Presidential Search: Position Profile

(printable Position Profile*)

University of the Ozarks, an institution that blends the liberal arts and professional preparation, seeks nominations and expressions of interest for the Presidency of the University. The next President of Ozarks will lead an institution that is academically solid, financially secure, and fully committed to offering programs of the highest quality to a talented and engaged student body. It is anticipated that the new President will assume office on or about July 1, 2013.

About University of the Ozarks

University of the Ozarks was founded in 1834 by Cumberland Presbyterians as Cane Hill School at Cane Hill, Ark., located in Northwest Arkansas.  In 1891, Cane Hill College closed operations and its successor, Arkansas Cumberland College, was established in Clarksville, Ark.  In 1920, the name was changed to The College of the Ozarks, and in 1987 the school was renamed as the University of the Ozarks. In September of 1991, Ozarks celebrated her centennial year at its current location on College Hill in Clarksville. In October of 2009, the University celebrated another impressive milestone, her 175th birthday.

University of the Ozarks is a fully accredited, private, undergraduate university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its picturesque 30-acre campus lies at the foot of the scenic Ozark Mountains in Clarksville, Arkansas, approximately 100 miles west of Little Rock and 60 miles east of Fort Smith.

University of the Ozarks has consistently been rated among the top institutions of higher education in the region by publications and surveys such as U.S. News & World Report, National Survey of Student Engagement, and The Chronicle of Higher Education's Great Colleges to Work For. The University's comprehensive academic program includes more than 60 majors, minors and pre-professional programs, and its small class sizes and faculty-to-student ratio ensure the type of personal attention that allows students to thrive.

Ozarks Mission

True to its Christian heritage, Ozarks prepares those who seek to live life fully, those who seek the richness of life provided by study of the liberal arts and the quality of life provided by professional preparation.

The institution provides a uniquely supportive, academically sophisticated and challenging environment on a beautiful campus adjacent to the Ozark Mountains. Its first priority is the education of students who come from diverse religious, cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds.

Distinctive Features of University of the Ozarks

The Presidency of University of the Ozarks is an uncommon leadership opportunity.  The University offers the next President the following strengths and opportunities:

• It is home to the internationally acclaimed  and incredibly successful Walton Scholars program;
• A strong and accomplished faculty dedicated to the teacher - scholar model;
• An engaging and talented student body;
• A number of distinctive programs, such as: The Jones Learning Center - a fee based comprehensive program, designed specifically to assist students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder at the college level and Ozarks Outdoors - the creative outdoor recreation and education program;
• A solid Division III athletic program;
• A fully engaged and vibrant Board of Trustees;
• An active and engaged alumni association that supports the institution with time and resources;
• A dedicated and hard-working staff who care deeply about the institution and students they serve;
• An accomplished and supportive administrative team;
• A sense of pride and intense university community spirit shared by U of O alumni, faculty, staff and students;
• A beautiful campus with functional and well maintained facilities;
• The city of Clarksville, AR and surrounding region that is educationally and culturally rich.

Presidential Leadership

The next President of the University of the Ozarks will be expected to provide leadership in the following areas:

Effectively Build and Promote the Ozarks Mission and Strategic Initiatives to Internal and External Constituencies

• The President must be an effective spokesperson and enthusiastic champion of the distinctive Christian heritage, academic programs and mission of the University. 

• The President and campus community must build consensus around a strong vision for Ozarks and support that vision with short term and long term strategic planning. 

Increase Student Enrollment and Improve Student Retention

• It is imperative for the University to focus on expanding and improving recruitment and retention of outstanding students from the region, around the country and abroad. 

Strengthen Resource Acquisition, Allocation and Management

• Financial management must be a top priority of the new President.  The University's endowment, while solid at over $85 million, must continue to grow in order to provide stronger support for the institution's future development and operations.

Focus Upon and Strengthen Student Outcomes

• Student outcomes in the classroom; graduation rates and beyond must improve and be a key goal of the new president, senior administration, faculty and staff. 

Provide Distinguished and Trusted Leadership

• The new President must engage the entire university community in reflecting, visioning, and planning for the academic future of Ozarks.  Additionally, he/she must maintain a working knowledge of trends and national priorities for higher education as well as public and social policy in America. 

Extend Board/President Partnership

• The President/Board partnership will be crucial in addressing the planning and fiscal needs of the University and in connecting the Board to the larger university community.

Identify and Promote Centers of Excellence

• To raise the visibility and academic reputation of the University, the new President must collaborate in identifying quality and excellence in all academic areas. 

Focus on Students and Campus Diversity 

• In an effort to carry out its mission more effectively, and to prepare its students for the environment in which they will function in the 21st century, efforts to reflect diversity should and must continue. 

Foster Collegial and Other Relationships

• It is imperative that the new President forge the best of personal and professional relationships with key constituencies.  It is expected that the new President will provide a style of leadership that recognizes the central importance of continuing to build campus community, while also nurturing the University's relationships in Clarksville and in the other communities in the region.

Value and Involve Staff

• Ozarks is fortunate to have a talented and committed staff that plays key roles in shaping a residential learning community.  A successful President will recognize, utilize, celebrate and promote the value of the programs and services this group provides to the University.

Presidential Attributes

To provide the leadership required to enhance the University's place in American higher education, it will be important that the new President possess the following attributes:

• A proven record in articulating a shared vision for an institution and demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic planning initiatives;
• Significant and successful administrative or executive experience reflecting a successful record of prudent financial management;
• An aptitude and passion for asking others to provide generous financial support for an exceptional institution;
• The ability to effectively strengthen the reputation and standing of Ozarks nationally;
• A collaborative leadership style that builds upon existing relationships and a sense of university community and teamwork;
• An informed commitment to the ideals of  liberal and professional education and the ability to articulate those ideals persuasively;
• A commitment to providing a quality college education to students from diverse backgrounds with varying abilities;
• Experience in planning for and implementing a successful student  recruitment and retention program;
• A keen mind that embraces a broad vision, varied interests, a fresh perspective, balanced judgment and creativity;
• Proven experience in leading strategic and focused institutional growth initiatives;
• Excellent communication skills, that include a confident and comfortable public presence;
• The ability to excel as a leader in a consultative environment, and skill in negotiating and gaining effective consensus with all groups;
• Energy, stamina, enthusiasm, humility, and a sense of humor;
• A terminal degree is preferred, but the committee has agreed to review all qualified candidate applications.

Nominations and Inquiries

The Presidential Search Committee will begin a review of applications in late May and continue until an appointment is made.  To assure full consideration, applications should be received by June 22, 2012, and must include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and five professional references with email and telephone numbers (references will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant). Applications should be sent electronically (MS Word or Adobe PDF) to:

ozarks@agbsearch.com

The search is being assisted by:

Jamie Ferrare, Ph.D. Managing Principal AGB Search jpf@agbsearch.com 202-776-0854	And	Ron Stead, Ph.D. Senior Consultant AGB Search rss@agbsearch.com 703-434-2829

 University of the Ozarks is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Educator/Employer

---

* In order to view or print this file, you'll need to have the Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer. You can download the free plugin from Adobe's website, http://www.adobe.com/"