Vice President, Faculty Mentor Strategy

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Job Profile Summary

The Vice President of Faculty Mentor Strategy at Western Governors University is instrumental in fostering a collaborative culture and strategic partnerships across the university to enhance mentoring systems. This role is primarily focused on facilitating the design and implementation of mentoring practices through extensive collaboration with academic leadership, faculty mentors, and external experts. Reporting directly to the Chief Academic Officer and Provost, the Vice President acts as a strategic advisor and catalyst, supporting the integration and optimization of mentorship programs. The goal is to leverage shared knowledge and innovative approaches to promote academic, and professional growth of students, thereby advancing equitable student outcomes in alignment with WGU’s strategic objectives.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Strategic Collaboration and Integration:

• Facilitate deep engagement with mentor leaders across WGU’s Schools of Health, Education, Technology, and Business to promote consistent mentorship practices and alignment with overall academic strategies.

• Innovation in Mentoring Practices:

•  Work cross-disciplinary with school leadership to design and pilot innovative mentoring practices, pulling in expertise from various academic and operational departments to ensure initiatives are both holistic and contextually adapted to diverse student needs.
• Engage academic and industry experts in iterative processes to refine mentoring approaches, making data-driven decisions that enhance the effectiveness and scalability of mentorship across the university.

• Operational Support and Consultative Guidance:

• Provide consultative support to each school’s mentor leadership, assisting them in optimizing mentor-student interactions and the deployment of support resources. Facilitate the sharing of best practices across schools to foster operational excellence.
• Coordinate with operational teams to develop and refine infrastructures that support mentoring activities, ensuring they are responsive to the dynamic needs of both mentors and students.

• Metrics Development and Continuous Evaluation:

• Work in partnership with institutional research teams and school leaders to develop and refine metrics that assess the impact of mentoring programs. Ensure these metrics are used to drive continuous improvement and are aligned with the academic objectives of each school.
• Lead a collaborative review of program outcomes, engaging stakeholders from across the university to ensure mentoring strategies are informed by robust data and lead to actionable insights.

• Leadership by Influence and Team Development:

• Foster a culture of leadership through, influence, guiding, and mentoring team leaders within each school to develop their strategic planning and implementation skills. Emphasize the development of soft skills such as communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Oversee the development of training programs that enhance the capabilities of mentor leaders across the university, ensuring they are equipped to handle the challenges of a dynamic academic environment.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership:

• Represent WGU in external forums, bringing insights back to the university and disseminating successful practices outward, enhancing the university’s reputation as a leader in innovative education strategies.
• Build robust networks with external educational and professional bodies to leverage external innovations and thinking, integrating these into WGU’s mentorship programs.

• Technology and Process Innovation:

• Collaborate with IT departments and academic leaders to identify and implement new technologies that support effective mentoring. Ensure these technologies are seamlessly integrated into the daily operations of each school, enhancing the mentor and student experience.
• Guide cross-functional teams throu