Associate Provost for Diversity- Equity- and Inclusion

Job Description

Position Title Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion DescriptionOVERVIEW OF THE OPPORTUNITYThe University of New England (UNE ) seeks a creative and innovative leader to serve as Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This key position is charged with providing vision, leadership, coordination, and strategic planning to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for all faculty, staff, and students throughout the University. With roots dating back to 1831, UNE is the largest private university in Maine. One of the fastest growing private universities in the Northeast, UNE has established itself as a leading comprehensive university with particular strengths in the health sciences with vibrant academic programs offered both onsite and online to nearly 14,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. UNE is guided by core values of student-centeredness; diversity, inclusion, and connection; relentless inquiry; interdisciplinary collaboration; learning everywhere; progressive change; and stewardship of our planet. UNE?s more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online degree programs are offered through five colleges ? College of Arts and Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Westbrook College of Health Professions, College of Osteopathic Medicine, and College of Professional Studies ? Online. UNE is located on two beautiful campuses in Maine ? the coastal campus of Biddeford and the vibrant professional campus in Portland, a city of great charm and historic significance ? in addition to the study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco. The University of New England is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education. UNE seeks an empathetic leader with a broad view of diversity and a deep commitment to DEI work based on evidence-based practice. The successful candidate will be a creative and innovative leader with strong communication and problem-solving skills and the ability to serve as a partner to senior leadership and departments across the University. The Associate Provost will be committed to the open exchange of ideas across campus and will find ways to engage constituent groups on issues of social justice. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead and advance UNE?s efforts to further realize its vision for a welcoming and inclusive campus community.DIVERSITY , EQUITY , AND INCLUSION AT UNEUNE strives to be an exceptionally welcoming community of students, faculty, and professional staff and to create a climate on and around its campuses that respects and honors all dimensions of human difference. UNE seeks to ensure that people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints are represented and supported on all its campuses and extended learning sites. UNE believes that a richly varied and diverse campus community brings many benefits, including a genuine sense of belonging and enhanced opportunities for learning and working. Diversity offers an opportunity to explore and celebrate differences in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, in the context of an attitude of curiosity and cultural humility and a commitment to ethical ideals. UNE believes diversity is about more than particular head counts; it must also reflect the frequency and quality of human interactions. UNE therefore strives to foster vigorous and constructive discourse among the members of (and visitors to) its community that supports its fundamental mission of promoting learning, research, and personal growth. UNE works to encourage in its students, faculty, and professional staff the desire and capacities to promote greater equity, fairness, and justice in the numerous professional and community settings where they will lead their lives and in society at large. At UNE , diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the institution?s core values. Cultivating a community that respects each individual?s unique experience and perspective is crucial to fostering the ?healthy people, healthy communities, and healthy planet? that are the focus of the University?s mission. The work of maintaining and improving a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant community is named as an institutional priority in the University?s current strategic plan, which states: ?We believe the benefits of a richly varied campus community arise not only from the diversity of its people but also from a sense of belonging and the context this creates to explore and celebrate differences in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, underpinned by a sense of cultural humility.? The ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion are advanced across UNE?s colleges and programs every day, within community life, curriculum, and human resources practices. Over the past three years, UNE has put these values into action in a variety of ways, implementing numerous initiatives. For example, President James Herbert charged a steering committee with actively assessing and advancing UNE?s diversity, equity, and inclusion priority. As a result of their work, UNE engaged in a campus climate survey with Rankin & Associates, the results of which were reported in fall 2020. Through exploration of these results, UNE is taking steps to further enhance its campus climate across multiple dimensions. UNE strives to cultivate cultural literacy, empathy, and interconnectedness within its community. For example, the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement offers programs, events, services, spaces, and other resources that help raise sensitivity and appreciation for the diversity of the UNE community. Title IX coordinators oversee the University?s response to reports of sexual misconduct and discrimination, and provide robust educational and engagement programs to foster safety, prevention, and inclusion. Across the University, academic and cultural departments, such as the Center for Global Humanities and the President?s Forum, host events that educate and engage the UNE community around topics of diversity. To support individuals who see or experience problematic issues, the Offices of Intercultural Student Engagement, Title XI, and Student Conduct collaborated to create a Bias Incident Reporting system. UNE?s undergraduate core/common curriculum is designed to provide students with a foundational social-global awareness as well as perspectives on citizenship that encompass ethics, diversity, and civic activity. UNE?s Morocco Campus and Global Education programs are designed to provide students with experiences that build cultural understanding, humility, and empathy. UNE values a broad and diverse workforce and is committed to offering a rich living, learning, and working environment. UNE is a founding member of the Diversity Hiring Coalition, a consortium of Maine employers committed to increasing the diversity of their workforces and striving to make Maine a more welcoming place for all people.ROLE SUMMARYReporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs (Provost), the Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (AP for DEI ) is responsible for coordinating efforts to advance equity and diversity initiatives in support of the University?s core values of diversity, inclusion, and connection. The AP for DEI leads efforts to advance a campus climate that is welcoming and supportive of all members. The AP for DEI will also inform diversity-oriented policies, programs, structures, and initiatives in furtherance of UNE?s strategic plan. The AP for DEI coordinates and implements the University?s strategic plan for a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant community. A member of the Provost?s leadership team and the President?s Cabinet, the AP for DEI works in partnership with administrative units across UNE?s campuses to foster and elevate an inclusive culture; to implement best practices with respect to diversity, e

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