WASC Senior College and University Commission
President and Chief Executive Officer WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) invites applications and nominations as the Commission searches for the next President and Chief Executive Officer. The Commission seeks a thoughtful, strategically minded President who understands accreditation's place in a rapidly changing postsecondary landscape, can provide leadership for regional, national and international conversations about accreditation, and will lead a committed staff in the ongoing work of policy development and implementation and institutional review.
WSCUC is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation that exists to promote the welfare and development of higher education through the continued improvement of institutions. WSCUC was established to accredit senior (bachelor's degrees and above) colleges and universities. Its genesis lies in the Western College Association, founded in 1924. WSCUC was formed on July 1, 1962, to evaluate and accredit schools, colleges, and universities in California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Today, WSCUC accredits institutions located anywhere in the United States and around the world. WSCUC serves a diverse membership of public and private higher education institutions. WSCUC currently accredits 216 institutions serving more than one million students. The Commission is committed to continuous improvement in its accreditation standards and processes, with a record of innovation and transparency, measuring student success, and assessing the financial sustainability of institutions.
WSCUC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education provided by member institutions of higher education offering baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees. WSCUC is reviewed periodically for renewal by the U.S. Department of Education.
President and Chief Executive Officer
The President is the chief executive officer of the organization, reporting to the Commission functioning as its Board of Directors. The President is responsible internally for administrative leadership and effectiveness, provides thought leadership to the Commission in matters of research and policy development in accreditation, and contributes at the national and international levels to ongoing discussions on quality assurance in higher education.
More specifically, the next president of WSCUC will have:
- An earned doctorate or other terminal degree.
- An intentional passion for the support of student achievement defined as both student learning and student retention and completion.
- A broad and deep knowledge of the current higher education landscape and ability to visualize future stages of innovation.
- Considerable experience with institutional accreditation and a grounded sense of student, faculty, and institutional interests in its enactment.
- Demonstrated success in a senior-level administrative position at an accredited institution or at an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Familiarity with current U.S. statutes and regulations related to accreditation and a willingness and ability to stay abreast of and contribute to discussions related to the reauthorization of the HEA.
- The ability and willingness to lead and oversee changes needed in the Commission's Standards and procedures in alignment with needs and demands of current and future students.
- The ability to balance the leadership and management of internal Commission operations and engagement in national and international issues and activities.
- The disposition, political acumen and experience to provide leadership for national and international conversations about accreditation's role in quality assurance.
- The tact, wit, and presence in a fast-paced environment to balance competing priorities and to represent the Commission before multiple audiences and constituencies including federal and state legislators and their staff, federal and state agencies, lobbyists, and national and regional organizations focused on higher education.
- Skills applicable to advancing a commission-level association with institutional membership.
- An ability to attract, inspire, and retain talented staff in the ongoing work of institutional review and, relatedly, compassion, a sense of humor, and respect for co-workers at all levels of the organization.
- The willingness and ability to engage in significant travel throughout the U.S. and some international travel.
- A demonstrated commitment to the WSCUC principles of excellence, equity, engagement, and to its strategic goals concerning evidence, equity and inclusion, data/data analysis, and national and global reach.
- Demonstrated experience with strategic planning, organizational change management, team building, and data literacy.
More information can be found in the institutional profile at
https://www.academicsearch.org/open-searches-public/entry/19680/?search=19680.
How to Apply Applications should consist of a substantial letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to:
WSCUCPresidentCEO@academicsearch.org The position is open until filled but only applications received by Wednesday, October 30, 2024, can be assured full consideration. The Commission is being assisted by Academic Search. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Ann Hasselmo at Ann.Hasselmo@academicsearch.org, Stuart Dorsey at Stuart.Dorsey@academicsearch.org, and Chris Butler at Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org. Further information about WASC Senior College and University Commission is available at https://www.wscuc.org/. The minimum salary range for this position is $475-490k.
The Commission is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Commission policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, and medical condition (including pregnancy or childbirth), genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
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