ACADEMIC DEAN for THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Regis University offers a unique opportunity for an academic leader who will provide strong leadership through collaboration in developing and implementing a new college of business in the Jesuit tradition. The University is located in an idyllic setting at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado. With a 400 year old tradition of Jesuit education, it is poised to build on strong foundations to meet the needs of 21st century learners who desire to become leaders. Under the inspired leadership of

its new president, Father John Fitzgibbons, S.J., who arrived in 2012, the university has reimagined its future by reorganizing and expanding its curriculum offerings and fostering a “one university culture.” Since his arrival the University has expanded to four academic colleges and is now launching a fifth with the college of business.

INTRODUCTION

located in an idyllic setting at the base of the Rocky Mountains

Regis University is a Catholic university sponsored by the Society of Jesus. Originally founded by Jesuit missionaries from Italy in 1877, and renamed Regis College in 1921, the College took its name from a Jesuit missionary who preached and worked for social justice in small mountain communities of France in the early 17th century. As such, the University is dedicated to the ideal of striving for academic excellence under the inspiration of the Christian faith; it recognizes and affirms the importance of the principle of academic freedom in its pursuit of truth; and, in keeping with its Christian vision of the dignity of each human person, it welcomes and respects students, faculty, and staff from all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds and beliefs.

Regis University prepares men and women of all ages to take leadership roles and to make a positive impact in a changing society. Standing within the Catholic and United States traditions, the University is inspired by the particular Jesuit vision of Ignatius Loyola. This vision challenges us to attain the inner freedom to make intelligent choices.

At Regis we seek to provide value-centered education, while strengthening our

commitment to community service. We nurture the life of the mind and the pursuit of truth within an environment conducive to effective teaching, learning and personal development. Consistent with Judeo-Christian principles, we apply knowledge to human needs and seek to preserve the best of the human heritage. We encourage the continual search for truth, values and a just existence. Throughout this process, we examine and attempt to answer the question: “How ought we to live?”

As a consequence of Ignatius Loyola’s vision, particularly as reflected in his Spiritual Exercises, we encourage all members of the Regis community to learn proficiently, think logically and critically, identify and choose personal standards of values, and be socially responsible. We further encourage the development of skills and leadership abilities necessary for distinguished professional work and contributions to the improvement and transformation of society.

THE INSTITUTION

prepare men and women of all ages to make a positive impact in a changing society

Regis University strives to be a premiere, globally-engaged institution of learning in the Jesuit tradition that prepares leaders to live productive lives of faith, meaning, and service.

Regis University currently has four colleges: Regis College (2,000 students of traditional age in traditional learning formats), the College for Professional Studies (6,500 adult students online and ground based, at the main campus and satellite campuses), the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions (3,000 students, of mixed ages, in online and ground-based programs in pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, health service education, and counseling), and the College of Computer and Information Sciences (1,600 students, mostly adult with a small number of traditional students).

After extensive and thoughtful strategic planning the decision has been made to add a College of Business to the University, thus the search for a founding Academic Dean ensues. This independent business college will combine the current School of Management from the College for Professional Studies, the Division of Business from Regis College, and the smaller Master of Nonprofit Management

program from the College for Professional Studies. This new College will prepare graduates to live purposeful lives bringing Jesuit values into free market and social enterprises for the betterment of society.

Regis has distinguished itself in the adult learning market – inaugurating adult learning programs in 1978. Today’s College for Professional Studies is a product of that endeavor. What is now the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions came to Regis after the acquisition of Loretto Heights College in Denver in 1988.

Regis University has been a leader in online learning since the mid 1990’s with one of the first online MBA’s in the country. Today the College for Professional Studies, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, and the College of Computer and Information Sciences have robust hybrid programs, as will the new College of Business.

The College for Professional Studies

THE OPPORTUNITY

prepare graduates to live purposeful lives bringing Jesuit values into free market and social enterprises

currently is made up of undergraduate and Master’s programs in the School of Management, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Education.

The new College of Business will combine the Regis College Division of Business with the College for Professional Studies School of Management and Master of Nonprofit Management. Only Regis College faculty hold tenure and will continue to do so.

The College for Professional Studies programs utilize a number of affiliate faculty, many of whom have taught with the program for years. The new College of Business will have 29 full-time faculty, a large contingent of affiliate faculty, and approximately 3,300 students of all ages and learning formats.

Prior to the arrival of its new president, Fr. John Fitzgibbons, S.J., Regis University was a decentralized university. The combining of Regis business and nonprofit management programs into one new college fosters “one university,” bringing together diverse faculty, eliminating duplication, creating a college that has greater alumni and donor interests and giving students more choices in degrees, learning models, and programs.

In Fall 2014, Regis launched a new College of Computer and Information Sciences, merging the College for Professional Studies School of Computer and Information Sciences (with ABET accredited programs), the Regis College Computer Science department, and the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions Health Information Management department.

The creation of the new College of Business and the search for the new Academic Dean is a high priority of the Regis University Board of Trustees. Three trustees are serving on the search committee. The new College offers a real opportunity to differentiate itself by marketing the distinctive qualities of a business program based on the values inherent in Jesuit education.

