The University of Southern Maine invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for Student Affairs. With the recent completion of the McGoldrick Center for Career and Student Success, and the upcoming Center for the Arts, it’s an exciting time to be a part of USM’s campus transformation and a community that truly believes in its service promise to be Student Focused Every Day.

Reporting to the President, the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) serves as the administrative leader and chief student affairs officer of the university. The VPSA will have oversight in planning, developing, implementing and advising on programs, services, activities and processes for students bridging their academic life and non-academic life at the university to aid in the persistence and retention of students to graduation. The VPSA provides leadership and supervision for student conduct and community standards, intercultural engagement, identity-based experiences, sexual violence, Title IX, orientation and first year experience programs, student leadership development, student governments, student organizations, health & counseling services including the recovery center, residence life/housing, student activities including intramural, recreation and club sports, and other student resource center areas.

The next VPSA will join the University of Southern Maine (USM) and the cabinet leadership team to advance the university through excellence and innovation, building an inclusive campus culture, and building an intellectually engaged collegial community that is committed to fostering learner success. USM is energized and poised to take on the challenges facing higher education. A highly committed and collaborative community awaits the new VPSA. This is an outstanding opportunity for a strategic thinker who lives the values rooted in the mission of the University. The ideal candidate should be an excellent communicator and have a passionate commitment to, and demonstrated success with, diversity and inclusion efforts.

The University of Southern Maine is a deeply personal, welcoming campus community. With a highly engaged student-centered learning environment, USM is a steward of higher education, helping drive the economic, cultural, and civic life in the communities where our campuses are located. We are committed to providing expanded access to high-quality education that elevates economic opportunity and contributes significantly to the vitality of a diverse society.

Our campus lands were the ancestral fishing, hunting, and agricultural grounds inhabited by the Abenaki and Wabanaki people for thousands of years. This includes our three campuses – Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston where over 60 languages are spoken in the region. The Portland metro area is home to over half a million people with a lively, livable community, nationally known for its arts and culture, outdoor recreation, beautiful beaches, and amazing food.

• USM’s Portland campus is located in "one of America’s best places to live on the East Coast," according to U.S. News & World Report. A creative and diverse community on Maine’s scenic coast, Portland’s metro area is home to over half a million people and nationally known for its arts and culture, outdoor recreation, beautiful beaches, and amazing food.
• USM’s beautiful residential Gorham campus supports and celebrates excellence in academics, athletics, music, and the arts and is home to ten Living Learning Communities and six Residential Halls.
• Our Lewiston campus is located in the second largest and diverse urban area in southern Maine. This Central Maine campus integrates classroom, community, and workplace and provides a small college commuter experience with the resources of a large university.

For a full job description to learn more about the essential duties and responsibilities of the VPSA click here.

This is a full-time position with frequent work beyond regular hours (to include evenings and weekends). The annual compensation for this position is $150,000. The primary office is located on our Portland Campus with expectation of work/service on Gorham and Lewiston/Auburn Campuses as well as connection with our On-Line community.

The University of Southern Maine is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. It embraces an inclusive campus community that values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our Office of Equity, Inclusion and Community Impact supports the University of Southern Maine’s DEIA and Community Impact focused departments, committees, groups, projects, training, and events. USM encourages women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to apply.

The University of Maine System provides a highly competitive benefits package that includes: holidays, vacation and sick time; health, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; a tuition waiver program for employee and eligible dependents; a 403(b) retirement plan; and more.

• Master’s Degree in related field.
• Minimum of ten years of increasing/progressive leadership experience in higher education and/or student affairs.
• A collaborative and compassionate leader who is also an advocate and strong administrator with the ability to mobilize and implement positive change with a commitment to serving that for which they are responsible.
• A strong commitment and demonstrated record of success in promoting and supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to support building community and belonging.
• A thorough understanding of the current issues facing student affairs in higher education and their ramifications and opportunities. And how these define our work as a public regional comprehensive university.
• Skills in staff development/training and supervision of professional level personnel.
• Budget management skills and experience.
• Effective and professional communication skills in a variety of modalities (in person, virtual and in writing).

You will create an applicant profile and complete an application and upload a cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae. Finalist candidates will be asked to provide a list of the names and contact information for references.

The VPSA will support our institutional vision of equity and inclusivity. The applicant cover letter should include how your work and/or volunteerism aligns with the USM Mission Statement. Specifically, address your commitment to equity and excellence in your own work, how it has contributed to inquiry and belonging, and how it would inform your leadership role at the University of Southern Maine. This could also include active engagement with employee resource groups/affinity groups and community involvement.

We will examine candidate packages on an ongoing basis as they are submitted.

We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.

Appropriate background screening will be conducted for the successful candidate.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5748 Boudreau Hall, Room 101, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).