Prospectus
Provost Search 2012-13
The Search
Washington and Lee University, the nation’s ninth-oldest institution of higher learning, invites nominations and applications for the position of Provost. As a key member of the President’s senior leadership team and the chief academic officer of the University, the Provost is responsible for articulating, developing, and nurturing the distinctive educational mission of Washington and Lee. The Deans of the three primary units of the University – the College, the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, and the School of Law – report directly to the Provost, as do directors of other programs and offices. The Provost is central in advancing the goal of providing an intellectual program of the highest quality in a diverse environment that prizes free inquiry, a love of learning, and honorable conduct.
Founded in 1749, Washington and Lee is among the most selective and highly regarded universities in the nation. The University has an exceptionally qualified and increasingly diverse student body, an outstanding faculty of teacher-scholars, a robust endowment, a loyal cadre of alumni, and a dedicated and talented team of administrators and staff. Located in historic Lexington between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains and a three-hour drive to Washington, D.C., the University combines a rich history of liberal arts education with a commitment to meeting the educational challenges of the new century.
The Provost will advance and refine several curricular initiatives, including the strategic plan for global learning, the innovative four-week intensive spring term, and the nationally acclaimed curriculum in the School of Law. The Provost will also assume a critical role in the implementation of an ambitious strategic plan. A $500 million capital campaign that is well underway will provide resources for students and scholars for years to come.
Working with President Kenneth P. Ruscio and the entire Washington and Lee community, the Provost will define the University’s academic aspirations and encourage innovation and critical thinking about the role of a liberal arts education in a changing, complex, and diverse society. The successful candidate will possess the administrative and academic distinction and credentials appropriate for appointment as a full professor in a discipline offered by the University. The Provost must have an outstanding ability to communicate, exceptional managerial skills, and a strong, demonstrated commitment to diversity and shared governance.
The next Provost will assume the position on or about July 1, 2013.
The University has retained the firm Isaacson, Miller to assist the President and the Search Committee in this critical search. All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted in the manner prescribed at the end of this document.
The University – A Rich Tradition and History
Washington and Lee University is independent, nonsectarian, and privately endowed. The University is a nationally ranked institution with a unique three-part structure: one graduate division, the School of Law; and two undergraduate divisions, the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. These divisions share a central mission: to provide a liberal arts education that develops students' capacity to think freely, critically, and humanely and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. With a rich heritage spanning more than two and a half centuries, the University has a profound sense of tradition. At the same time, it affirms the ideal embodied in its motto, non incautus futuri (not unmindful of the future).
Washington and Lee’s rich history has been shaped by key figures and moments in American history. Founded as Augusta Academy in 1749, it became Liberty Hall Academy in 1776. In 1796, George Washington gave the school an endowment gift, believed to be the largest to that date in American higher education. The institution’s trustees expressed their gratitude to and respect for Washington by changing the name of the school, first to Washington Academy and later to Washington College.
In 1865, the trustees named General Robert E. Lee to the college presidency. Lee, who prior to the Civil War had headed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, envisioned the college as an instrument for the spiritual and material reconstruction of the South and for the reunification of a divided populace across the nation. To these ends, he expanded the existing classical curriculum to include the subjects of law, business, journalism, modern languages, science, and engineering. In Lee’s presidency, primary responsibility for routine discipline shifted from administration and faculty to “the honor and self-respect of the students themselves.” In tribute to Lee’s educational accomplishments the trustees renamed the college Washington and Lee University after his death in 1870.
Lee’s innovations became the basis of 20th-century change, including establishment of the School of Law, the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics and Engineering. As the University expanded the ranks of its faculty and constructed libraries and classrooms to meet its academic vision, new practices became traditions. A significant new era began at the University with the institution of coeducation: the School of Law first admitted women in 1972, and undergraduate women were admitted in 1985. Washington and Lee’s graduates have assumed prominent roles throughout American society. Included in their ranks are an associate justice of the Supreme Court and other prominent members of the judiciary, members of Congress and the executive branch of the federal government, ambassadors and governors, recipients of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes and the Congressional Medal of Honor, numerous presidents of universities and colleges, leading business figures, and six presidents of the American Bar Association.
