Employment Opportunities

Suffolk County Community College seeks candidates to consider for appointment as Vice President for Academic Affairs. This position is a direct report to the President of the College and will serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet.

Suffolk is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 22,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as its Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center in Riverhead. Established in 1959, the College offers a wide array of transfer-oriented associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences; business; communications and the arts; computing and cybersecurity; health sciences; and many other areas. Career-facing degrees and certificates are offered in allied health professions, automotive technology, culinary and baking, manufacturing, and many other areas. The college provides high school concurrent enrollment opportunities to thousands of students each year through both the New York Beacon program and through on-campus early college classes. Designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Suffolk enrolls thousands of students in English Language Learning courses, and also serves more service veterans and military-connected students than any other college in the SUNY system.

The next Vice President for Academic Affairs will provide leadership for ensuring that the college’s instructional programs and services are aligned with student and community needs, and with promoting access, equity, and inclusive student success in all areas.  The VPAA will be actively engaged in program assessment and development; collaboration with faculty, academic departments, and academic leadership to enhance academic pathways; promoting professional development and appropriate academic technologies; and championing best practices in faculty recruitment, development, and evaluation.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Serving as the chief academic officer of the institution, responsible for creating and implementing institutional policy that guides the entire academic enterprise, including policies related to program development and assessment, teaching and learning assessment, faculty qualifications, hiring, professional development, and retention.

• Leading the development and implementation of data-informed strategies to improve student access, progression, completion, and elimination of equity gaps at the course, program, and college levels.

• Leading the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, academic integrity, and student learning, and making recommendations to the president relating to resource allocations that will advance that commitment.

• Leading the alignment of academic programs with community needs, particularly in the area of developing and implementing career-oriented certificate and degree programs resulting in employment.

• Collaborating with campus deans, department chairs, faculty, and all internal stakeholders to implement academic policies consistently within the context of shared governance and equity.

• In collaboration with college deans, academic departments, and the student affairs division, planning and implementing a class schedule across all delivery modalities and locations that meets student needs.

• In collaboration with academic departments, faculty, and other stakeholders, enhancing and implementing academic pathways that include appropriate opportunities for prior learning assessment, stackable credentials, and seamless transfer or employment opportunities.

• Leading college efforts to create and streamline secondary-to-postsecondary articulation and university transfer agreements.

• In collaboration with all appropriate stakeholders, developing and implementing policies and procedures for recruiting, hiring, and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and other academic personnel.

• Providing leadership for a comprehensive professional development program for all academic personnel.

• Supporting cocurricular academic activities that support student engagement, academic excellence, and academic outreach.

• Providing leadership in collaborating with external stakeholders, including economic and workforce development entities, program advisory committees and employers, statewide curriculum working groups, and regional and specialized accreditation agencies.

• Performing other duties as assigned by the president.

An earned doctoral degree from an accredited university in a field appropriate to the college; at least ten (10) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in academic affairs, with broad experience in strategic program planning and implementation, outcomes assessment, workforce education, and integration of information technology for academic programs.

The ideal candidate should have demonstrated leadership and strong interpersonal communication skills, as well as broad familiarity with the current issues facing community colleges nationally; the ability to work effectively in a collective bargaining environment and to collaborate across departments to promote a collegial work environment.

What we offer:

Suffolk County Community College offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision, vacation days, deferred compensation and a defined benefit plan. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is an exempt position; compensation will be based on the College’s exempt salary and benefit plan.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and CV.  The priority application deadline is January 6, 2025. This position will remain open until filled.