programming within a cohesive, mission-directed approach 

• The AVPAP leads, supports, and contributes to efforts to identify and grow financial resources and strategic partnerships to support academic programing at CSU Spur 

• AVPAP supports CSU Spur’s P-12 and multigenerational learning mission by collaborating with Spur’s education team regarding curriculum, career planning and student/family engagement

Percentage Of Time - 35%

Job Duty Category

Academic program management and growth

Duty/Responsibility

• The AVPAP leads collaborative establishment and refinement of CSU Spur policies related to academic programing 

• The AVPAP fosters and leads an academic culture that positions CSU Spur as a leader in pedagogical innovation, expansion of educational access, and as a venue for both traditional and nontraditional educational opportunities, novel research aligned with the CSU Spur mission, and industry and community engagement 

• Through policy and action, the AVPAP promotes innovative approaches for interdisciplinary research and education 

• In partnership with CSU-FC academic unit leadership, the AVPAP oversees academic programs originating from CSU-FC including project establishment, management, and evaluation. As warranted, the AVPAP partners with CSU-FC academic unit leaders to establish, refine, or terminate academic programs, including research projects, at CSU Spur 

• The AVPAP establishes staffing models and manages staff resources to support “Spur Start” and other academic programs of the CSU Spur campus

Percentage Of Time - 40%

Job Duty Category

CSU Spur campus leadership

Duty/Responsibility

• The AVPAP partners with other CSU Spur leaders to collaboratively set strategic direction for the CSU Spur campus, aligning CSU Spur goals and activities with the land grant tradition and CSU Principles of Community 

• The AVPAP collaborates with other CSU Spur leaders to establish and refine administrative structures to achieve CSU Spur goals while remaining flexible to allow continued operational growth and refinement 

• The AVPAP establishes and oversees academic and student support programming to support the needs of “Spur Start” students 

• The AVPAP works with the innovation and research community at Spur and CSU-FC to create one-of-a-kind student experiences that leverage the unique facilities and programs at Spur 

Percentage Of Time - 25%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants Interested applicants must submit a CV/Resume and letter of application explicitly addressing each of the required and preferred qualifications.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Conditions of Employment

Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Search Contact

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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