A legacy of Lee’s presidency, the student-administered Honor System, is an important component of the University. A personal commitment to honor is recognized by every student, faculty member, administrator, and staff member of the University. Providing the common thread woven through many aspects of this institution, honor creates a community of trust and respect affecting fundamentally the relationships of all its members. In the environment of trust created and protected by the Honor System, instructors presume academic honesty on all assignments. Dedication to honorable behavior creates a strong bond of trust among the students and between them and the faculty, a bond that informs interactions both in and beyond the classroom. Alumni frequently cite the Honor System as the most valuable and cherished element of the Washington and Lee experience.
The University Today – An Exemplary Liberal Arts Institution
Commitment to the Liberal Arts
In multiple contexts, the University pursues the goals of liberal education in distinctive fashion, most notably the inclusion of an accredited business program and a graduate program in law. Regardless of major, undergraduates of the Williams School and the College pursue foundational courses in writing, foreign language, mathematics, and physical education, and distribution requirements in fine arts, literature and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Similarly, the School of Law's instructional program is designed to equip students with a legal education in the fullest sense, providing not only the technical tools needed for legal practice, but also a deep understanding of how law operates in our society and a sensitivity to the ethical imperatives of the profession.
Recent Curricular Innovations
The University has recently undertaken an extensive review of the third-year law curriculum and the undergraduate spring term experience. These reviews have provided an opportunity for faculty to engage in probing conversations regarding pedagogy and learning outcomes.
As a result of this careful review, the unique undergraduate Spring Term was changed from a six-week format to a four-week experience in a single intensive course. This shift required faculty to create and submit for peer approval over 200 new courses designed to fully engage the students for as much as 30-40 hours per week of transformative learning. The depth and breadth of subject matter are unparalleled. The teaching methods employed are engaging, intensive, hands-on, and often interdisciplinary. The Spring Term also provides an avenue for all students to take advantage of valuable study abroad experiences. Detailed information regarding the evolution of the spring term as well as a list of courses may be seen at http://www.wlu.edu/x35936.xml.
The Law School also emphasizes engaged learning and has recently undertaken a complete redesign of the curriculum, incorporating significant live client experiences for third-year students. As a result of the third year curricular reform, each year of study now has a distinct and defined purpose. The first year lays the foundation with a common curriculum and a writing program that spans both semesters. In the second year, students identify and pursue their own interests in particular areas of the law. The approach remains very much a "liberal arts" approach to legal education; at no point are students expected to commit to the intensive study of only one area of the law.
The new third year at W&L is entirely based on learning through engagement, combining practicum courses, practice simulations, client interactions, the formation of professional identity, and the cultivation of practice skills. Third-year students move beyond the learning process of the first and second years of law school to prepare for the transition to professional practice. Students build on the foundation of the first two years and pursue an array of courses that engage them in lawyering, legal clinics, and externships. This emphasis on developing professional judgment serves as a true capstone for a W&L legal education.
Washington and Lee's strategic plan for the future of global learning is in the early stages of implementation, and its features are described in a later section of this document
Faculty
Washington and Lee has 208 undergraduate full-time faculty members and 30 part-time faculty members; 95 percent of all faculty hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. The School of Law has 29 full-time faculty members and 36 part-time faculty members. Forty-three percent of full-time undergraduate faculty and 19 percent of full-time law faculty are women. Eight percent of full-time faculty are from U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups.
The University is known for the quality of its teaching and the rigorous standards for its research and scholarship. The University has recently completed a reduction of the undergraduate teaching load to an average of 5.5 courses a year in the unique context of its 12-12-4 (weeks) academic calendar. This was achieved by recruiting over 20 new hires to the undergraduate faculty. The undergraduate student-faculty ratio is approximately 9:1. Faculty scholarship is supported by eligibility for sabbatical leaves to tenured faculty once every five years. Tenure-track faculty members are also eligible for a one-semester, pre-tenure research leave in their third or fourth year of teaching. Undergraduate professors are eligible for summer research grants and generous support for travel to conferences.
In 2009, Washington and Lee University was awarded a $200,000 accelerator grant, as part of the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Faculty Career Flexibility, to provide increased flexibility and support for personal time management that enables faculty members to generate the unstructured blocks of time they need for reflection and creative work. In addition, the grant enabled the University to provide the kinds of peer support and institutional assistance that will allow the faculty to use this new-found time most productively for professional development, while still meeting the demands of their personal lives.
The teaching load in the School of Law is approximately three courses per year, consistent with that of other leading law schools. The Frances Lewis Law Center supports law faculty scholarship through summer research grants and sponsorship of workshops and conferences.
