Randolph-Macon College invites applications for a full-time Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA). The VPSA provides strategic leadership and vision for the College’s Student Affairs Division, with a focus on deepening Randolph-Macon College’s welcoming campus culture and advancing its commitment to a transformational education that provides robust academic and co-curricular opportunities. With a steadfast commitment to student learning, development, and well-being, this leader will cultivate strong partnerships across the College, enhance the student experience, and foster a culture grounded in trust, empathy, innovation, holistic support, and operational excellence.
A member of the President’s Cabinet, the VPSA is a highly visible campus leader who advances the student affairs perspective in institutional decision-making and partners with senior leadership to support the College’s strategic priorities. The VPSA advises the President on student affairs policies and priorities and provides leadership for a holistic campus environment that complements the academic mission of the College and contributes to student success, engagement, and belonging.
Supporting institutional retention efforts in partnership with the Provost’s Office is also an important component of the position. Through collaborative leadership, strategic planning, and a student-centered approach, the VPSA will advance the mission and strategic priorities of Randolph-Macon College and foster an environment in which all students can thrive.
The VPSA provides leadership and oversight for a broad portfolio of student support and campus services, directly supervising the Dean of Students, Director of Campus Safety & Security, Chaplain/Director of Church Relations, Director of Student Health Services, and Director of Counseling Services.
Essential duties and responsibilities
Include but are not limited to the following:
Provide innovative leadership to advance the student residential experience during a time of growth. As RMC experiences robust enrollment growth, the VPSA will develop a strategic roadmap for residential living that honors the College’s long-standing commitment to a residential community where living and learning are deeply connected. Oversee the design and continuous improvement of a residential experience that is intellectually stimulating, culturally vibrant, and supportive.
Strengthen RMC’s commitment to student engagement and success. Build upon the division’s strengths and innovation to ensure students are known, supported, and engaged in transformational experiences that define the RMC culture. Cultivate a rich ecosystem of student organizations, leadership development, service learning, and spiritual and religious life that fosters community and purpose. Utilize data and assessment to improve student outcomes, retention, engagement, and satisfaction, while anticipating emerging trends and challenges affecting today’s college students.
Working through the Dean of Students, collaborate with Enrollment Management and Academic Affairs to support the entire student lifecycle and create a seamless student experience that connects student life with academic outcomes, career readiness, and graduation.
Provide thoughtful leadership to ensure a connected and safe campus environment. Lead effectively within an increasingly complex student affairs landscape, exercising sound judgment and working closely with the executive leadership team to proactively navigate crises and maintain a safe and respectful campus. Provide leadership in addressing legal and regulatory requirements, campus safety, institutional risk, and ongoing emergency preparedness and planning.
Support a holistic approach to student well-being. Integrate mental health, physical health, and other student support services to promote whole-person well-being and student success. Advance policies and programs that foster belonging, reduce stigma, expand access to support, and build a campus-wide culture of care.
Support and advance RMC’s commitment to pluralism. Working alongside the Senior Advisor to the President for Mission Advancement and Associate Provost/Dean of Student Success, integrate the principles of pluralism across student engagement areas, including orientation, co-curricular activities, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Government, and leadership programs.
Inspire and cultivate a high-performing team. Recruit, develop, support, and retain a committed, mission-driven Student Affairs team that cares deeply about students and one another and fosters a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
Serve on the President’s Cabinet, the primary executive team at the College. As a corporate officer, contribute to institution-wide leadership and decision-making while ensuring the Student Affairs perspective is considered in key strategic decisions. Partner with Cabinet colleagues to advance enrollment management, retention, student success, and the College’s reputation. Foster collaboration across academic and co-curricular areas to create an integrated student experience and model a unified institutional approach to student success.
Support the Board of Trustees by serving as the staff liaison to the Board of Trustees Committee on Student Affairs.
Perform operational duties, including:
a. Provide administrative oversight of strategic planning areas related to the College’s mission.
b. Perform other duties as assigned by the President.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
-
Executive-level leadership experience in student affairs or a comparably complex, student-centered organization, with demonstrated institutional perspective, sound judgment, collaborative leadership, knowledge of current student affairs trends and best practices, and a strong alignment with Randolph-Macon College’s mission and student-centered culture.
-
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills, with a visible campus presence and demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships, collaborate across academic and administrative divisions, engage diverse constituencies, navigate difficult conversations, and make sound decisions in complex institutional environments.
-
Demonstrated experience with strategic assessment, program evaluation, and the development of student affairs programs and facilities at the divisional level.
-
Experience overseeing budgets, personnel, and facilities across multiple functional areas.
-
Deep knowledge of applicable higher education law and policy, including Title IX, the Clery Act, FERPA, ADA/Section 504, and legal frameworks governing free expression and anti-discrimination.
-
Extensive experience managing institutional crises with steadiness, discretion, and appropriate care for students, families, and the institution.
-
A strong understanding of pluralism, civil dialogue, and the legal and educational dimensions of free expression on a college campus.
-
Understanding of the connection between the student experience and long-term alumni identity and engagement.
Required qualifications
-
An earned doctorate in higher education, law, student affairs, educational leadership, or a related field; or a master’s degree combined with an exceptional and demonstrable record of senior executive leadership.
-
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs or a student-facing organization, including at least five years in a senior leadership role with significant supervisory, budgetary, and institutional responsibility.
-
A record of cabinet-level or cross-divisional institutional leadership.
The College
Founded in 1830, Randolph-Macon has about 1800 students and is located in Ashland, VA, a residential community 15 miles north of Richmond and 90 miles south of Washington D.C., thereby having all the benefits for its students, faculty and staff of a dynamic metropolitan area which serves as the state capital. Over 85% of students reside on campus. For more information about the College see www.rmc.edu.
Randolph-Macon College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.
Application
To apply for the position, submit the following documents to https://bit.ly/46cvdr6 in Microsoft Word or PDF format: a current CV, cover letter addressing the position responsibilities and qualifications, and contact information for two professional references to Claudia Burcham, Human Resources Generalist. Screening of applications will begin immediately.
