DRAFDRA
Vice President for Kent State System
Integration
February 2016
Position Profile
Kent State University invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for
Kent State System Integration. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Provost, the Vice President is the senior officer responsible for the oversight of Kent’s seven
regional campuses and the Regional College. The Vice President for Kent State System
Integration serves on the President’s Cabinet, enhancing
the voice of the regional campuses and ensuring that the
perspectives of the regional campuses inform
Mission Statement
discussions and decision.
Kent State University Overview
Kent State University is the largest public multi-campus
system in Northeast Ohio, with campuses serving nine
local communities and a population of more than 41,000
students, 3,989 full-time faculty and staff members and
227,000 alumni worldwide.
The Kent State University
Regional Campuses advance
Northeast Ohio by providing
open access to a major
university education. The
campuses are key intellectual
resources for social diversity,
cultural enrichment and
economic development.
The university’s Kent Campus has a student body of
nearly 29,000 and a thriving residential population of
more than 6,600. Its seven regional campuses draw full- and part-time students, now totaling
more than 12,000, from across Northeast Ohio: Kent State at Ashtabula; Kent State at East
Liverpool; Kent State at Geauga in Burton and the Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg;
Kent State at Salem; Kent State at Stark in Canton; Kent State at Trumbull in Warren; and Kent
State at Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.
Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine is located in Independence, near downtown
Cleveland. The Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative is the combined home of the urban
design graduate program and the public service activities of the College of Architecture and
Environmental Design; the center offers architectural and urban design expertise to urban
communities, design professionals, and nonprofit and academic partners in Cleveland and
Northeast Ohio. In addition, Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science offers the
Master of Library and Information Science degree program to residents of central and southern
Ohio at its site in the State Library of Ohio in Columbus. Outside of Ohio, located in the heart of
the New York City’s Garment District, the Kent State Fashion School’s NYC Studio offers a
unique academic experience to further students’ studies in fashion design, fashion
merchandising and fashion journalism.
The university offers more than 200 global education opportunities at its campuses in Florence,
Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland; centers in China and India; as well as partnerships with 60
institutes and universities across the globe from Columbia to Vietnam and Germany to Kenya.
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The Kent Campus is a global education destination in its own right, serving as home to 3,000
students hailing from 111 countries.
Kent State is proud of its outstanding faculty and staff, students, collaborative culture,
exceptional academic and research orientation, and strong commitment to engagement,
academic excellence and diversity. The university offers more than 282 associate and
baccalaureate degree programs. Kent State serves the state, the nation and the world through
165 graduate programs. Academic programs are organized into 10 colleges and one
independent school: Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology; Architecture and
Environmental Design; Arts and Sciences; the Arts; Business Administration; Communication
and Information; Education, Health and Human Services; Nursing; Podiatric Medicine; and
Public Health, as well as the School of Digital Sciences.
Kent State has received two prominent rankings in the new 2016 edition of Best Colleges by
U.S. News & World Report. Kent State is ranked among the top 100 national public schools in
the Top Public Schools list, and it holds a coveted spot in the first-tier list of Best National
Universities category in the ranking of public, private and for-profit institutions nationwide. And
the university is hailed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching among the
nation’s top 74 public high-research universities. Kent State is the only Ohio university – public
or private – to make this year’s list of “Great Colleges to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher
Education. This is the university’s fifth time in six years to receive this designation. As an engine
for economic, cultural and workforce development, Kent State generates $1.96 billion annually
in added income to the Northeast Ohio economy.
Kent State University is an affiliate of the National Association of State Universities and Land
Grant Colleges and is accredited without reservation, by the North Central Association of
Colleges.
Committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive
excellence, the university strives for a culturally diverse student body, faculty, and staff that
reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and the world. The Division of Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion was created in 2009 with a mission is to promote diversity, equity and
inclusion across all eight Kent State campuses.
Kent State has one of the largest regional systems in the nation, offering programs from
computer technology and nursing to arts and humanities. The university’s wealth of intellectual,
physical and cultural resources makes it a whole that has a far greater impact than the sum of
its parts. As one university with multiple campuses, Kent State serves as an economic driver
and regional cornerstone in communities throughout Northeast Ohio. Regional campus students
gain the advantage of attending a distinguished university in Ohio with the friendly, casual
atmosphere of small liberal arts colleges. Students can choose from 40 associate degrees at
seven campuses, where they can begin coursework toward any of Kent State’s more than 282
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bachelor’s degrees. Small class sizes, affordable tuition and one-on-one advising are just a few
reasons why more than 12,000 students attend Kent State’s regional campuses.
