Director of Academic Affairs

“Opportunities start here” is more than a slogan at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Matanuska Susitna College (Mat-Su College); it is our mission. Our aim is to transform student aspirations into realities. Mat-Su College, an extended campus of UAA, is seeking a qualified individual for the position of Director of Academic Affairs. This position reports to the Mat-Su College Director and assists the College Director with strategic planning, community outreach, academic and instructional support, and overall campus management.

The Director of Academic Affairs provides strategic leadership within the instructional environment of Mat-Su College. This position is expected to perform his or her role by combining a faculty member’s perspective with sensitivity to student needs. This position facilitates program development, and the course schedule and performs a key instructional support role. This position supervises approximately 70 adjunct faculty members, the Learning Resource Center Manager, and the Administrative Assistants in the Office of Academic Affairs. This position also fulfills compliance related tasks. As a member of Mat-Su College’s executive team, this position participates in setting direction and advocating for Matanuska Susitna College, promoting the college as an active participant in the area's economic development and a principal contributor in the quality of life in the community. The duties and working title of this position may vary slightly from one year to the next, based on current institutional projects and needs.

To thrive in this role, the individual will practice a student-centered approach to higher education, possess expert planning and leadership skills, and demonstrate sound professional judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, and exhibit a growth mindset characterized by reflection, adaptability, and continuous learning. The ability to advocate, communicate, lead, and mediate effectively with others is essential as this position works with students, faculty, and staff. Furthermore, a demonstrated commitment to the community campus mission within a wider university system, knowledge of college policies, procedures, and academic processes, and respect for the shared governance structure is helpful for this position.

It is preferred the applicant has an earned Doctoral degree & the following experience: five years administrative experience showing increased responsibility; demonstrated successful administrative and personnel management in a post-secondary setting; experience in a community campus institution with a diverse body of faculty, staff, & students (both traditional & nontraditional); substantial college level teaching experience; and experience with a variety of learning modalities; experience implementing and maintaining policies and procedures typical of a community campus.

Minimum Qualifications:

To be considered for this position, applicants must have a Master’s degree, 2 years administrative experience, & a minimum of 3 years college level teaching experience.

Position Details:

This position is located at the Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer, Alaska. This is a full-time, 12-month, term-funded, non-represented, exempt faculty administration position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. Salary will be aligned with qualifications and experience.

Applicant Special Instructions:

To be considered for this position, applicants must upload the following documents to their online application:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. List of 3 professional references (including at least one current or former supervisor) with contact information (phone number and email)
4. Philosophy of Leadership Statement

A short presentation delivered to the campus followed by a Q&A session will be part of the final interview process.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified.

The University of Alaska (UA) reserves the right to require employees to work on-site at the UA facilities. Hybrid and remote work may be approved for employees based in Alaska at the University's discretion. Remote work for employees based outside the State of Alaska may be approved only in exceptional circumstances or when required by the position's job duties.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact HR Coordinator Shira Crowell at sacrowell@alaska.edu

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

This is a term-funded position and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.