Columbia College Presidential Prospectus

Presidential Prospectus

Columbia CollegeColumbia, South Carolina

Columbia College TodayColumbia College is a private liberal arts women’s

college with a legacy of developing women leaders with the courage, commitment, confidence and competence to build a better world. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the College operates with Methodist sensibilities in that religious life is intentionally ecumenical and connects servant leadership with the spiritual life.

The College has a tradition of empowering young women to explore new ideas, develop their voices, and cultivate leadership abilities. The College focuses on providing students with personal attention, academically challenging programs, and intellectual and professional competencies. Established in 1854, Columbia College transforms women into leaders.

Leadership is not just a word at Columbia College; it is a fundamental value and a pervasive force

throughout campus. Every student has an opportunity to learn about leadership, experiment with leadership, and experience leadership throughout her time at Columbia College.

In addition to a unique undergraduate experience for women, the College offers coed evening and graduate programs. With an enrollment of approximately 1300 students from 23 states and 20 countries, Columbia College has an enviable student-faculty ratio of 13:1. The intimate campus is a diverse and multicultural environment with residential students as well as commuter students. The undergraduate curriculum offers over 30 majors and 20 minors and individualized programs of study. The College’s 70 full-time faculty members provide high quality classroom instruction, as well as guidance for all travel-study, internships, practica, and off-campus learning opportunities.

The Columbia College Presidential Search

The Board of Trustees of Columbia College, located in Columbia, South Carolina, announces a search for the

eighteenth president of the College and invites nominations and applications for the position. The new president is expected to assume office in July 2012.

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The College ProgramThe College offers the Bachelor of Arts and

Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as master’s degrees in Organizational Change and Leadership (M.A.), and Divergent Learning (M.Ed.).

At the undergraduate level, the College offers a traditional liberal arts curriculum. Additionally, students may work with their advisors to design an individualized course of study through the contractual studies program. The College also offers a variety of discipline tracks to prepare students for their chosen profession.

The evening program is an undergraduate degree completion program for adult students. The master’s programs are three-semester, weekend/hybrid programs designed for working professionals.

The College was awarded 10-year reaccreditation in December 2011, by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It has independent accreditation from the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Association of Schools of Art and Design, National Association of Schools of Dance, National Association of Schools of Music, and Council on Social Work Education.

Approximately 500 undergraduate students live on campus in seven residence halls. Asbury Hall, built in 1965, houses all first-year students and has recently undergone the first phase of an extensive renovation. There are over 60 student clubs and organizations. The Student Union, completed in 2003, is a hub of student life that incorporates the dining hall, lounge/activity space, and a rooftop café and terrace. Other campus amenities include a fitness center, a gymnasium, an indoor junior Olympic-sized pool and outdoor tennis courts.

Notable campus facilities: The Breed Leadership Center, built in 1993, echoes the neoclassical architectural style of the original Old Main building and houses office, meeting, and instructional spaces; Bush Science Center, built in 1997, is a striking example of contemporary architecture as well as a center for science and technology studies, with labs, classrooms and offices; and the recently renovated Edens Library features collaborative learning spaces on three levels, a media center, as well as an extensive collection of instructional and research resources.

The SettingWhile a fire in 1964 destroyed much of the

campus and required sustained fundraising for rebuilding, the campus that emerged reflects a mix of architectural styles and beautiful landscaping in an urban neighborhood setting. The campus is located on approximately 55 acres in the City of Columbia, South Carolina.

Columbia College’s Fighting Koalas play in five NAIA Conference sports: soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and basketball, with plans to add golf in 2012 and lacrosse in 2013. The 2010 completion of an athletic complex has greatly enhanced the soccer and softball programs.

Bush Science Center

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The College’s Unique FeaturesInstitutional strengths, in addition to the

reputation of the College already described, include:

□ An important relationship with the United Methodist Church and the S.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church that brings financial support and student interest to the College;

□ A collaborative and committed faculty who are recipients of numerous state, regional and national awards —including the Carnegie Foundation/CASE 2011 U.S. Professor of the Year—and who are dedicated to teaching, research, and service;

□ A strong General Education program with core interdisciplinary classes that are taught by full time faculty;

□ A commitment to leadership education and development acknowledged nationally by many organizations including the John Templeton Foundation and the State of South Carolina;

