POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE President
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 0010
GRADE Unclassified
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Board of Governors
GENERAL FUNCTION
Reporting to the Board of Governors, the President serves as the chief executive officer of the University with responsibility and final authority for the operations of the campuses (Springfield, West Plains, Mountain Grove, and Dalian, China) of Missouri State University. The President speaks for the University with respect to its policies, priorities, and official statements. In all aspects of the position, the President embodies the University’s public affairs mission, demonstrating ethical leadership, cultural competence, and community engagement. The President encourages an environment supporting original thought, critical assessment, and global competence and promotes excellence in instruction, academic research, and faculty improvement programs. The President implements Board policies and programs and assures the Board is informed on matters of operational and political significance. The President ensures that the University has effective working relationships with federal, state and local legislative bodies and advocates for higher education and Missouri State University. The President promotes and cultivates private and corporate financial support for the University; assures effective communication of the University’s vision to internal and external constituencies, building positive relationships within the region and state; develops strategic partnerships that further the University’s goals and objectives; and manages the University’s finances in support of the University’s mission and strategic objectives.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: An earned terminal degree is preferred.
Experience: Experience leading and managing a large, complex organization in a challenging financial environment is required; successful leadership experience in higher education administration is preferred.
Required Skills: A commitment to academic quality and shared governance; a commitment to credibly lead a strong academic community while providing students with an outstanding education at a fair cost; an understanding of higher education finance and demographic trends affecting higher education; the ability to identify institutional strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities and to develop a vision to lead the University forward; exceptional communication skills, a strong work ethic and the ability to complete multiple priorities; experience developing relationships in a variety of key areas, thereby enhancing the organization’s presence and reputation; a demonstrated commitment to promoting an inclusive environment; a leadership philosophy that champions the value of teamwork and empowers others to lead.
Preferred skills: Proven ability and the desire to reach and personally influence alumni, donors, and friends of the University using a wide variety of tools, while working with the local business community to enhance both the city and the University.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Leads the University forward by identifying strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities and developing and implementing a strategic vision that ensures implementation of the University’s statewide public affairs mission, raises its profile, and promotes student success and top-quality academic programs.2. Assures that the University’s finances are managed well, and revenue streams are developed and grown to support the achievement of the strategic vision of the University; develops and presents an annual operating budget to the Board of Governors for approval; oversees implementation of the annual budget; manages University resources to assure effective stewardship of state funding and other funding sources and the most effective use of taxpayer dollars.
3. Provides leadership and oversight of the University System as well as each of its campuses: Springfield-the selective admissions, professional doctorate level teaching and research campus; West Plains-the open admissions campus serving seven south-central Missouri counties; Mountain Grove-serving Missouri’s fruit industry through the operation of the State Fruit Experiment Station; and the branch campus at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China.
4. Promotes and encourages the University’s role in economic development, research, and the development of global competence in students and the community.
5. Promotes and maintains effective communication with all constituencies, both internal and external; serves as the primary liaison between the University, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and Workforce Development, the General Assembly, and the Governor, building meaningful relationships with these entities and individuals and using those relationships to advocate for the university.
6. Fosters a successful executive leadership team through encouraging a culture of openness, teamwork, transparency, and empowerment throughout the University.
7. Promotes the inclusivity principles of the university, working to create a welcoming environment while eliminating achievement gaps.
8. Assures effective partnership and communication with members of the Board of Governors by consulting Board committees and individuals during the development or clarification of current policy or strategic direction; ensuring open and thoughtful consideration of all views during Board deliberations; clearly communicating senior leadership’s position on issues at hand; responding to Board inquires; and carrying out Board initiatives, policies, or programs (University Governing Policies) through development and implementation of Operating Policies.
9. Exercises supervision through the athletic director over the athletic programs of the university, promoting competitive teams, financial stability, academic achievement and compliance with rules; provides strategic leadership to these programs and the athletic conferences in which the teams participate; works to instill pride in the athletic programs with students, faculty, staff, and alumni and within the community and region.
10. Exercises supervision and control of employment actions, subject to Board approval, for administrators, faculty, and nonacademic employees.
11. Maintains top-quality academic programs ensuring appropriate steps are taken to meet all accreditation standards and assure that the University operates in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
12. Exercises the authority granted by the Board of Governors, as needed, to appoint committees, preside and vote at meetings of the faculty, declare financial exigency, suspend or eliminate programs or implement a reduction in force, establish and enforce student admission standards, preside at commencement and other University-sponsored public functions, confer degrees authorized by the Board, recommend conferring of honorary degrees, authorize others to exercise authority as President during his/her absence, and to delegate authority to other employees.
SUPERVISION
The President reports to the Board of Governors and directly supervises the administrative leadership team, the provost and administrative staff within the President’s office.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED AUGUST 2023