The University of California, Riverside (UCR or UC Riverside) seeks a world-class academic and administrative leader to serve as the next Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies (VPDGS). The VPDGS leads the Graduate Division, whose mission is to recruit, admit, retain, and support a diverse and growing population of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Reporting directly to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, the VPDGS oversees graduate programs across UCR's seven colleges and schools. The Graduate Division is comprised of 42 Ph.D. programs and 55 Master's programs. The total graduate student population has grown by more than 60% since 2012 to almost 4,000 students and now represents nearly 15% of the total student population. During the same time period, the number of postdocs has risen by more than 50% to over 220.

The VPDGS is responsible for all aspects of the operation and continued development and expansion of the Graduate Division. Major responsibilities include: continuing to elevate the profile and reputation of graduate education at UCR; developing and executing a strategic plan for the division that will continue to grow graduate enrollment and enhance student success consistent with UCR's strong track record of diversity and inclusion; overseeing current graduate student support programs; managing more than $20M annually in graduate recruitment funds; collaborating with the Academic Senate, graduate program leaders, and the Office of Evaluation and Assessment to improve assessment and evaluation of graduate students and programs; and collaborating with other campus leaders to strengthen industry, community, and donor relations. The VPDGS is also responsible for increasing the national and international visibility of the campus, working with graduate student leaders to address challenges and enhance the graduate student experience, and working collaboratively with the deans of the schools and colleges on a wide range of issues.

The next Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies will build upon this strong foundation to lead UCR into a new era of growth and excellence in graduate education. Working closely with the Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor and the deans of the colleges and schools, the VPDGS will collaborate with faculty, students, and staff across UCR, as well as with leaders in the UC system and in the local community, to address the following set of opportunities and challenges:

* Chart a vision and strategy for the future of the Graduate Division.
* Identify and eliminate barriers that have historically hampered underserved populations from pursuing graduate study.
* Collaborate with schools, colleges, departments, and campus leadership to develop and implement recruitment and retention plans for graduate and postdoctoral students, including competitive financial support.
* Ensure that doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars have access to professional development activities that support successful entry into careers both within and outside academia.
* Accelerate the expansion of master's degree programs.
* Lead efforts, in collaboration with schools, colleges, departments, and University Advancement, to increase support for graduate education from foundations, corporations, government funding agencies, and individual donors.
* Grow and manage financial and human resources for continued excellence.

The Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies is responsible for providing an overall strategic vision for the division and implementing a financial and staffing strategy to help implement the central campus strategic initiatives. The VPDGS serves as the focal point for all external relations on behalf of the division, and works with the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, deans, faculty, and other campus leaders to increase revenues in support of graduate education from grants, contracts, corporate, and donor funding. The VPDGS also collaborates with the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development to foster entrepreneurship and continue to help UCR serve as a growth engine for inland Southern California. Sharp financial acumen and a commitment to fundraising are critical components of success.

The VPDGS also oversees all aspects of graduate student and post-doctoral scholar recruitment, retention, and success, and is responsible for continuing to increase UCR's graduate student numbers as a proportion of total enrollment. The VPDGS works collaboratively with deans, graduate student organizations, the Academic Senate, and other campus leaders to address challenges to graduate students' and postdoctoral scholars' well-being and to promote their success and satisfaction at UCR and beyond. Strong commitments to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to promoting a healthy campus climate, are essential.

Finally, the VPDGS is responsible for working with the Office of Academic Personnel, the UC Office of the President, and the graduate deans at the nine other UC campuses to address issues related to collective bargaining agreements for graduate student employees and postdoctoral scholars.