Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Associate Dean of the College

Department ​
 
CSL Dean of Students in the University

About the Department

​

The University of Chicago is one of the nation's leading institutions of higher education and research. Campus and Student Life (CSL) carries the core mission of the University to all aspects of life outside the classroom. It enriches the lives of its students, staff, and faculty and academic staff members and contributes to a vibrant, collaborative, and diverse campus community that inspires excellence and sustains the University’s culture of inquiry, innovation, and continuous learning. The unit also works to support the overall well-being of students, including their health and safety. This happens in the context of a campus located in a dynamic, thriving city, in which opportunities abound for students to learn from, contribute to, and engage with their urban environment. CSL is importantly charged with the dual task of promoting the interests of students in the University, and managing multiple campus departments and services that serve the entire campus community, including Athletics & Recreation; the Office of the Bursar; Center for Leadership and Involvement; Disciplinary Affairs; International House; Office of International Affairs; Office of the University Registrar; Rockefeller Memorial Chapel; Spiritual Life; Student Centers; Student Disability Services; UChicago HELP; Student Wellness; and UChicago Dining. The University of Chicago community includes approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 10,500 graduate, professional, and other students and there are over 400 recognized student organizations working together to create a vibrant and dynamic student life.

Job Information ​
 

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Dean of the College and the Dean of Students in the University in Campus and Student Life, the Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Associate Dean of the College (AVP/Associate Dean) will supervise and lead all residential life programs and services, facilitating the integrative personal and intellectual development of students outside the classroom.  The AVP/Associate Dean must be a visionary higher education leader committed to providing the very best residential and programmatic experience for the University of Chicago’s undergraduate students. 

As the University of Chicago continues its remarkable transformation of undergraduate life, the AVP/Associate Dean will play an active role in reinforcing its excellence. The AVP/Associate Dean will lead the development of new residence halls and dining commons. Additionally, this person will manage major student service enterprises, including residence halls, dining commons and several retail food facilities, and have the demonstrated acumen to be a respected, influential, and creative advocate for housing and community life.

The Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Associate Dean of the College will serve as a critical member of CSL, fostering campus life in support of the mission of the University along with other CSL colleagues and in close collaboration with the Dean of the College. The AVP/Associate Dean will lead campus-wide strategic initiatives and possess the financial, strategic, and operational skills to guide high-level divisional planning projects. This person will also possess the interpersonal skills to work effectively with a broad range of individuals, including directors, managers, senior administrators, trustees, faculty, students, and staff (both within and outside of CSL), in advancing the University’s mission and goals.

The AVP/Associate Dean will be responsible for an expense budget of approximately $54 million and set strategic direction for Housing & Residence Life and UChicago Dining; Additional responsibilities include overseeing a staff of over 160 and two direct reports.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Dean of Students in the University, other leaders and professional staff in CSL, the College dean of students, students, faculty, alumni, the Board of Trustees and other constituents and stakeholders. Serve as a senior student affairs administrator for the University and critical partner to the Dean of the College in implementing the vision and educational objectives for undergraduate life. This person will be a critical adjunct to College Admissions, and anticipate and respond to the needs of a new generation of incoming students in innovative and creative ways.
• Oversee a high functioning team focused on improving services and delivering high quality experiences to students. This group possesses significant expertise and institutional knowledge. Tasked with further defining the team’s portfolio both internally and to the broader campus community. Charged with shaping priorities, managing auxiliary student services and enhancing the residential and dining components of the University’s summer conference and events program. This person will steward the traditions and mission of UChicago during a period of transition. Adept at both strategy and operations and will be a persuasive voice in senior-level conversations.
• Involved in strategic planning, capital building projects, and fundraising efforts. Expected to develop critical partnerships across a campus, building support and momentum for future building projects and alternative housing scenarios that achieve the stated housing goal.
• Plan the strategic allocation of resources for high impact program development and building creation. This will include analysis of enrollment trends and space capacity, development of a sustainable financial plan, and evaluation, prioritization, and alignment of capital projects with the institution’s strategic plan.
• Ensure as the campus grows it maintains a vibrant student community. To this end, this person will have the demonstrated acumen to be a respected, influential, and creative advocate for housing and residential life.
• Possess the political skills to build on the organization’s current successes and strategic vision to understand and articulate how current efforts will affect the institution’s strategic goals over the next five, ten, and fifteen years. This will include supervising and guiding the efforts of Housing & Residence Life and UChicago Dining at the highest levels.
• Cultivate high-quality living environments for students to pursue rigorous academic work while simultaneously stimulating their intellectual, social, and emotional growth.
• In close partnership with the Dean of the College, provide leadership and support to the Resident Deans. Leadership and support includes recruitment and ongoing support of their individual programs and needs developing a social system that conjures intellectual high-level social discussion in a deliberate way.
• Work with this group in their capacity as an advisory body for the College, and as advocates for Housing & Residence Life with the Dean of the College and the rest of the faculty.

Competencies:

• Understanding and appreciation for the mission and goals of university housing programs. Knowledge of campus dining programs and retail operations.
• Significant and demonstrated knowledge of short and long-term facilities capital project planning and priority-setting.
• Knowledge and ability to establish cohesive learning communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of the developmental objectives of the college student in a residential environment.
• Evidence of effective and sustained engagement in campus life issues and a record of providing support and opportunities for students. Assess, understand, and advocate persuasively for students’ interests.
• A strong grounding in campus crisis management and emergency response and demonstrated knowledge and a general understanding of student mental health issues, student conduct and discipline, and legal issues in higher education.
• Serve as the face of the University to a variety of internal and external constituent groups. Experience communicating with students, parents, family members, and University leadership during difficult circumstances.
• The maturity, presence, and gravitas to engage effectively with all constituencies, including members of the faculty, communicate broadly across the University and work across boundaries, cultivate and sustain collegial relationships, and build unity around difficult issues.
• Proven skills as a senior manager, open in; demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, motivate and supervise staff; someone willing to roll up their sleeves, but not a micromanager.
• Drive and intellectual curiosity; a willingness to work hard; a quick learner in a fast-paced environment; experience working with talented, driven, hardworking students; and a good sense of humor.
• Excellent oral/written/digital communication and presentation skills.
• Experience in program evaluation and audits, and strategic planning.
• Financial skills and a record of advocating for and using resources with fiscal responsibility.
• A commitment to diversity and the ability to develop and support inclusive communities.
• Devotion to the highest ethical standards. Personal and professional integrity above reproach. Maintain confidentiality and to respond appropriately to sensitive institutional or interpersonal problems.
• Strong research, financial analysis, and budgetary skills.
• Considerable skill in working both independently and as part of a team.

Additional Requirements ​​
 

Education, Experience, or Certifications:

Education:

• A graduate degree is required.
• Doctorate degree is strongly preferred.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of leadership experience in a complex operation that is student-focused is required.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education or a comparable setting is preferred.
• Demonstrated housing supervision and management experience.
• Proven project management experience and strong administrative experience.

Required Documents:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Benefit Eligibility ​
 
Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

No

Pay Frequency ​
 
Monthly

Pay Range
 
Depends on Qualifications

Scheduled Weekly Hours ​
 
37.5

Union ​
 
Non-Union

Job is Exempt
 
Yes

Drug Test Required
 
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 
No

Health Screen Required
No

Posting Date ​
 
2023-02-23-08:00

Remove from Posting On or Before ​
 
2023-08-23-07:00

Posting Statement: ​​
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity /Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.