Open Searches

The University of Texas Permian Basin welcomes applications and nominations for the position of Associate Provost for Academic Administration (APAA), a staff position that supports the work of the Provost in all of the University’s academic areas. The University of Texas Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. As a regional, comprehensive institution, The University of Texas Permian Basin serves a diverse community of students from the region, the state, and beyond. Through excellence in student-centered teaching, learning, research, and public service, the University cultivates engaged citizens and impacts lives while advancing the technology and public interests of West Texas.

The Permian Basin is one of the country’s fastest-growing, culturally vibrant, and economically invigorated regions – full of industry, culture, and wide-open spaces. Spanning an area of 75,000 square miles, the low-lying geological formation of the Permian Basin is a stunning stretch of land with unique beauty that’s home to the big, beautiful Texas skies. It’s also home to the world’s largest petroleum field. Accounting for more than 30% of the domestic oil production in the United States and recently named the largest oil reserve on the planet, the Permian Basin region of West Texas is poised to boost local and global economies for decades. As the U.S. is set to surpass Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer, much of the growth in domestic oil production will come straight from the Permian Basin. The International Energy Agency expects global oil demand to grow until around 2040, which experts predict will support the creation of approximately 45,000 jobs across the Permian Basin through 2030.

However, it’s not only oil fueling the region’s substantial energy boom; wind and solar developments are diversifying the Permian Basin, putting it on the map as a critical energy provider for the future. West Texas is seeing an explosion in economic activity as other industries such as finance, construction, healthcare, digital technology, transportation, real estate, and public sector jobs grow alongside the energy sector. As the only major university in the Permian Basin, UTPB is positioned as its academic center, providing leadership and skilled professionals across the region’s prominent and growing industries.

UT Permian Basin is a vibrant learning community with 75+ undergraduate and graduate degrees within five academic colleges. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognized UT Permian Basin as the first public university in the state to implement AVID strategies at the post-secondary level. The University offers dual credit courses that serve remote school districts using a blended online and in-person arrangement and with online dual credit courses available to schools throughout the state of Texas. The University of Texas Permian Basin is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Home to over 7,500 enrolled students, UT Permian Basin benefits from the vast resources and support of the world-renowned University of Texas System yet is lean enough to foster a connected, tight-knit community while remaining financially accessible to any student. With an unwavering commitment to students, a strategic approach to designing higher education, and the resources to ensure academic success, UTPB is set to nurture the leaders who will go on to shape the future of West Texas and the nation. UT Permian Basin offers residential, commuter, and on-line educational opportunities. Designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), almost half of UTPB’s student population identifies as Hispanic. UTPB is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). About half of the students at UTPB are first-generation college students.

The Associate Provost for Academic Administration supports the work of the Provost in all the University’s academic areas. This includes, but is not limited to accreditation functions around SACSCOC, UT System and coordinating board, other stakeholders, curriculum implementation, academic policies, program development and support, assessment of student learning/institutional effectiveness, faculty development implementation, academic initiatives, online programs, and resource development. The APAA helps to lead collaborative efforts to advance the University’s Strategic Plan with accreditation agencies, business and industry, community-based organizations, educational partners, governmental agencies, and internal constituencies. The APAA will work directly with the Provost, academic deans, administrators, and faculty and have responsibilities that span all University locations.

Required qualifications include:

• Earned terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Experience leading accreditation/assessment efforts to a successful conclusion.
• Experience working with the curriculum development process, including both degree programs and General Education requirements.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to utilize appropriate data analysis and statistical techniques to analyze assessment and institutional data.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment to meet established goals.
• Ability to attend to detail and ensure accuracy of data and reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively with administrators, deans, faculty, staff, and students to ensure the advancement of strategic planning, student learning outcomes, institutional accreditation, and mission fulfillment.
• Ability to travel, both locally and nationally, as required for accreditation/assessment work.

More information, including a full list of desired characteristics, can be found in the institutional profile at the link above.

Applications should consist of a substantial letter of interest, a CV, and a list of five professional references with full contact information and a note indicating the nature of your working relationship with each. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to:

UTPBAPAA@academicsearch.org

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Tuesday, May 14, 2024, can be assured full consideration. The University is being assisted by Academic Search. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Ann Hasselmo at Ann.Hasselmo@academicsearch.org and Chris Butler at Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org. Further information about the University of Texas Permian Basin is available at https://www.utpb.edu/.

UTPB is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming and respectful. The University fosters an environment that allows members of the University community to excel in their academic and professional careers. UTPB follows all applicable state and federal laws.