Many Washington and Lee faculty are nationally and internationally known experts in their fields. Support for faculty salaries and professional development is one of the four overarching goals of the University’s strategic plan and implementation of that plan is well underway. The new Provost will be expected to be an effective and strategic participant in faculty recruitment and retention decisions. The Provost chairs the President’s Advisory Committee that, among other duties, reviews undergraduate faculty applications for tenure and promotion and makes recommendations on these to the president.
Students
The University is a highly selective institution with a recent undergraduate acceptance rate of 19 percent. Over the last 10 years the undergraduate enrollment has held steady ranging from 1740 to 1778. The mid-50% range SAT scores for the Class of 2013 were 660-740 with a mean of 691 for Critical Reading, 660-730 with a mean of 693 for Math and 650-730 with a mean of 681 for Writing, and 81% of the class were in the top 10% of their high school class. Noted for its national and international diversity, the undergraduate student body is evenly divided between men and women. Current students are from 48 states and the District of Columbia and 47 other countries. About 14 percent of undergraduates come from Virginia, with large numbers of students also from Maryland, Texas, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania and California. Approximately 10 percent are from racial and ethnic minority groups, including 75 international students. The undergraduate program typically has an exceptional 94-95 percent first-year retention rate.
The Law School enrollment in recent years has averaged approximately 400 students and is typically 52% male and 48% female. The law class of 2012 had a median LSAT of 166 with a median GPA of 3.56. Approximately 16% of Law School students are from U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups.
Washington and Lee is committed to increasing the diversity of the University community and bringing diverse people together in an inclusive environment built on core values of honor, intellectual engagement, civility, and commitment to community. This ideal is pursued with unrelenting effort and appropriate funding. The University prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran's status, and genetic information in its educational programs and activities and with regard to employment. The Provost is the University’s Title IX Officer.
Location and Facilities
Washington and Lee is located in Lexington, a historic city of 7,000 residents. Situated between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains in the Valley of Virginia, Lexington is the county seat of Rockbridge County, home to an additional 21,000 people. Lexington is a 2-hour drive to the state capital in Richmond and a 3-hour drive to Washington, DC. The area features strong public schools, a variety of cultural events, and, within close proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Maury River, rich opportunities for outdoor activities. Lexington is also the site of the Virginia Military Institute, and 13 four-year colleges and universities are located within approximately 75 miles of the city.
The Washington and Lee campus, renowned for historical significance, has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is a frequent site of interest to those studying American, African-American, and Civil War history and culture. The campus is known for its great beauty and the high quality of its facilities. Several major building projects are planned or underway. Recently completed projects include the renovation of Holekamp Hall, a 100-year-old building at the center of the campus that houses faculty offices for the Williams School and the College; the construction of Wilson Hall, the Art and Music Building, which opened in the fall of 2006; the John W. Elrod University Commons, which opened in the fall of 2003; Wilson Field (2010); and the Moot Courtroom (2007). The renovation of the historic buildings of the colonnade is well underway, with Newcomb and Payne Halls already completed. The renovation of Washington Hall, which houses the President's and Provost's Office, is in progress and slated for completion in November of 2012. Planning is ongoing to renovate and construct state of the art residence halls, a Center for Global Learning, and indoor athletics and recreation facilities.
Financial Resources and Business Operations
The University's endowment of $1.2 billion ranks seventh among liberal arts colleges nationally. The University's strategic plan seeks to increase the endowment substantially, primarily by creating additional endowments for financial aid and faculty salaries. A conservative approach to endowment drawdown has served the University well in a fluctuating economy. Alumni have traditionally provided generous support each year. The overall alumni participation rate in FY 2011 was 51 percent. Law alumni have one of the highest participation rates in the country as evidenced by a 33.2% rate for the 2009-10 year. About half of parents make a gift each year. The Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer oversees Washington and Lee's $114 million annual operating budget. The office manages business affairs, investment, and budgeting, and the Provost works closely with this group in helping to set funding priorities and develop policies.
Board of Trustees
The University's Board currently consists of 33 members, including the President. Trustees are elected by the Board. The Board is chaired by a Rector who is elected from among the Trustees for a four-year term and can be re-elected for successive terms. Except for the President, each Trustee serves a term of five years and is eligible for re-election to a second term.
