The elected seven-member Board of Trustees of the Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD) seeks a visionary educator with a record of strong leadership and accomplishments to serve as its next President. Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the President is responsible for all aspects of the operation throughout the district. The new president will represent the college and advocate for its mission at the local, state and national levels.
THE MISSION AND VISION
Our Mission
Creating student success and making a difference in our communities through educational leadership.
Our Vision
Our College strives to set the standard of excellence in higher education by:
• Creating meaningful and engaging learning opportunities through innovative teaching and learning,
• Attracting and supporting diverse and creative people and ideas,
• Strengthening community and industry relationships by providing programs and services responsive to our constituents' needs, and
• Developing leaders to maintain and enhance the quality of economic, social, and cultural life in our communities.
THE COMMUNITIES
Sheridan County, Wyoming, has a population of 28,662. Sheridan's elevation is 3,745 feet while the Big Horn Mountains rise to 13,165 feet and provide year-round recreation for outdoor enthusiasts. “Western” means different things to different people, and in Sheridan County you’ll find communities which honor their frontier past while embracing their multifaceted future. The county’s rich agricultural heritage remains alive in the many working and recreational ranches in the area, and our striking scenery and abundant wildlife remain unspoiled by the push of big-city development. The community culture is growing as artisans flock to the area. The natural resources industry is expanding with the development of new technologies. The City of Sheridan, the county seat and the largest town in the county, continues to celebrate its 2006 designation by True West magazine as the first-ever "#1 Western Town in America."
Gillette, Campbell County, Wyoming, is located in the Northeastern corner. Campbell County has a population of 41,473 and is the powerhouse for the state. Gillette is known as the Energy Capitol because of the vast oil reserves, power plants, coal mines, and natural gas production, which produces about 38% of the nation’s coal. Gillette was named the eighth-best micropolitan city in the nation for 2009 for its economic strength by the Policom Corporation. Campbell County has a strong sense of family and volunteerism. Many of the programs offered in the City and County are focused on improving one’s self and helping others. Entrepreneurship is encouraged in this fast growing business climate. Outdoor recreation abounds, and hunting season attracts many visitors.
Johnson County, Wyoming, has a population of 7,721. History books and Western novels have all tried to capture the past of Johnson County, but it is only when you are here that you can really experience the American West as it was and still remains today in the community of Buffalo.
THE COLLEGE DISTRICT
The Northern Wyoming Community College District serves a tri-county area in Northern Wyoming including Sheridan, Johnson, and Campbell Counties. The District operates both Sheridan College and Gillette College as well as outreach centers in Wright, Buffalo and Kaycee, Wyoming. The district provides high quality educational programs, which meet the needs of its diverse communities and industries and is critical to the region’s economic development.
NWCCD offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees as well as Certificates of Completion in more than 50 areas of study. The district also has numerous four-year college and university partners which offer access to baccalaureate and master’s degree completion opportunities. The district serves approximately 4,000 students (FY08 headcount) and has an operating budget of over $21 million.
SHERIDAN COLLEGE
Sheridan College’s main campus is nestled at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains in Sheridan, Wyoming. The Sheridan Campus consists of approximately 140 acres which include modern well-equipped facilities, attractive grounds, and twenty campus buildings. SC has up to 400 students living on campus in a myriad of living opportunities including brand new suite-style living/learning apartments. SC also operates a Main Street campus, an off-campus Wyoming Culinary Institute and a workforce development downtown center.
GILLETTE COLLEGE
Gillette College is located 100 miles east of Sheridan in Gillette, Wyoming. GC’s campus is booming with a brand new 96,000 square foot Technical Education Center as well as the brand new Tanner Village student housing, providing state-of-the-art living for up to 100 students. The campus is located on 90 acres at the edge of town. The new building contains cutting edge instructional and networking technology as well as Welding, Diesel, and Industrial Electrical Technology facilities.