The Academic Dean of the Regis University College of Business will lead the ongoing formation of the new college that combines the faculties and programs from historically separate entities. The creation of the new College is an opportunity to fashion a dynamic, innovative college that is a recognized leader in the field, one known for academic excellence and responsive to shifting industry needs. This college will build mutually beneficial business partnerships, and be distinguished by its Jesuit Catholic mission.

The Academic Dean will be the chief academic and administrative head of the College of Business. Responsibility will include providing visionary leadership that supports academic excellence, innovation, learning models for traditional and post-traditional learners, faculty development, and a strong commitment to the Jesuit Catholic mission of Regis University. The Dean will be responsible for the development of all internal programs, collaborative relationships with other academic units of the university; and externally with industry partners, alumni, trustees, and funding sources. It will be important to work closely with the Provost, the other academic deans, the faculty,

and senior administrators in promoting a university-wide culture and in carrying out the academic elements of the university’s strategic plan.

Summary of ResponsibilitiesAcademic Leadership: The Dean will serve as a recognized intellectual and academic leader in the University. This will include leading the faculty in planning, developing, and directing all college activities, ensuring the quality and integrity of current and new program offerings that anticipate global trends of the 21st century. The Dean will ensure the continuous improvement of assessment and evaluation, and will maintain the standards of any future specialized accreditations. An additional responsibility will be exploration of the possibility of doctoral programs that will deepen the college’s commitment to a vibrant faculty culture, excellent teaching, research and scholarship.

Student Experience: The Dean will provide overall direction to the college in every aspect of the student experience, including the development of robust experiential learning programs that prepare students of all ages for lives of meaningful

THE candidate

employment and contribution to the greater good. The Dean will work closely with the Admissions office to support their recruiting efforts and to ensure that students are well informed and advised prior to matriculation about the College of Business and its programs. It is also important to work closely with Admissions to recruit more international students and to develop more international opportunities.

Mission Advancement: The Dean will interpret, support, and advance the comprehensive educational mission of Regis University. The Dean will find distinctive ways to differentiate this new college in light of the Jesuit Catholic commitment to the liberal arts, care of the person, ethics, values, and the promotion of a just society. The Dean will foster mutually beneficial partnerships with other educational institutions in the global Jesuit network.

Faculty Colleagueship: As a member of the faculty, the Academic Dean will foster a University-wide learning community characterized by trust, support, mutual respect, and positive morale. Expectations include leading faculty recruitment and development efforts, as well as serving as a key decision-maker in faculty hiring and advancement.

Resource Stewardship: The Dean will work closely with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions in the development of student enrollment and retention plans. It will be important to collaborate with the Vice President for Advancement in fund-raising efforts and in activities that will strengthen

the financial well-being of the college and the university. The Dean is expected to encourage and support faculty to obtain external resources needed to advance their research and scholarly goals. The Dean will participate in activities to advance both the university and college with external constituencies including alumni, parents, donors and community partners.

Relationships: The Dean will maintain open and positive relations with the faculty; establish and nurture collaborative relationships with the other academic deans of the University, with members of the executive staff, and with support service personnel. The holder of this position will serve as needed on university and college committees, and will be responsible for organizing a Board of Advisors for the College of Business. Viable candidates will have demonstrated the charismatic ability to develop and nurture relationships with members of the Regis community as well as the business and nonprofit communities.

Industry Engagement: The Dean will be an outward-looking leader who is knowledgeable about the rapid pace of change that is reshaping society, organizations, government, not-for-profit, and for-profit business models. A vital part of the job is cultivating alliances with the captains of industry in Colorado and across the nation to promote on-site certificate and degree offerings, as well as creating external internships for our business students. The role of the new dean will include business development wherein the University establishes itself as a financial and strategic partner for future ventures.

Ideal candidates will have:

• An understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the Jesuit Catholic mission of the University• An earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution in a related field as well as experience and credentials commensurate with appointment to senior faculty rank • Successful leadership experience with both traditional and post-traditional learning models and online learning formats• A reputation for team-oriented, charismatic, collegial and effective leadership• Experience in resource development, fundraising, and working collegially with internal and external constituencies to include students, administrators, alumni, industry partners, major donors and the community at large• A dedication to fostering a student-centered environment• A sincere belief in the liberal arts as foundational to professional education• The proven ability to provide significant leadership in academic, business and nonprofit environments • Articulate oral and written communications skills

desirable attributes

AGB Search is assisting with the search and Jon McRae, Consultant, is available to talk confidentially with prospective candidates and referral sources. You may reach him by email at ojm@agbsearch.com or on his mobile phone, 404-754-5189. All nominations, inquiries and applications will be confidential until finalists are identified for on-campus interviews.

The Business Dean Search Committee will be evaluating materials on a continuing basis through March. Candidates should submit materials as soon as possible, prior to January 30 for the most favorable consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. It is anticipated that the new Academic Dean of Business will begin work on or before July 1, 2015.

Application materials should include a letter of candidacy, a complete curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references, who will not be contacted without written permission. Other supporting documents of your choice are welcomed.

All formal expressions of interest should be addressed to:

Thomas G. Bowie, Ph.D., Chair of the Business Dean Search Committee.Please submit electronically to regisbusinessdean@agbsearch.com.

Regis University is an Equal Opportunity Employer

the application process