The Kent State regional campuses are:
Kent State at Ashtabula
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Kent State University
at Ashtabula is the only institution of higher learning in
Ashtabula County, and is conveniently located between
Cleveland, Erie and Youngstown. The northernmost
campus of Kent State University offers a variety of courses
and both bachelor’s and associate degree programs for
over 2,500 students. Kent State Ashtabula added a new
Health and Science Building to the Main Hall, Library and
Technology Building to keep pace with ever-growing
educational demands. The Robert S. Morrison Health and Science Building is teeming with
technology in beautifully appointed laboratories and classrooms. Opened in the summer of
2009, it showcases the health professions curriculum on the Ashtabula Campus. All students
taking a lab science benefit from the new facility that includes the only cadaver lab along the
shoreline from Cleveland to Erie. The new building is home to the following academic programs:
Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology,
Radiologic Technology, and Respiratory Therapy.
Kent State Columbiana County Campuses
Kent State serves students in Columbiana County by
offering classes at two convenient locations:
Kent State at East Liverpool
The campus is situated just off state Route 11 with stunning views of the Ohio River. The
campus is a main focal point in an active and developing Downtown University District. Kent
State East Liverpool is composed of the Main Building located at 400 E. Fourth St. and the Mary
Patterson Building, located at 213 E. Fourth St. Combined
with its sister campus, Kent State University at Salem,
offering more than 20 degrees, including 12 bachelor’s
degrees. The two campuses serve more than 3,500
students annually.
Kent State at Salem
The campus is located just south of the city at 2491 state
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Route 45 south. Situated on 100-acres, featuring a lake and nature trails, the campus recently
added a multimillion dollar Health and Science Wing, complete with centralized classrooms and
new nursing and radiologic and imagining sciences laboratories. Kent State Salem’s second
building, the City Center, is located in the heart of downtown Salem at 230 N. Lincoln Ave. It is
the site of the former Salem High School and Junior High. Combined with its sister campus,
Kent State University at East Liverpool, more than 20 degrees are offered, including 12
bachelor’s degrees. The two campuses serve more than 3,500 students annually.
Kent State at Geauga and the Regional Academic Center
The Geauga campus was founded in 1964 and is located in the heart of maple syrup county:
Burton, Ohio. Kent State Geauga is the only institution of
higher learning in one of the fastest growing counties in
the state. Serving over 2,500 students, the campus
provides quality academic instruction relevant to the
changing economy. Both traditional and non-traditional
students can pursue Associate, Baccalaureate and
Master’s level coursework during class hours conveniently
scheduled to accommodate their work and family
obligations. Courses are provided in a newly renovated
33,500 square foot facility.
In the early 1990's, Geauga Campus administration initiated the reach of education into
Twinsburg. Its steady growth resulted in the construction of the Regional Academic Center, a
LEED certified, state-of-the-art facility that opened its doors in 2012.
Kent State Geauga and the Regional Academic Center serve their surrounding communities as
well as the south and eastern portions of Cuyahoga County. The Geauga Campus and the
Regional Academic Center share staff, faculty and their
website.
Kent State at Stark
Kent State University at Stark is the largest regional
campus of Kent State University, serving more than
11,000 students each year comprised of 6,600 enrolled in
academic coursework and 4,500 enrolled in professional
development courses. Kent State Stark offers bachelor’s,
master’s and associate degrees, as well as the
opportunity to begin coursework in 282 bachelor’s degree programs at Kent State University.
The only public university in Stark County, Kent State Stark is nestled on a beautiful, 200-acre
campus in Jackson Township. The Conference Center, which houses The Corporate University
and the Small Business Development Center, is accredited under the stringent guidelines of the
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International Association of Conference Centers. Combining a top-quality major university in
Ohio with a community-oriented college, Kent State Stark serves the region as a key intellectual
resource, providing access to academic, economic and cultural advancement through
excellence in teaching and learning.
Kent State at Trumbull
Kent State University at Trumbull, located just north of the
Route 5 bypass on State Route 45 in Warren, OH, offers
programs at the freshman and sophomore level in 170
majors, along with 18 certificates and 15 associate degree
programs. The campus also offers junior/senior level
coursework for baccalaureate degree completion in
nursing, justice studies, technology, business management
and English, as well as general studies and psychology degrees. The campus' Technology
Building supports a variety of technology degree programs, including computer technology
education. The Workforce Development and Continuing Studies Center's program offerings
include certification for professionals.
