EXECUTIVE SEARCH PROFILE
THE OPPORTUNITY
The next provost of the American Public University System will be a strong leader who will build new academic programs, guarantee academic quality, focus on student success and serve as both an effective advocate for the faculty and a dynamic member of the president’s team.
THE UNIVERSITY
A Marine Corps officer, James P. Etter, founded American Public University System (APUS) in 1991 as the
American Military University (AMU), pending retirement from his active service. APUS was one of the first institutions to pioneer online education, offering 100% of all educational coursework online. The University’s online programs were designed to satisfy the educational needs of the military who have busy and transient lives, whether it meant fulfilling a full time degree program or taking a non-traditional course that other institutions were not offering, such as counterterrorism or military intelligence. In 2002, AMU reorganized into the American Public University System and added American Public University (APU). APU extended AMU’s offerings to other public service professionals and motivated working adults beyond the national security and public safety markets. Today, American Military University and American Public University make up the American Public University System, a private, online institution with more than 83,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100
countries worldwide. The institution has two administrative offices: APUS headquarters are located in Charles Town, West Virginia and supporting administrative offices are located in Manassas, Virginia.
The Carnegie Foundation classifies APUS as a Master’s L institution. Of the more than 83,000 students, sixteen percent are enrolled for an associate’s degree, 64% are on the bachelor’s track, and 20% are graduate students. Most students are working adults and the median age of students is 31. While 62% of the student population is made up of active duty military from all branches of service, 38% of students are civilian students including veterans. APUS has an open admissions policy and does not require the ACT or SAT of its applicants. Most students have prior on-campus or online education and have transferred credits to APUS. The faculty is comprised of 1,600 part-time and full time practitioners and/or professionals. Professors live all over the world and many hold positions at other institutions and also at highly esteemed employers, such as the National Security Agency, United Nations, and the United States military.
THE UNIVERSITY
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APUS offers 79 degree programs and 67 certificate programs within seven schools: Arts and Humanities, Business, Education, Management, Public Safety and Health, Science and Technology, and Security and Global Studies. Some of the more popular degree programs include Business, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Information Technology, Intelligence, Psychology, and Transportation and Logistics Management. Certificates are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels and have specialized focus in subjects that range from American Revolution Studies to Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness.
All coursework for APUS is online and offered in 8-week or 16-week formats. While its students conduct most coursework and interaction asynchronously through an online learning management system, APUS is also committed to offering students the opportunity to experience videoconferences in a real-time environment, individual meetings with professors, and proctored supervision during exams, when required. Moreover, students, faculty, staff, and alumni are very active in social and professional networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and the blogosphere.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), North Central Association accredits APUS regionally, while the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training
Council accredits the institution at the national level. Specialized accreditation has been obtained in a number of fields. Institutional licensure is based on individual states or countries relational jurisdiction with APUS and the institution has a long-standing connection to appropriate regulatory agencies. APUS is formally licensed in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, APUS places a strong emphasis on its memberships and alliances with organizations ranging from the Advisory Councils on Military Education (ACMEs) to the Los Angeles Police Department University (LAPDU) to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
APUS’s educational mission to expand access to higher education and to prepare its students for service and leadership in a global society, by having relevant and academically rigorous coursework. The University System is guided in fulfilling its vision and mission through the following core values and principles: Learning, Quality, Integrity, Diversity, Freedom of Inquiry and Expression, Accountability, Access to Underserved, Adaptive and Responsive,
Innovation, and Collaboration while maintaining affordability to expand access. APUS has not raised undergraduate tuition in 10 years and offers degree seeking students an Undergraduate Book Grant, resulting in total tuition and book costs that are approximately 10% less than that the average in-state costs for public four year institutions (The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2010, October 2009).
BACKGROUND
While APUS is only 20 years old, it is commited to being a very high quality undergraduate and graduate University offering its entire curriculum online. In President Wallace E. Boston’s 2010 annual report, he said: “APUS has built a unique, sustainable model for higher education focused on academic quality and student success. Key elements of that approach include a data-driven focus on measuring student outcomes, a pioneering emphasis on sharing those results with our students and with the public, and a consultative approach to enrollment and advising that sets high standards for our industry.” Individuals working at APUS are strongly devoted to its mission.
APUS has managed growth and quality in very effective ways. Since 2007, the institution has grown from 20,000 to over 83,000 students today. In 2010, approximately 3,000 new students were enrolled every month. Civilian students are the fastest growing part of APUS. The institutional work ethic is
fast paced, enthusiastic, and student success is paramount. Assessment metrics are used regularly to ensure student learning and success.
Dr. Boston ably leads APUS. It is no surprise that his recent University of Pennsylvania doctoral dissertation is entitled: “Measuring Student Retention at an Online Institution of Higher Education.” He is very proud that APUS retains 70% of its students. President Boston came to APUS in 2002 as its CFO and became president in 2004. He is assisted in his work by a small team of senior level administrators. The provost is the lynchpin for guaranteeing APUS quality and continuing viability.
The new provost will be compensated at a high level and can achieve a 50% yearly bonus based upon measurable results. He/she will have responsibility for the academic deans and senior level direct reports along with 1,600 full-time and part-time faculty.
AmericAn Public university system’s mission is
to provide quality higher education
with emphasis on educating the nation’s military and public service communities by offering
respected, relevant, accessible and affordable, student-focused online programs, which
prepare them for service and leadership in a diverse, global society.
