VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Transcription

1 VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

2 AUSTIN COLLEGE, a tier-one national liberal arts college, seeks nominations and applications for its next Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Founded in 1849 by Presbyterian pioneers in education, Austin College is now the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name. The vibrant Austin College community includes 1,278 full-time students and a faculty recently ranked 14th in the nation in academic excellence by The Princeton Review. Its well-appointed 85-acre campus, with modern science facilities and state-of-the-art, upper-class student residences, is located in Sherman, Texas, approximately one hour north of downtown Dallas. Named among the top 10 Best Colleges in Texas by USA Today (2015) and Princeton Review s greenest colleges in the U.S. and Canada, Austin College is deeply tied to its region as expressed in its commitment to global vision, local engagement, one of the four pillars of its new strategic plan entitled Adding Value to a Changing World: In addition, the College is one of a small number of institutions featured in Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope (2012). The search commences as Dr. Marjorie Hass, serving in her seventh year as president, leads a dynamic and highly regarded institution supported by a dedicated and effective senior leadership team with tenures ranging from three to 25 years. High priorities of the newly updated strategic plan will find expression in a multi-year campaign, now in feasibility testing, that includes the priorities of: addressing affordability for all students through a significant increase PAGE 2 AUSTIN COLLEGE SHERMAN, TEXAS in endowed scholarships; the continued recruitment and retention of faculty of the highest caliber; increasing institutional responsiveness to changing demographics in Texas and the country as a whole; and building and equipping new and existing facilities to enhance classroom learning. An additional impact opportunity for Institutional Advancement will be to engage alumni and friends more comprehensively in the Austin College mission within a culture of philanthropy that extends from today s students to alumni attending their 50-year reunions and beyond. A compelling aspect of Austin College s strategic future is its continuing covenant with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Formal church relations and ties with individuals and families from the Presbyterian faith tradition are strong and integral to the College s commitment to diversity, religious pluralism, and inclusiveness. A member of the president s senior leadership team, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, reporting directly to President Hass, will bear responsibility for the full range of advancement responsibilities, including: alumni relations; fundraising at all levels; public and community relations; communications and marketing; and advancement systems and services. In addition, the new VPIA will oversee strategic and annual planning for the division, manage a staff of 24, and ensure that fundraising, advancement communications, and advancement reporting and metrics keep pace with national best practice. The VPIA will work in tandem with the Office of Public Affairs and other College divisions to provide campus-wide creative services, support for marketing initiatives, and media relations coordination.

3 COLLEGE LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE President Hass began her tenure in 2009 as the 15th president of Austin College after a distinguished career at Muhlenberg College, where she served as provost and professor of philosophy. Under her leadership, Austin College enrollment targets have been met, applications have doubled, selectivity has increased, and marketing efforts have widened awareness of the College s distinctive strengths. The College continues to be recognized nationally for the quality of its educational program and the achievements of its graduates. President Hass vision includes development of the College s long standing core values of global awareness and engaged citizenship, as well as emphasis on sound financial and environmental responsibility, and re animating the liberal arts in today s digital era. Joining President Hass on the senior leadership team are both new and long-serving vice presidents, each with a track record of significant accomplishment. The team is complemented by new leadership of the Board of Trustees with a strong alumni presence. The Austin College campus culture embraces excellence and is highly collegial, frank, and informal. The new Vice President for Institutional Advancement will be expected to participate actively in a wide range of institutional decision making as well as provide counsel and demonstrable expertise to the president, senior leadership team, and the board on all aspects of the advancement paradigm. PAGE 3 AUSTIN COLLEGE SHERMAN, TEXAS THE SETTING Austin College is located in Sherman, Texas, 65 miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth in a vibrant community that takes great pride in the College s presence. A sign along US-75 North at the city s entrance proclaims Sherman as the Home of Austin College, bespeaking an enduring partnership that simultaneously benefits faculty, staff, students, and the local community. Sherman calls itself a classic town with broad horizons that, at least since the mid-1800s, has focused on education. Beyond Austin College, for example, its independent school district ranks among the top 2 percent in the state for academic excellence, and both U.S. News and the Washington Post rank its public high school among the top 8 percent nationally (2015). Local shops, restaurants, and businesses, including a major regional medical center, are thriving, and Sherman culturally boasts its own orchestra, community concert series, and museum. Faculty and staff uniformly praise the area for its high quality of life and welcoming family feel. While negotiable, a strong preference will be for the new vice president to live in the local area. The academic buildings, residential housing, and athletics facilities on campus are new or have been well maintained, attesting to Austin College s consecutive years of balanced budgets and well-managed resources. Nearby Dallas/Fort Worth is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and, with an absence of personal and business income taxes, ranks high nationally in population and economic growth. The metroplex region is home to a thriving convention and tourism industry; professional football, baseball, and basketball teams; and numerous museums and performing arts organizations.