Staff and Administration
The University employs 272 administrators and 274 staff. The staff provides faculty and senior administrators with the support required to meet their extensive internal and external demands. Many are drawn from the surrounding community of Lexington and Rockbridge County. The exceptionally dedicated support staff joins the faculty and administration in serving the educational mission of the University and cultivating the character of its students. Continuing to value the contributions of staff members at all levels of the University is essential to maintaining a sense of common purpose, civility, and respect within the community. The Provost sits on the President's Cabinet, which includes the Treasurer/Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Vice President for University Advancement, and the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, as well as the General Counsel and two Senior Assistants to the President. The Provost also sits on the President's Council, which includes 20 senior level deans and directors. W&L has been recognized as a "Chronicle of Higher Education Great Colleges to Work For" institution. In 2011, the University won awards in three categories: compensation and benefits, facilities, workspaces and security, and job satisfaction.
Accreditation
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits the University. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, and the American Chemical Society accredit corresponding departments. The American Bar Association and the American Association of Law Schools accredit the School of Law.
Planning for the Future of Washington and Lee
In 2004, Washington and Lee engaged in an ambitious strategic planning process to address the needs of the University for the next decade and beyond. The three academic divisions engaged in substantial self-study, proposing ideas about priorities and opportunities to build on the University's core values and traditions. In addition, task forces composed of faculty, Board members, students, and staff examined such topics as the academic program, athletics, student life, financial planning and development, space planning, technology, communications, and admissions.
In 2007, the University adopted a strategic plan titled "A Liberal Arts Education for the 21st Century." The four primary objectives of the plan include:
- Recruit and Support Students with Exceptional Personal and Intellectual Characteristics
- Recruit, Retain, and Develop Exceptionally Qualified Faculty and Staff Committed to the Values of the University
- Establish New Academic Programs and Enhance Existing Ones that Foster Learning, Engagement, and Character
- Create a Campus for the 21st Century
The complete Strategic Plan can be found at http://strategicplan.wlu.edu/strategicplan.pdf. The new Provost will play a key role in its continued implementation. In support of this ambitious strategic plan, in the fall of 2010, the University announced the goal of $500 million for its current campaign entitled "Honor Our Past, Build Our Future." It is one of the three largest campaign goals ever undertaken by a liberal arts college. At the time of the announcement, the University had raised more than $310 million, has now raised $380 million, and is on track to achieve the $500 million goal by June, 2015. The Campaign includes five primary goals that all feed the central mission of the University. In the effort to continue recruiting and supporting students with exceptional promise, the Campaign includes a goal of $160 million. Progress on this goal includes a $100 million gift that largely supports the Johnson Scholarship Program. Progress toward the goal of $122 million for faculty and staff support is likewise significant, with a $50 million gift to endow faculty salaries and research. The Campaign targets $37.5 million for growth and enhancement of academic programs that foster learning, engagement, and character, including the undergraduate spring term revitalization and the progressive redesign of the law school curriculum. The Campaign funds bricks and mortar projects that include renovation of the historic Colonnade ($50 million); the renovation of a building that will house the Center for Global Learning ($11.5 million); construction of the Hillel House which is already completed ($4 million); expansion of the School of Law's primary facility, Lewis Hall ($5 million); and construction of a new indoor athletic and recreation facility ($50 million). In support of the operating budget, the campaign goal includes $60 million for the annual fund.
The Role of the Provost at the University
In 2011, Provost June Aprille retired from an illustrious career as a professor and administrator, culminating in her transformative tenure as University Provost. From 2007 until 2011, Provost Aprille built on the work of her predecessors Laurent Boetsch and Thomas Williams to define the Provost's position and to steer the academic program of Washington and Lee through the conclusion of the Strategic Planning process and the implementation of major initiatives. In academic years 2011-12 and 2012-13, Robert Strong, a veteran member of the faculty and distinguished scholar, is serving as Acting Provost.
The Provost works closely with the President on a daily basis in furthering the University's mission and is responsible for oversight of the University when the President is away on external affairs. The Provost is the Chief Academic Officer of the University, to whom the Deans of the College, the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, and the School of Law report. The Provost oversees the management of all financial resources for academic programs and, in connection with that responsibility, works closely with the Vice President for Finance. The Provost also works closely with the trustee chair of the Undergraduate Academics and Admissions Committee of the Board of Trustees and reports to that Committee on the University's academic and admission initiatives and results. The Provost works with the Advancement Office and supports fundraising efforts.