For more information on the institution, please visit:
American Public University System: www.apus.eduAmerican Public University: www.apu.apus.edu
CHALLENGES
Major challenges for the next provost are:
• Building on past accomplishments and taking this dynamic operation to its next level of academic excellence, further enhancing student retention; and helping to shape the academic vision for the future of APUS;
• Growing a culture of graduate education; • Developing new academic programs, potentially
including the introduction of professional doctoral programs during the next five years;
• Encouraging the full-time faculty to increase their scholarly and research efforts, while maintaining a focus on teaching; evaluating the merits of obtaining grants and federal awards for relevant research undertakings;
• Leading academic strategic planning tied to budget metrics and assessment; identifying the most important priorities in academic affairs and making a persuasive case for funding them; • Examining policies affecting faculty
compen-sation;
• Being a team leader and team player; delegating while holding direct reports accountable;
• Tweaking the organizational structure of academic affairs;
• Emphasizing the importance of technology in effective online instruction; ensuring academic quality in every aspect of academic affairs; and • Displaying an important public face for APUS with
the academic community-at-large, accreditation organizations, and other important publics.
QUALIFICATIONS
The president, Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, and University communities seek a new provost and executive vice president who is a strong leader, a solid academic, a strategic thinker, and who:
• Is a person of unquestioned integrity who strongly supports the APUS mission;
• Possesses a Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
• Has substantial experience at the dean’s or above level (a sitting or former provost is highly desired); • Knows and has supervised online academic
instruction; is knowledgeable and up-to-date on instructional technology and software;
• Has a proven track record as an entrepreneurial and creative leader;
• Is an experienced budget manager and has overall financial acumen;
• Brings a collaborative collegial management style to the institution;
• Has strong communication skills in speaking, listening, and writing; is a “no surprises” individual; • Practices excellent interpersonal skills; is
approachable and friendly;
• Makes decisions based upon solid data;
• Manages by setting clear expectations and making sure that they are met; is an effective human resources executive;
• Has experience with regional and specialized accreditation; and
APUS Total Revenue: $ 198 million
Academic Budget (Instructional Costs & Services): $ 75 million
Total Active Students: 83,700
Total Military Students: 51,900
Total Civilian Students: 31,800
Total Undergraduates: 65,200
Total Graduates: 18,500
Alumni: 14,000+
Student Average Age: 31 years old
Total Staff Not Including Faculty: 600
Full Time Faculty: 300
Adjunct Faculty: 1300
Annual Staff & Faculty Turnover: 10% (including voluntary and involuntary)
Undergraduate Tuition: $ 250 per credit Hour
Graduate Tuition: $ 325 per credit Hour
Fees: $ 150 total
ETS Proficiency Profile Scores: 445.0 (National Mean = 443.5)
Undergraduates Returning for a Second Degree: Over 40%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 26
Average class size: 14
Total Number of Degrees: 79
AA/AS degrees: 19
BA/BS degrees: 34
MA/MS/MBA degrees: 26
Monthly Online Library Visits: Approximately 100,000 visits Average Program completion rates
Associates: 40%
Bachelor’s: 51%
Master’s: 51% Average salaries + bonus for Full time Faculty
Program Directors: $70,000
Professor: $60,000
Associate Professor: $52,000
Assistant Professor: $50,000
Instructor: $45,000
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
• Accounting
• Business Administration • Communication
• Computer Applications • Counter-Terrorism Studies
• Database Application Development • Early Childhood Care and Education
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
• Business Administration • Child and Family Development • Criminal Justice
• Emergency and Disaster Management
• English
• Environmental Studies • Fire Science Management • General Studies
• History
• Homeland Security • Hospitality Management
MASTER’S DEGREES
• Business Administration • Criminal Justice
• Education: Administration and Supervision
• Education: Guidance and Counseling • Education: Teaching • Emergency and Disaster
Management
• Environmental Policy and Management
• History
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal • Fire Science
• General Studies • History
• Hospitality • Management • Military History
• Paralegal Studies • Public Health • Real Estate Studies • Weapons of Mass
Destruction Preparedness • Web Publishing
• Information Systems Security • Information Technology
• Information Technology Management • Intelligence Studies
• International Relations • Legal Studies
• Management • Marketing
• Middle Eastern Studies • Military History • Military Management
and Program Acquisition
• Nursing • Philosophy • Political Science • Psychology • Public Health • Religion
• Security Management • Sociology
• Space Studies
• Sports and Health Sciences • Transportation and
Logistics Management
• Homeland Security • Humanities
• Information Technology • Intelligence Studies • International Relations
and Conflict Resolution • Legal Studies
• Management • Military History • Military Studies
• National Security Studies
• Political Science • Psychology
• Public Administration • Public Health • Security Management • Space Studies • Sports Management • Transportation and Logistics Management
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Review of applications begins May 23, 2011 and continues until the position has been filled. To ensure full consideration, materials should be received by that date. To be considered, candidates should e-mail, as MS Word or Adobe Acrobat attachments: 1) a cover letter that addresses the challenges and qualifications listed above; 2) a current résumé or C.V.; and 3) the names and contact information of three references to:
apus@rhperry.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
POLICY
R. H. Perry & Associates is committed to the highest standards of professionalism in all dealings with candidates, sources, and references. We fully respect the need for confidentiality and assure interested parties that their background and interests will not be discussed without consent of the applicant prior to her or his becoming a candidate.
APUS is an equal opportunity employer.