SHERIDAN COLLEGE IN JOHNSON COUNTY FACILITY
NWCCD recently opened a center in Buffalo known locally as Sheridan College in Johnson County. This facility is located downtown and has two classrooms with video-conferencing capabilities as well as a gallery showing local art.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to the multiple roles and responsibilities of all presidents in large rural multi-campus colleges, the new President of Northern Wyoming Community College District must be able to:
- Provide leadership, inspiration and support to the college staff, which results in program excellence and student success
- Advocate strongly for the college district and build strong relationships with community,
state, and national leaders
- Understand and respond appropriately to local business and industry workforce development needs
- Be successful in the acquisition, allocation and management of the district’s fiscal resources
- Address enrollment management demands with limited resources
- Appreciate and build upon the unique characteristics of a rural multi-campus district serving a large geographical area
- Create a cohesive unified district leadership team for multi-site campuses
- Model superb communication and interpersonal skills, respect the contributions of all staff, and possess a collaborative leadership style
- Encourage the active engagement of the Board of Trustees and staff in addressing current challenges and planning for the future
IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS
The successful new President will:
- Be passionately committed to the mission of the comprehensive community college
- Champion innovative teaching and learning with a focus on student success
- Be a visionary, progressive, and transformational leader
- Build a team that operates based on the college’s core values and shared vision
- Relate well and interact regularly with students and student leaders
- Practice genuine collaboration and collegiality by involving stakeholders in decisions affecting them
- Recognize the value of each staff members’ contribution to the college mission
- Support, delegate and hold accountable a highly effective senior leadership team
- Possess superb knowledge and skills related to fiscal management and the ability to acquire new resources
- Actively support the expansion and utilization of technology throughout the district
- Build partnerships with leaders in business and industry, P-16 education, and community-based organizations
- Model and encourage a high level of energy, enthusiasm, creativity and innovation
- Have excellent listening, communication and interpersonal skills
- Be visible, approachable and accessible on campus and in the community
- Operate ethically and with a high level of integrity and expect the same of others
- Maintain a calm and professional manner under pressure and be open to constructive criticism
- Communicate regularly and often with all campus constituencies
- Establish a trusting and respectful working relationship with each member of the Board of Trustees
- Honor what is good about NWCCD while continuously striving to be even better
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. An earned doctorate from an accredited institution
2. Senior administrative leadership experience in community and technical colleges
3. Demonstrated understanding of the teaching and learning process
Tentative Timeline (subject to change due to scheduling):
Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, to ensure full consideration, individuals should submit a complete application prior to March 19, 2010. This is a confidential search process.
To apply, please submit these four (4) separate documents:
- A letter of application that succinctly addresses the challenges and opportunities identified and how your experience and professional qualifications prepare you to serve the needs of the college (not to exceed 5 pages).
- A current resume including an email address and telephone numbers.
- A reference list with names, home and business telephone numbers and email address of eight references: three supervisors (including one board member), two direct reports and three faculty members from current or former institutions.
- Candidate Cover Sheet which is a one-page synopsis of your professional career. You will find the template for this form here: http://www.sheridan.edu/Media/Website Resources/pdf/board/Candidate Cover Sheet Template.doc
Salary and benefits are competitive. The successful candidate should be available for employment by July 1, 2010.
Electronic copies of the application package should be sent to: searches@acct.org.
In addition, please send a paper copy of the application to:
Northern Wyoming Community College District Presidential Search
Attention: Dr. Pamila Fisher
Association of Community College Trustees
1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 301
Washington DC 20036
For additional information about the position, visit the district's website at www.sheridan.edu.
For confidential inquiries or to make a nomination, please contact:
Dr. Pamila Fisher, ACCT Search Consultant
pamfisher@bresnan.net or (406)570-0516
or
Dr. Narcisa Polonio, Vice President
Board Leadership Services, ACCT
npolonio@acct.org or (202) 775-4670 or (202)276-1983
* AN ACCT SEARCH *
Progress Reports / Updates: