Associate Vice Chancellor

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMN Crookston) welcomes applications for the position of Associate Vice Chancellor for the Division of Business, Arts, and Education (BAE). Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the scale and scope of responsibilities reflect those of an academic dean at campuses of similar size and complexity. The Associate Vice Chancellor is responsible for the overall operations of Business Department and the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education (HSSE) Department and will concurrently hold faculty standing. The Associate Vice Chancellor also oversees the campus's Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC). Across these areas, the Associate Vice Chancellor manages the professional, instructional, and scholarly activities of the faculty and staff and provides academic leadership, and contributes to the Senior Vice Chancellor's leadership body, the Academic Affairs Council. The new Associate Vice Chancellor will support and enhance the success of all students.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is one of five campuses in the University of Minnesota System offering students an exceptional, hands-on learning experience in a safe, close-knit community. Known for its #1 best value ranking, NCAA Division II athletics, affordable tuition, #1 ranked dorms, and a supportive environment, UMN Crookston provides personalized attention and mentorship to help students thrive academically and professionally. UMN Crookston offers more than 75 programs to choose from, including both on-campus and online options. Degree-seeking enrollment is comprised of 1100 online and 750 on-campus students. UMN Crookston serves the highest proportions of first-generation, Pell-eligible, and adult learner populations within the University of Minnesota system. As a part of its commitment to comprehensive equity and inclusion, UMN Crookston prides itself as a leading educational provider for college students from rural communities.

Leadership Qualities
UMN Crookston is looking for an effective, inclusive, action-oriented, creative, and collaborative leader to build on strengths, capitalize on opportunities, and take its portfolio of academic programs and operations to the next level. The ideal candidate will have a can-do work ethic and demonstrated capacity to scale up prior experience in engaging faculty, professional staff, and students in achieving measured results. The Associate Vice Chancellor will have a strong commitment to enhancing collaboration and mutual respect, along with the ability to recruit outstanding new faculty as well as to retain and promote high-achieving current faculty.

The Position and the Leadership Opportunity
The Associate Vice Chancellor for Business, Arts, and Education is a compelling leadership opportunity that could serve as a stepping stone for an emergent leader who aspires to move on to a senior academic officer role at a small college or an academic dean position at a larger university. It could also serve as a landing spot for a seasoned academic leader who wishes to champion growth, development, and advancement of faculty, academic programs, and student success over an extended period of time or as the final chapter in their career. The following are select opportunities for measured accomplishments to be achieved in the next five years.

• After receiving its 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in 2025, UMN Crookston looks ahead to participating in development of the UMN strategic plan, Elevate Extraordinary. This process offers opportunities for strong academic leadership to assess and analyze current curriculum and support structures while generating innovative strategies for future growth and improvement.
• As a smaller regional public university, UMN Crookston depends on enrollment to fund program development and enhancement. A key opportunity for UMN Crookston is extending greater educational access by strengthening and expanding both dual-enrollment programs with local and regional high schools and dual-admission programs with nearby community, technical, and tribal colleges.
• UMN Crookston pioneered online degree programs at the turn of the 21st Century and continues to be the UMN System leader in serving non-traditional adult learners through online programs that are flexible and responsive to student needs. Eighty-seven percent of students in Business Department majors and more than half of those in HSSE Department majors complete their degrees online. Liberal education requirements, which are heavily supported by HSSE faculty and courses, can be completed through either in-person or online modalities. Future growth for these programs in an increasingly competitive market will require continuous improvement in high-quality pedagogy, engagement with emerging technologies, as well as curriculum development and review.
• Since UMN Crookston became a four-year institution in 1993, baccalaureate alumni are now sending their children to college and entering critical years for philanthropic engagement. The Associate Vice Chancellor will have opportunities to help develop and strengthen legacy programs supporting enrollment growth, to create opportunities for meaningful engagement and giving, and to provide evidence of return on philanthropic investment to donors.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to Academic Affairs as part of a collegial team reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor;
• Lead the Division in a manner consistent with the principles of shared governance and the negotiated collective bargaining agreements;
• Facilitate the development of a culture that recognizes, affirms, and helps faculty, staff, and students draw upon cultural, communal, and identity-based assets to achieve educational outcomes;
• Promote and maintain a high-quality learning environment for diverse on-campus and online students;
• Provide instructional leadership in curriculum development, review, and improvement that emphasizes student learning and responsiveness to regional and national workforce needs;
• Support faculty in pursuit and maintenance of required regional and license-based accreditations as well as existing voluntary program accreditations;
• Recruit, hire, and mentor new faculty;
• Provide general oversight of tenure, promotion, and advancement in rank processes for faculty;
• Oversee annual performance evaluation and merit increase processes for faculty and staff;
• Generate a unit culture that supports and promotes active scholarly and creative work including pursuit of grants and external funding;
• Work with department chairs to establish, enact, and evaluate annual department goals, objectives, and plans;
• Prepare, prioritize, authorize, and monitor budget requests and expenditures;
• Engage with the regional community, both on and off campus, to foster strong campus-community relationships;
• Collaborate with colleagues in University and Alumni Relations on philanthropic efforts including assisting in the identification and development of relationships with potential significant donors;
• Represent the Division on administrative groups;
• Provide supervisory leadership for and oversight of the Early Childhood Development Center;
• Communicate and implement university and system policy;
• Support enrollment management efforts, including international and domestic articulation agreements;
• Keep current with new developments in their field;
• Maintain an agenda for scholarly research and creative activity related to one's academic discipline as well as involvement with professional organizations relevant to the Associate Vice Chancellor role; and
• Help advance the outreach mission of the University in additional ways as mutually agreed upon with the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
  

Required:

• Doctoral degree or terminal degree in one's academic discipline.
• Professional achievement in teaching and scholarship commensurate with the awarding of tenure at the rank of associate or full professor within either the Business or the HSSE Department.
• Experience in administrative leadership, new program development, and/or institutional and program accreditation processes.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the University of Minnesota Crookston, especially as related to access and student success.
• Evidence of leadership abilities, exceptional communication skills, and excellent interpersonal and team- building skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.

Preferred:

• A record of achievement in advancing culturally responsive teaching practices in both distance and on-campus modalities, and narrowing opportunity and achievement gaps among students served.
• Experience administering online educational programs.
• Experience in supervising and evaluating faculty and staff including union-represented faculty and staff.
• Experience planning and managing complex budgets.
• Proficiency in a second language, preferably Spanish.

Pay Range: $120,000-140,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

The position is a 12-month, full-time, annual renewable position starting July 1, 2026; different start date could be negotiated. The anticipated salary range is $120,000-140,000 commensurate with qualifications, academic discipline, and faculty rank plus an excellent benefits package that includes retirement, medical, dental, disability and life insurance. The complete benefits package can be viewed at the following web page: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/eb/uplan/summary.htm. Review of applications will begin February 9, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Application materials include a current C.V., a cover letter, unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned, and a list of 3-5 professional references. Visit https://employment.umn.edu for complete instructions on how to apply electronically. Inquiries welcome; contact Joan Tronson, Director of Human Resources, University of Minnesota-Crookston by email at Jtronson@crk.umn.edu.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC)

With a strong tradition of technology-enhanced teaching and learning, the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) serves as the U's major outpost in Northwest Minnesota. UMC provides both experiential, career-oriented degree programs as well as high-quality online programs, while connecting its teaching, research, and outreach to rural economic development and service to the region and beyond.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).