Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs

Best consideration date for applications: Tuesday April 21, 2026

PURPOSE

The Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs (SVCASA) advances and champions student success and the academic mission of the University System of Maryland (USM). The SVCASA provides strategic leadership in shaping systemwide academic, student, and faculty affairs policies and initiatives that promote access, completion, and academic excellence.

Reporting to the Chancellor, the SVCASA serves as senior staff to the USM Board of Regents’ Education Policy and Student Life and Safety Committee. As the primary liaison to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the System’s representative to state and national higher education organizations, the SVCASA helps shape the policy environment affecting Maryland higher education and ensures USM institutions are well positioned to meet state priorities while advancing their individual missions.

As chair of the Academic Affairs Advisory Council, the SVCASA provides leadership and coordination for the System’s provosts and vice presidents for student affairs, advancing collaboration, aligning academic priorities, and strengthening the collective impact of the System. In this role, the SVCASA translates systemwide goals into initiatives that support innovation, efficiency, and excellence across the USM.

The SVCASA provides executive oversight of a broad portfolio of academic and student success initiatives and regulatory responsibilities, including student affairs, faculty affairs, graduate studies, academic innovation, transfer and articulation, Title IX coordination and compliance, early college programs, prison education programs, civic education initiatives, and systemwide library services.

A key advisor to the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, and senior leadership within the USM Office, the SVCASA also serves as a liaison to the System’s faculty and student shared governance councils and frequently represents the Chancellor and the USM Office in engagement with campus leaders and external partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic and Student Affairs Strategic Leadership (35%)

• Sets the strategic direction for the Office of Academic & Student Affairs in support of the USM’s academic mission.

• Serves as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the chancellor, presidents, provosts, vice presidents of Student Affairs, regional higher education center directors, and USMO staff on academic, student, and faculty affairs matters.
• Serves as primary staff liaison to the Board of Regents’ Committee on Education Policy, Student Life, and Safety.
• Oversees the policy infrastructure that supports the USM’s mission, compliance obligations, and legal commitments.
• Supports organization and convening of workgroups, councils and committees chaired or planned by Academic and Student Affairs in the USMO.
• Provides leadership in faculty affairs, including maintaining policies that promote faculty excellence and addressing appointment, tenure, and promotion disputes that rise to the Board level.
• Supports systemwide faculty and student shared governance structure

Systemwide Initiatives, Innovation, and External Partnerships (20%)

• Leads System initiatives in priority areas, including:
• P–20 partnerships and early college programs
• Teacher preparation
• Civic engagement
• Prison education
• Promotes academic innovation and the adoption of evidence-based best practices across institutions.
• Encourages collaboration among universities to advance teaching, learning, and student success.
• Fosters strong working relationships with:
• The Maryland Higher Education Commission
• Maryland community colleges
• Independent colleges and universities
• Engages with national organizations, peer systems, accrediting bodies, and state licensure boards to identify emerging approaches and strengthen System alignment and impact.

Academic Quality, Planning, & Accountability (15%)

• Collaborates with USM institutions on academic planning, program alignment, and systemwide accountability.
• Oversees academic program approval, modification, and discontinuation processes.
• Supports institutional and specialized accreditation activities across the System.
• Engages with institutional research functions to support the collection, analysis, and use of data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.

Student Affairs Policy, Student Success, & Well-Being (15%)

• Promotes best practices, collaboration, and accountability in student affairs and student support services across the System.
• Provides