In addition to the three deans, the Provost's twelve direct reports include the Associate Provost, the Assistant Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, the University Librarian, the Chief Technology Officer, the University Registrar, the Director of University Collections, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Director of International Education and the Director of Athletics. A complete organizational chart can be found at
http://www.wlu.edu/documents/president/Admin%202011.12.pdf.
The Undergraduate Program
Every undergraduate student follows a curriculum founded upon general education requirements including English composition, foreign language, arts, literature, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and physical education. The requirements ensure that a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences underpins all majors. Majors at the University include Accounting and Business Administration, Art History, Biochemistry, Biology, Business Administration, Chemical-Engineering, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, East Asian Studies with Chinese or Japanese Emphasis, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, French, Geology, German Language and Literature, History, Journalism and Mass Communication, Mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Music, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Physics-Engineering, Politics, Psychology, Public Accounting, Religion, Romance Languages (Spanish and French), Russian Area Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, Spanish, Studio Art, and Theater.
The University encourages interdisciplinary learning. It has created a range of minors, specialized programs, and interdisciplinary offerings including African-American Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Mass Communications, the Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability, Women's and Gender Studies and several others. An exciting new program, the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics, is currently in the conceptual stages of design. Many students graduate with double majors, often spanning the College and the Williams School in interesting combinations.
The School of Law
The Law School offers J.D., LL.M., and J.D/M.H.A. programs. In addition to the innovative curriculum that promotes engaged student learning and prepares students through sophisticated practicums and hands-on professional responsibility to enter the legal profession at an advanced level, the School of Law also supports four student-led journals - Washington and Lee Law Review, The Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice, The Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, and the peer-reviewed and jointly edited The German Law Journal. The School also offers a vibrant Moot Court Program. Like the College and the Williams School, the School of Law faculty follow an open-door policy, by which professors are readily available for conferences and conversation with their students. The policy is consistently cited as one of the outstanding features of the School of Law, contributing to its reputation as a place where students receive personal attention and focused mentoring. In addition, the faculty is highly active in professional and academic organizations and the greater scholarly discourse. Law graduates secure prestigious jobs in private firms, public-interest organizations, and the government, including clerkships with state and federal judges. While the innovative changes in the curriculum have garnered national recognition, resolving the national issues facing law schools related to financing legal education and a difficult job market remain important challenges.
Libraries
The University Library comprises the James G. Leyburn Library and the Robert Lee Telford Science Library. The University Library supports Washington and Lee's central mission of teaching, learning, and research in the liberal arts by providing a wide range of materials in all formats for use in the classroom, in student learning, and in faculty research and preparation for teaching. The University Library also offers a highly skilled staff to assist faculty, students, and other users in their knowledge inquiries. In addition to more than 650,000 volumes housed onsite, the Library's website provides access to many databases. The Special Collections Department includes rare books, manuscripts, and the University's archives, with emphasis on the history of the University and Rockbridge County, Generals Washington and Lee, and the Shenandoah Valley.
The University Library's main floor was extensively renovated in 2008. The floor plan is open and inviting, with seating areas, study tables, and computer clusters. Rotating art exhibits featuring both student and professional artwork are displayed on its walls, and it is the site of the annual Spring Term Festival, which features student research. The University Computing Help Desk and Instructional Technology offices are located on Leyburn's main floor, and library and information technology academic resources are moving toward seamless integration.
The separately administered Wilbur C. Hall Law Library supports the teaching, educational and scholarship missions of the Law School and the University. The Law Library is open 24 hours a day every day of the year. The collection supplements the multidisciplinary collection of the University Library with a specific focus on law. Its print and digital collections include in excess of 470,000 volumes supporting the study of law and the scholarship of the Law faculty. The library comprises approximately 58,155 square feet, contains the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Archives and individual carrels for student study.
University Collections
Washington and Lee University owns a number of significant art collections, including early American portraits, Chinese export porcelain, fine and decorative arts, and contemporary paintings. In addition, the University has a small but important historic Robert E. Lee collection housed in the Lee Chapel and Museum, a registered National Historic Landmark that attracts almost 60,000 visitors annually. Once renovated, Washington Hall will include a tribute to George Washington and historical information related to his contributions.
The Laboratory of Anthropology contains a significant collection of artifacts excavated by University faculty and students, representing the early history of the school and nearby communities. Like the University itself, these collections span four centuries of American history, creativity, and genius. In recent years, the University has given greater attention to these collections for teaching and academic research and as links to interested groups beyond the campus.