4 ADVANCEMENT HISTORY AND CURRENT STATUS Institutional Advancement at Austin College has been well managed under the leadership of outgoing Vice President Brooks Hull, with new gift reporting, support systems, and comparative metrics firmly established. The staff includes several professionals with notable experience prior to joining the College as well as several long-term employees. The advent of a new campaign may include opportunities for further staff enhancement. Fundraising at Austin College historically has been primarily staff driven, with significant involvement by President Hass. Opportunities exist for a new vice president to engage larger numbers of trustees and other volunteers in major gift fundraising during the campaign era. Alumni giving participation rose by 2 percentage points in the most recent fiscal year and compares favorably with the College s peer group. The market value of Austin College s endowment was $134.7 million at the end of FY14, and an active planned giving program provides opportunities for further enhancement. The quiet phase of a comprehensive campaign was begun in 2013 with the involvement of a consulting firm, and a feasibility study to determine the public goal is nearing PAGE 4 AUSTIN COLLEGE SHERMAN, TEXAS completion. The campaign feasibility prospectus for study purposes is based on the strategic plan, and feasibility study results are expected by the end of the year. The new vice president will assume immediate staff leadership of the campaign and should be prepared to hit the bricks running in this highly important endeavor. As active partners with President Hass in relationship with the Board of Trustees, all vice presidents attend all board meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee. In addition, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement supports and attends meetings of the Trustee Committee, the Financial Health Committee, and staffs directly the Institutional Advancement Committee. The opportunity available is for the ideal candidate to continue building on an already successful strategy, program, and team, while adding and incorporating his or her experience and personal vision for the future of the advancement program. The further evolution of a robust advancement program stands ready to take flight with the advent of the new campaign, supported by a highly engaged and successful president and a committed board. Both presidential and trustee support for continued fast-paced development is strong and highly prioritized among the College s goals.

5 KEY ATTRIBUTES AND EXPECTATIONS OF ADVANCEMENT LEADERSHIP The successful candidate will ideally bring 10 years of prior success in advancement as the vice president, associate vice president, or executive director of development for a college, university, or major cultural organization. S/he will have demonstrated an ability to successfully manage a staff team and work closely with senior administrative and academic leaders as well as a Board of Trustees or equivalent volunteer leadership organization. Desirable candidates will bring an established record of success in major gift fundraising and first-hand experience in leading, or significant involvement in, a capital or comprehensive campaign. Deep professional knowledge and experience in all facets of the advancement paradigm (fundraising, alumni and constituent relations, marketing and communications, and advancement services) is a baseline expectation along with impeccable and sophisticated interpersonal and communication skills. The new leader of the advancement team will be missionoriented and able to provide purpose, motivation, and clear direction to his or her staff team while supporting them, PAGE 5 AUSTIN COLLEGE SHERMAN, TEXAS serving as a player-coach, and holding them accountable for the setting and achievement of priorities, goals, and milestones within available resources. In addition, s/he must be able to work closely and seamlessly with the president and serve as her close advisor on advancement strategy, while at the same time maintaining strong relationships on campus as part of a small and close-knit team of senior administrators. In addition, the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement must bring the following personal attributes to the role: confidence, integrity, collegiality, polish, vision, compassion, high energy, and a sense of humor. Finally, the successful candidate will be a strong fundraiser who is comfortable working with lead volunteers and high-end donor prospects in all phases of the major gift cycle, and familiar with and capable of sustaining an active planned giving program. Candidates presenting the above attributes and strengths as well as embracing values consistent with the College s historical Presbyterian identity will be given closest attention.

6 THE APPLICATION PROCESS Nominations and expressions of interest are encouraged and will be accepted at any time during the search process. Although formal applications will be accepted until an appointment is made, candidates should submit materials by December 31, 2015, for most favorable consideration. The Search Committee plans to begin screening applications in early January, and an appointment is anticipated by mid-february following a two-stage interview process. A start date of spring 2016 is anticipated, depending on the current commitments of the successful candidate. The search is being assisted by Dr. Vance T. Peterson of AGB Search, Washington, D.C. Nominations and inquiries may be directed to: Dr. Vance T. Peterson Consultant AGB Search vtp@agbsearch.com (818) PAGE 6 AUSTIN COLLEGE SHERMAN, TEXAS Application materials should be submitted electronically (in MS Word or Adobe PDF) to: Members of the Search Committee AustinAdvancement@agbsearch.com Applications must include a letter of interest that responds to the Key Attributes and Expectations of Advancement Leadership and other elements of this profile as appropriate; a complete resume or vita; and contact information ( and phone) for five professional references, none of whom will be contacted without the prior formal permission of the candidate. All nominations, inquiries, and applications will be received and evaluated in full confidence. It is the policy of Austin College to provide equal opportunities and reasonable accommodations to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.