Chancellor - University of Colorado Denver

Who We Are:

CU Denver was officially founded in 1973. Located in downtown Denver's central business district, CU Denver brings together innovation, research, and learning in the heart of a global city. CU Denver, a selective admissions institution, is the state's premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelors, master's, and doctoral degree programs. As part of the state’s largest public university system, University of Colorado, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 1,900 employees, an annual budget of $394 million, and annual economic impact exceeding $684 million.

Throughout its history, CU Denver has supported students from all walks of life. The university educates nearly 10,000 undergraduate and 4,000 graduate students and is committed to supporting diverse learners for transformative educational experiences. Students of color make up 55% of the undergraduate student body, and 53% of first-year students are first-generation college students. CU Denver is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and the university became the first Rocky Mountain region campus to gain Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) status, which reflects efforts to increase access and opportunity for those underserved by higher education.

CU Denver is one of three separate and distinct higher education institutions sharing the Auraria campus. This multi-institutional campus offers important opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.

Position Summary:

The chancellor is the campus’s chief executive officer at one of the Rocky Mountain West’s leading urban universities. The chancellor reports to the CU president, collaborates across the University of Colorado system, and partners with the chancellors of CU’s three other campuses, Boulder, Anschutz Medical Campus, and Colorado Springs. The chancellor is the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the campus in accordance with the policies of the Board of Regents. The chancellor is aware of trends in higher education to provide dynamic leadership in the development, promotion, and furthering of the vision for the campus that is consistent with its quest to shape tomorrow’s leaders, and to positively impact Colorado, our country, and the world.

The chancellor provides intellectual and administrative leadership that recognizes student success is paramount to CU Denver’s mission by fostering excellence in teaching, research and creative work, and service. The chancellor is the top campus leader who ensures a culture of belonging where students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life feel at home and supported. The chancellor works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and student governance groups to promote shared governance and to seek their input on major decisions. The chancellor is responsible for aligning and managing campus resources—financial, human, and physical—with the mission and vision of the campus and university. The chancellor will lead efforts with colleagues across Auraria and with the chancellor of CU Anschutz on shared resources. The chancellor also plays a leadership role in improving the mental wellness of faculty, staff, and students.

The chancellor provides leadership and is responsible for establishing significant external relationships on behalf of the campus, including having primary responsibility for fundraising activities; city relations, assisting the System Office of Government Relations in promoting the campus with State and Federal officials and advancing alumni, business, and community relations. The chancellor will be committed to the goal that the University of Colorado Denver is seen as a vital asset to Denver, the metropolitan region, and the state.

The ideal chancellor candidate will have the ability to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges in higher education, including understanding and promoting advances in pedagogy and technology. They will have a demonstrated commitment to, and connection with, the student communities served by the campus. The chancellor will also be an effective convener and facilitator who can engage the collective minds and will of the campus community members to set and achieve strategic priorities. The chancellor will be resilient and have the courage to act – to make tough and bold decisions even in the face of incomplete information or conflicting perspectives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Enhance the role, significance, and reputation of University of Colorado Denver as a premier public urban research university.
• Enthusiastically lead efforts to recruit and retain students of all backgrounds and life-long-learners who reflect the diversity of the Denver Metro area and Colorado.
• Build upon strategies to recruit and retain an excellent and highly qualified workforce that reflects the diversity of the Denver Metro area and Colorado.
• Deeply committed to a campus culture where every member feels supported, challenged, and valued.
• Strategically manage enrollment to foster an inclusive academic environment and commitment to equitable access and support for a diverse student body. Create a respectful, safe, and welcoming campus community that embraces and respects diversity across race, ethnicity, religion, political viewpoints, veteran status, LGBTQ , disability, geography, country of origin, and other identities.
• Advance student educational attainment by enhancing holistic student success, increasing retention and graduation rates, ensuring meaningful outcomes beyond initial access, and committing to academic excellence.
• Drive innovation to create a dynamic campus and online environment that appeals to students of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and inclusivity.
• Lead efforts to enhance, expand and take full advantage of the designations as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
• Continue to elevate CU Denver’s mission by tangibly supporting efforts to grow state, federal and private support for research, scholarship, and creative work.
• Elevate a culture of philanthropy throughout the campus while leading the university through its first comprehensive fundraising campaign.
• Continue development of diverse funding streams through new partnerships, philanthropy and learning delivery options.
• Envision and develop a culture of innovation that embraces dynamic learning modalities that are responsive to workforce needs and student expectations.
• Continue building successful private, public, and nonprofit partnerships to enhance opportunity for students and serve the community.
• Strengthen the commitment to sustainability and operationalize this commitment.
• Effectively manage the collaborative partnership and opportunities afforded by the areas of consolidation and partnership with the CU Anschutz Medical Campus such as the Office of Information Technology and Facilities.
• Partner as an anchor institution with the City and County of Denver and play a vital role in the community beyond the university’s educational mission by contributing to the city’s economic, social, and cultural fabric.
• Partner with Auraria Higher Education Center, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver. Leverage opportunities for students in a shared campus model as well as support successful student navigation on a multi-institutional campus.
• Support and advance the CU System strategic plan goals.
  