University Registrar
The Office of the University Registrar leads and oversees the development, implementation, and management of activities and systems related to academic records, student registration, academic scheduling, and preparation of the University's catalogs. In addition, the Registrar serves as the Secretary of the University Faculty, secretary of the curriculum committee, Commencement budget coordinator, website manager, and planning team member, and coordinator of the University's Information Security Program committee.
Athletics
Washington and Lee University provides its students with a unique athletic program that allows student-athletes to pursue athletic excellence without sacrificing their educational experience. The University offers 24 varsity sports, 12 for men and 12 for women. All sports compete at the NCAA Division III level and most participate in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Approximately one-quarter of undergraduates participate in intercollegiate athletics. All student-athletes are admitted according to the same rigorous standards as other students and are integrated into the student body. Since the inception of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program in 1970, 33 W&L students have garnered this highly competitive award, including four in 2011-12. Washington and Lee's athletic teams regularly win more than 65 percent of their contests and the school has received the ODAC's Dan Wooldridge Overall Sports Champion Cup as the conference's top athletic program 13 times in the 15 years that it has been awarded.
The Department of Physical Education promotes and complements the University's liberal arts mission. All undergraduates must satisfy a four-course physical education requirement and all head coaches, selected assistant coaches, and administrators serve as faculty in the Department of Physical Education. W&L offers its students, faculty and staff extensive state-of-the art outdoor athletic facilities and a 10,000 square foot fitness center. The planning for renovation and addition to the indoor facility is currently underway.
Institutional Effectiveness
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness facilitates ongoing, systematic, integrated assessment and supports data collection and reporting for all areas of the Washington and Lee academic and administrative units. The office conducts a comprehensive program of data analysis and reporting to support internal evaluation and decision-making and to comply with external data reporting. The Assistant Provost of Institutional Effectiveness reports to the Provost, and serves as liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and School Accreditation body.
Information Technology Services
The mission of Information Technology Services is "to provide innovative leadership and excellent support to empower the University community in the successful use of information technology." Approximately $4 million (5% of the University's institutional budget) is committed to technology. The Chief Technology Officer has primary responsibility for information technology development, supporting faculty and students engaged with academic technology in libraries, teaching, learning, and research, and supporting administrative operations. ITS has a staff of 33 full-time-equivalent employees. The University offers a wide range of supporting technology including student labs, campus-wide wireless networking, "smart" classrooms, and a virtual desktop infrastructure.
Admissions and Financial Aid
The 2011 undergraduate acceptance rate was 18%, and the yield on admissions was 42%. The undergraduate Class of 2015 was selected from 6487 applications, and ultimately enrolled 497 students. Of these, 264 are receiving W&L grants averaging $38,090. Washington and Lee does not require loans in financial aid packages. Undergraduate tuition is currently $40,990, and the University was recently noted by the Richmond Times Dispatch as the most expensive school in Virginia but the least expensive to attend. The total undergraduate financial aid budget is $32.9 million. In the Class of 2015, 53 of the most outstanding students received a combination of need-based and merit-based scholarship awards that equal the full cost of attendance. These students, designated Johnson Scholars, participate in the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity, which was recently endowed by a generous alumnus for the purpose of supporting students with exceptional promise regardless of their economic circumstances.
The 2011 law acceptance rate was 24.3%, and the yield on admissions was 12.6%. The Law Class of 2014 was selected from 3972 applications, and ultimately enrolled 121 students. Of these, 80 are receiving merit scholarships averaging $15,010 with a median award of $10,000. The total law financial aid budget is $5.023 million. Law school tuition is $40,820 for the Juris Doctor and $44,900 for the Master of Laws.
International Education
Washington and Lee's new strategic plan for the future of global learning is in the early stages of implementation. Some developing ideas include: improved communication about a variety of opportunities for engaging in other cultures and countries; new on-campus course development; a new home and focus for the Office of International Education; more preparation for study abroad and new "re-entry" programs for returning students that better integrate international experience with educational programs; collaboration between the Center and the Shepherd Poverty Program that will integrate internationalism and service. More information is at
http://www.wlu.edu/x52955.xml. Challenges and Opportunities for the Provost The next Provost will have the opportunity to engage in a number of initiatives that will strengthen the academic profile of the University.
