Provost

Millikin University is a private university that provides undergraduate and graduate education to a diverse student body of approximately 1,600 students on a 75-acre residential campus in Decatur, Ill. Millikin’s unique approach to education, known as Performance Learning, allows students to perform the work of their future careers through hands-on, real-world experiences starting on day one. Through these experiences, students gain access to a professional network they will carry throughout their careers. This commitment to innovation and excellence propels students to career success. Millikin offers over 50 academic programs in its College of Fine Arts, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Professional Studies and Tabor School of Business.

Applications are only accepted for open positions. A supplemental resume/CV may be attached in lieu of completing the Education and Employment sections only. All other sections must be completed.

Description The Provost of Millikin University serves as the chief academic officer on campus, acting as the primary faculty advocate. Duties include program evaluation and accreditation, advancement of student and faculty success, academic personnel and budget decisions, curriculum development, and professional development within teaching and learning. Examples of Duties Strong Academic Advocacy: Provides conviction of academic purpose with the ability to clearly explain decision rationale and facilitate conflict resolution. Promotes retention and engagement of faculty and academic staff. Understands the challenges that faculty and students currently face, proactively seeking solutions.

Faculty and Academic Staff Stewardship: Makes recommendations to President on tenure, promotion, and sabbaticals. With the academic Deans, provides trusted leadership and advocates for faculty lines, professional development, competitive compensation for faculty and academic staff, and fair performance review processes.

Shared Governance: Supports work of Councils and Full Faculty to enact initiatives effectively. Reports to faculty on academic information and issues. Establishes and implements transparent written policies in collaboration with faculty governance procedures.

Academic Rigor: Prioritizes high-quality academic programming that facilitates Performance Learning and innovative instruction and coursework. Informed by previous experience, guides and supports campus-wide accreditation processes.

Academic Portfolio Strategy and Innovation: Partners with faculty and academic leaders to cultivate a dynamic and forward-looking academic portfolio that advances Millikin’s mission and strategic priorities. Provides visionary leadership for the expansion of graduate and online education, identifying opportunities for new programs, alternative delivery models, and emerging markets that broaden access and support enrollment growth. Champions innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and distinctive educational offerings that respond to student interests, workforce needs, and evolving opportunities in higher education.

Enrollment growth and academic partnerships: Collaborates with Admission, Marketing, and Academic Program Directors to develop and enhance recruitment strategies that strengthen enrollment across undergraduate, transfer, graduate, and online programs. Develops and sustains transfer and articulation partnerships that expand student pathways to Millikin. Encourages meaningful collaboration between Millikin faculty and community college faculty to support curricular alignment, student success, and seamless transfer experiences.

Student Success: Leads institutional efforts to improve student academic success, retention, and completion. Oversees the Student Success Center and aligns advising, tutoring, accommodations, and other support programs to meet the evolving needs of Millikin students. Uses data-informed strategies and cross-campus collaboration to enhance the student experience and improve outcomes.

Strategic Thinking and Leadership: Communicates effectively and consistently both verbally and in writing. Demonstrates visionary leadership and sincere commitment to advancing Millikin’s Strategic Plan and institutional priorities.

Budget and Data-informed Decision Making: Prioritizes a balanced budget aligned with academic goals and Millikin’s Strategic Plan. Emphasizes appropriate staffing and compensation for all faculty and academic staff, taking both data and human factors into account. Creatively, collaboratively, and transparently seeks solutions and takes decisive action.

Campus and Community Vision: Engages faculty, staff, and the community in implementing Millikin's Strategic Plan through partnerships and professional outreach that prioritizes Performance Learning opportunities. Cultivates meaningful connections between programs, colleges, and the community.Typical Qualifications

• An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution
• Faculty rank and tenure (or equivalent)
• Broad knowledge and experience within higher education, including academic and accreditation standards and processes as well as academic policies and procedures
• Five or more years of experience at the Associate Dean level or higher (or comparable) at an accredited institution
• Experience with budget management, planning, and analysis
• Effective leadership, transparent communication, and strategic problem-solving in collaboration with faculty, staff, and University leadership
• Advancement of academic programming in traditional, transfer, graduate, and online learning spaces with shared values in academic diversity and inclusion
• Commitment to implementation and advancement of community partnerships and Performance Learning opportunities in Decatur and surrounding areas

For a comprehensive overview of the position, leadership priorities, qualifications, and application process, please review the Millikin University Provost Leadership Profile. https://millikin.edu/sites/default/files/2026-11/MMR-ProvostProfile-1026%2011.9.26.pdf

Supplemental Information WORK ENVIRONMENT: The Provost Office at Millikin University is devoted to student success from enrollment to commencement. We are dynamic, agile, and culturally responsive. We guide, support, and, on occasion, challenge students as they develop, refine, and pursue their academic, career, and personal endeavors. All staff are responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, respectful, and caring environment for student-athletes, colleagues, and visitors. We seek skilled and diverse colleagues who are flexible, self-motivated and will embrace and respect who we are and what we do. We also seek colleagues committed to moving the Millikin brand forward. At the employee’s request and in consultation with Human Resources/ (ADA office), employees receive reasonable accommodations to perform the essential duties associated with the position. WORKING CONDITIONS: Typical working conditions found in most administrative settings. Typically sits at a desk or table. Occasionally sitting, bending, standing, and walking. Hearing and visual acuity within normal range; ability to stoop, kneel, and crouch occasionally; high degree of mobility required. Dexterity to operate a keyboard.??? INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Communicates effectively and appropriately. Gets along and cooperates with co-workers and appropriately interacts with others. Participates and functions as an effective member of the team. CONFIDENTIALITY: Exchanges University information with others only on a "need to know" basis. ATTENDANCE: Promptly arrives for the designated shift. Follow all applicable policies regarding schedules, attendance, and organizational requirements. Typically considered an exempt/salaried position, so may involve longer days, weekends, and off shifts as required to successfully perform job duties. Excessive absenteeism will hinder successful job performance. UNIVERSAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Provides excellent service to all customers striving to exceed their expectations. Demonstrates courtesy, compassion, and respect. Is thoroughly committed to the mission and vision of Millikin University. HAZARDS: Working at a university involves a wide variety of potential job hazards, which generally fall into the areas of physical safety, ergonomic, and social/psychological. The specific risks of each are highly dependent on the role.

Benefits

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, retirement, FSA/HSA Account, life insurance, long-term disability, tuition waiver, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. To learn more details, please visit our benefits page at https://millikin.edu/about/administration/human-resources/benefits

Review of applications will begin immediatley and will continue until the position is filled. Employment and first day of work is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Millikin University provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local laws. Beyong meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Millikin University is committed to increasing its employee diversity and will consider qualified applicants with experiene in diverse settings, who have a record of research that supports/benefits diverse communities or a record of teaching a diverse studnet population.