Charlottesville Office

Vice President and Senior Academic Officer

The Institute for Shipboard Education (Semester at Sea) invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President and Senior Academic Officer (VP/SAO). Reporting to the President of the Institute (ISE), the VP/SAO is a senior academic officer for Semester at Sea (SAS), the international leader in shipboard education. ISE seeks a proven academic leader who will aggressively promote continued development of Semester at Sea's academic programs and international reputation of excellence, built upon its more than 45 years of experience and its commitment to preparing students for global citizenship.

Responsibilities

The VP/SAO's primary responsibilities are to promote academic excellence and to provide leadership and administration for the SAS academic programs. Semester at Sea's academic program is offered on two semester-long global voyages and a summer regional voyage. The V/SAO works closely with the SAS Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, and the Division of Academic Affairs staff to recruit academic faculty and support staff for the voyages, design the curricula, evaluate the performance of the academic program and personnel, and manage the extensive field program launched in each port. The VP/SAO collaborates with Semester at Sea's academic sponsor, the University of Virginia (U.Va.) on all aspects of the academic program, working to maintain and enhance high academic standards. The VP/SAO is a key member of the ISE President's senior administrative team, which includes the vice presidents for Academic Affairs; Admissions; Financial Aid and Student Affairs; Development and Alumni Affairs; Finance; and Operations.

Qualifications

Semester at Sea seeks candidates with the following characteristics: an earned Ph.D. and evidence of outstanding scholarly, professional, and creative achievement; progressively more responsible administrative leadership in higher education or comparable leadership experience; commitment to Semester at Sea's mission of educating individuals for leadership, service, and success in shaping the increasingly interdependent world; demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to diversity and intercultural education; ability to convey the message of Semester at Sea to external audiences, including government and alumni groups; exceptional communication and development skills; and the capacity to work collegially within the Institute and with a variety of external constituencies. The position offers a highly competitive salary and generous benefits package.

Charlottesville, Virginia

The ISE headquarters is located adjacent to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, a thriving community with exceptional quality of life and the intellectual and cultural opportunities worthy of one of the nation's finest universities. Located adjacent to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park and within two hours of Washington, D.C. and the eastern seaboard, Charlottesville offers a wealth of cultural and recreational opportunities and is frequently listed among the U.S.'s best places to live.

Application Procedure and Timeline

The VP/SAO Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, complete curriculum vitae, and five references) or expressions of interest to be submitted electronically to the address below. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. To ensure the fullest consideration, nominations and applications should be submitted prior to December 1, 2008 to:

Loren W. Crabtree
Senior Fellow and Chief Executive for Global Education
Institute for Shipboard Education
P.O. Box 400885
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4885
[This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots; you need JavaScript enabled to view it]
Phone: 434-242-9876
Fax: 434-243-4076