Advancing the Unique Institutional Identity of Washington and Lee University
The University employs an unusual structure, with a highly regarded college of liberal arts side-by-side a top-ranked professional school. The University enjoys an outstanding national reputation and is preeminent in its region of the country. It is exceptionally well resourced both financially and scholastically, offering a unique opportunity to attract top students and faculty. The palpable sense of community and respect that binds past and present members of the University community is the envy of peer institutions across the country. These defining elements of the University, bolstered by the successes and loyalty of its graduates and the prominence of its senior administrative team, comprise a powerful narrative about the liberal arts in the 21st century. The new Provost will articulate and advance this narrative, emphasizing the enduring value of the liberal arts for both undergraduate and professional programs in today's complex and increasingly interdependent world. The Provost will work with faculty and administration to frame this message clearly and thereby assert Washington and Lee's comparative advantage.
Enhancing the Academic Quality of the University
With its rich endowment and successful current capital campaign, its cohort of exceptionally skilled and dedicated teacher-scholars, and a talented student body drawing on the traditions exemplified by the Honor Code, the Provost will ensure that these resources are applied to support excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The Provost will focus these resources and energies on quality outcomes and achievements. A critical part of this challenge will be to further the University's commitment to diversity of its stakeholders - students, faculty, and staff - as an essential ingredient towards quality enhancement. The Provost will work to promote the understanding that greater diversity results in enduring excellence.
Leading the University Community in Encouraging Innovation While Preserving Essential Traditions.
The University is at the forefront of institutions of higher education addressing ways to augment the relevance of the college and law school experience while respecting the traditions and values of the past. The Spring Term concept and offerings, the revised law school curriculum, and the commitment to the Center for Global Learning are shining examples of this mindful innovation and boldness. The Provost will be challenged to implement, evaluate, and refine these initiatives and encourage faculty and administrators to continue to innovate. Ensuring that the Management of the University Supports its Academic Mission Effectively. The role of the Provost at Washington and Lee is relatively new and continues to evolve. The Provost adds value to the senior administrative team by virtue of his or her focus on the academic mission. In addition, as an internal administrator and "second-in-command," the Provost enables the President to direct more attention externally in building resources and goodwill for Washington and Lee. The Provost also adds value to the deans, directors, and academic units by providing them with the support that they need to excel. A challenge for the new Provost will be to centralize functions that can be best provided at the University-wide level by eliminating duplication and inefficiencies. This undertaking will require patience, a deep understanding of shared governance, and a collegial approach where often the best way to lead is to listen and adapt. The Provost ensures that the appropriate portion of University resources is devoted to the academic mission.
Desired Experience and Qualifications
For the critically important position of Provost, Washington and Lee University seeks an exceptional leader who is passionate about the University's mission, committed to its standards of excellence, and farsighted and optimistic about its future. The position calls for vision, breadth, and good judgment; proven intellectual leadership skills; demonstrated financial and staff management experience; and a collaborative leadership style that can motivate all participants within a mission-driven culture. The University seeks a Provost who has a track record of experience and the personal talent to lead and build the academic side of the institution. The following qualifications are of particular interest:
- An understanding of, and a passionate commitment to maintaining, the University's values as a premier liberal arts institution;
- A commitment to both the scholarly and teaching missions of the University, and an ability and willingness to facilitate the faculty's development in both areas;
- A demonstrated ability to recruit and retain faculty who are committed teachers and first-rate scholars, and an understanding of and sensitivity to the competitiveness of the market for superb faculty;
- A commitment to the academic excellence of the student body and an ability to facilitate responsible student self-governance;
- A demonstrated ability to manage program development, curricular planning, space planning, and all other aspects of academic administration;
- A demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets;
- A commitment to diversity within the University and the ability to articulate and carry out practical and effective strategies for increasing diversity;
- An ability to think strategically and to work with other senior University administrators in developing and carrying out strategic initiatives;
- Excellent communication and leadership skills, whether dealing with individuals or groups, and an ability to work well with all constituents, including faculty, staff, students, the deans, senior administrators, the president, and the board;
- An ability to build consensus around decisions by working collaboratively with others and a willingness to make tough decisions when consensus is not possible;
- A personable approach to management combined with a sense of humor;
- An established record of scholarship professional and intellectual achievement; a terminal degree in one of the University's academic fields; and a background and record qualifying him or her for the rank of full professor in one of the schools or departments of University.
Application Procedure All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be sent in confidence, preferably in electronic form, to: Tim McFeeley, Partner, or Gail Gregory, Managing Associate Isaacson, Miller 1300 19th Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
WLProvost@imsearch.com Washington and Lee University is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive community.