  

What We Offer:

Salary: The anticipated hiring range has been established at $425,000 - $500,000.

CU takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate’s education, training and experience as it relates to the position, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits: CU Denver offers an unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.

• No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance. Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
• Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
• Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
• 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
• A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
• Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.
  
  

Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate, equivalent terminal degree, or relevant combination of education and experience.
• Extensive executive leadership in large organizations with proven ability to work collaboratively within complex university systems or comparable organizations.
• A demonstrated commitment to the academic mission of teaching and its impact on student success, scholarly and creative work, and service along with the core values of free expression, academic freedom, tenure, and shared governance.
• Visionary with excellent implementation skills that can drive change in a large, complex environment.
• Ability to lead improvement of academic performance, with particular success in improving retention and graduation rates.
• Demonstrated record of successful outcomes with a diverse population, showcasing a combination of talents and experiences demonstrating effective leadership at an urban oriented institution, and creating a cohesive, collaborative, and inclusive culture.
• Demonstrated experience exhibiting creative problem solving and thoughtful risk-taking to improve the student experience and address complex campus and community opportunities and challenges.
• Attuned understanding of diverse perspectives to navigate cultural barriers.
• Demonstrated excellence in institutional leadership and resource management and development.
• Record of leadership to plan, develop, advance, and implement complex strategic goals, policies, and program initiatives that require management of financial, human, and capital resources over short and long periods.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships and grow diverse funding streams from public and private entities.
• Demonstrated excellence in building relationships leading to meaningful philanthropic support and resource development.
• Significant experience in collaborating with a full range of internal constituents such as students, faculty, staff and administrators.
• Record of developing and implementing innovative strategies to assure graduates are academically, technically, and socially competent and prepared to be employed, effective and healthy in a complex and changing workforce and world.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a full range of external constituents including alumni, donors, members of the media, legislators, other officials in governmental and private entities.
• Demonstrated high moral and ethical standards.
• Demonstrated compassionate leadership.
  
  

How to Apply:

AGB Search is pleased to assist the University of Colorado with this search.

Please click here (bit.ly/4fR96dp) to apply for the position by September 27, 2024, for best consideration. The search will remain open until an appointment is made.

Timeline

Initial Interviews: Early to Mid-October

Finalist Interviews: Mid November

Anticipated Start Date: January 2025

All candidate names will remain confidential until finalists are identified during the latter stages of the search.

Nominations and expressions of interest in the Chancellor position are encouraged. Please direct them to CUDenverChancellor@agbsearch.com.

To apply for the Chancellor position, candidates are requested to submit:

• A curriculum vita or resume
• A letter of interest that addresses the leadership opportunities and desired experiences and attributes in this profile, and
• Contact information for five references (to be contacted at a later date with candidate’s permission)
  
  

University Staff

Job Category

Executive

Primary Location

Denver

Department

U0001 -- Anschutz Med Campus or Denver

Schedule

Full-time

Posting Date

Aug 21, 2024

Unposting Date

Ongoing

Posting Contact Name

AGB Search

Posting Contact Email

CUDenverChancellor@agbsearch.com

Position Number

00410101