Kent State at Tuscarawas
Located on 170 acres in New Philadelphia, Kent State University at Tuscarawas boasts a
vibrant and friendly Ohio college atmosphere with an
enrollment of more than 2800 students served through
credit programming and another 3,200 individuals served
through noncredit courses offered by the Office of
Business and Community Services. Students can complete
associate and bachelor’s degrees, as well as certificate
programs. A few of the largest majors include nursing,
business, computer design, animation and game design,
and veterinary technology, which is one of only seven
AVMA accredited programs in Ohio. Students can participate in numerous activities, cultural
events, organizations and clubs to enhance their educational experience. Academic support and
enrichment are available through academic advising, free tutoring services, state-of-the-art
technology labs and a challenging Honors Program. Campus facilities include Founders Hall, a
high-tech Science and Advanced Technology Center and a new Performing Arts Center that
features a 1,100-seat theatre for Broadway shows, concerts, dance performances and lectures.
Regional College
The Regional College serves as the academic unit for certificates and academic programs
unique to the regional campuses, including Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate
of Applied Science, Associate of Technical Studies, and multiple Bachelor’s degree programs.
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The Dean of the Regional College oversees nearly 100 faculty and staff within the Applied
Business, Health Occupations, and Engineering Technology and Professional Studies units.
The college functions as an academic unit in the reappointment, tenure, and promotion
processes.
The Position
Kent State thrives by combining diverse missions within one university and is seeking a leader
who is comfortable with leading multiple campuses with differing cultures and missions. As a
recommendation of President Warren’s One University Commission, the Vice President for Kent
State Integration will be charged with assessing the administrative structure of the regional
campus system. The successful candidate will be someone who can develop clusters of activity
and resource sharing among the Kent State campuses to facilitate program collaboration, costsaving measures, and more effective use of resources. This includes ensuring curricular
integration across all campuses and academic colleges to ensure a common foundation for all
students as they proceed with their major programs. The ideal candidate will be able to engage
the communities where the campuses are located to foster partnerships and economic
development.
Duties and Functions
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Oversee the general operations of the regional campuses related to budget development
and approval; oversee regional campus leadership (deans).
Responsible for enrollment and effective administration of the regional campus system.
Provide leadership and advocacy for the development of long- and short-term goals for
the regional campuses.
Maintain general coordination among campuses related to organizational structure,
student fees, and general operating procedures.
Provide overall leadership for, and in collaboration with, offices responsible for
establishing and maintaining effective university relations with external constituencies
including students, parents, local communities and government.
Assist in formulating, administering, and ensuring compliance with university policies and
procedures.
Serve as a senior officer of the university by participating in strategy development,
fostering positive employee relations, actively engaging in diversity initiatives, and
participating in key university events.
Utilize the university’s expertise to serve the educational and economic development
needs of the communities served by the regional campuses; encourage development
and collaboration of entrepreneurial academic offerings.
Strengthen regional communication and build partnerships through town meetings,
community events and advisory boards; ensure effective delivery of programs and
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services through multi-campus and business partnerships.
Conduct regular meetings with regional deans, assistant deans, and the Regional
Campus Faculty Advisory Council to address common regional issues and share
information.
Preside over regional student appeals of campus decisions.
Participate in and supervise regional program reviews.
Represent regional campuses/regional deans at various campus, division, and university
committees; serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet; represent the regional
campuses on appropriate university bodies, committees, and councils.
Participate in Board of Trustees meetings and work with Board committees.
Fulfill responsibilities of human resource management including equal opportunity,
affirmative action and employee development.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
The preferred candidate will hold a terminal degree in a relevant field from an accredited
institution; eight to nine years progressively responsible experience in a similarly sized
university or comparable institution, including three or more years of senior level administrative
experience. If applicable, the individual may be appointed to a faculty appointment congruent to
their academic record. Must possess a broad institutional perspective and have excellent
budgeting/finance and planning skills, as well as a proactive style of leadership that encourages
teamwork and interaction.
Salary
The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applicant Review
Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is
made.
How to Apply
A complete application will include a letter describing relevant experiences and interest in the
position; current curriculum vitae; and the names of five references with titles, mailing
addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Individuals who wish to nominate a
candidate should submit a letter of nomination, including the name, position, address, telephone
number, and email address of the nominee. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, an executive
search firm, is assisting Kent State University in the search.
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Applications and letters of nominations should be submitted to:
Jan Greenwood or Betty Turner Asher
Shelley Sullivan Feather, Executive Search Consultant
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc.
42 Business Centre Drive, Suite 206
Miramar Beach, Florida 32550
Phone: 850-650-2277 / Fax: 850-650-2272
Email: jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com
Email: bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com
Email: shelleyfeather@greenwoodsearch.com
For more information about Kent State University, please visit the
website: http://www.kent.edu/
Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of
individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and
the inclusion of all members of the community including those that experience discrimination or
under representation. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse
student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world
and bring unique strengths and abilities which contribute to our pursuit of Excellence in Action.
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