□ An outstanding Honors Program that engages students in research presentations regionally and nationally, and has produced three National Collegiate Honors Council Student of the Year award recipients in 2003, 2010 and 2011;

□ An administration and staff dedicated to the College’s mission and commitment to excellence in student achievement;

□ A diverse and supportive campus culture that values individuality and initiative;

□ A student body that is leadership-minded and active in campus life and community service as evidenced by inclusion in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll;

□ An alumnae base that has a strong history of support and activism on behalf of the College;

□ A dedicated, diverse, and supportive board that provides steady leadership for financial stability and a reputation of excellence;

□ The Leadership Institute at Columbia College, recognized by the Kellogg Foundation and Women’s College Coalition for innovative outreach programs ranging from summer residential programs for high school girls to professional development workshops.

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Opportunities and Challenges

for New LeadershipThe Columbia College community is positioned

to work with the new president to build on current strengths and to embrace the challenges and opportunities that will define the next chapter in the College’s evolution. The following areas provide significant leadership opportunities and are in no order of priority:

□ Marketing the College affords exciting challenges to enhance the College’s distinction as a liberal arts institution. Columbia College has a rich history and an important story to tell. The president will have to be a passionate spokesperson on behalf of women’s education and the broader mission of the College. Current programs including the arts, education, and women’s leadership provide a strong foundation to position the College as a premier institution serving today’s young women. Incorporating the ideals of integrity, innovation, and collaboration, the president will be encouraged to elevate the College to national prominence.

□ Acquiring financial resources offers compelling challenges. Columbia College’s endowment is approximately $26 million. The College is under-endowed and significant funding is critical to enhance the endowment as a long-term stabilizer. It is essential that the new president have a commitment to and aptitude for resource development across a broad range of constituencies. The president is a key external fundraiser, supported by the advancement staff, and must strike a balance between campus engagement and fundraising endeavors.

□ Sustaining an atmosphere of trust and openness inspires confidence for the myriad of

constituencies that are affiliated with the College. The president must build relationships that foster transparency with students, faculty, staff, alumnae, parents, trustees and the extended College community. A spirit of collegiality and mutual respect has been the hallmark of the Columbia College family and must be preserved.

□ Strengthening student enrollment and retention demands the attention of new leadership, as is the case for almost every private college and university in the country. The president must advance the current initiative for elevating the academic profile for entering students. The president will promote creative strategies to improve Columbia College’s position in an increasingly competitive higher education market.

□ Increasing external support and recognition for the College in the region is a priority. Columbia College is of historic and continuing importance to the City of Columbia. Continuing and enhancing partnerships with a variety of institutions from churches, local business, local and state government, and regional agencies are vital for the College to achieve its goal of distinction among the many educational institutions in the region.

□ Strategic planning requires the president to work collaboratively on short-range as well as long-range goals that reflect bold and creative thinking. The current strategic plan, approved by the board in May 2010, is centered around five core areas: educating students for positive change in a diverse world, sustaining the vibrant engaged campus community, increasing the College’s visibility and reputation, enhancing campus facilities, and strengthening long-term financial stability. During the next re-visioning cycle for the plan, the president will have the benefit of market research data provided by an outside firm commissioned by the board in February 2011.

The PositionColumbia College’s president is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. In this

collegial environment, the president provides administrative leadership for all phases of college operation and for all campus and external constituencies. The president’s administrative team includes the provost and vice president for academic affairs, vice president for advancement, vice president for enrollment management and vice president for finance. Members of the board represent a wide variety of geographical, professional, and educational backgrounds and include a significant representation of alumnae.

The president’s fiscal responsibilities include an annual budget of approximately $32 million, with a tuition discount of 48 percent for student financial aid, and institutional debt of $15.1 million. The president is actively engaged in raising funds to supplement an endowment of $26 million with a three-year annual spending rate of 5 percent. The president and board ensure that the institution operates with a balanced budget.

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Attributes Sought in the New President

Application Procedure and Contact InformationThe Search Committee for the next President of Columbia College will begin review of applications in

December 2011, and continue its work until an appointment is made. To assure full consideration, applications should be received by February 10, 2012. Applications must include a letter of interest addressing priorities outlined in the Search Profile, a comprehensive curriculum vitae, and five professional references with e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

Applications should be addressed to the Chairperson of the Search Committee, Ms. Becky Laffitte, and forwarded electronically to [email protected]

For additional information about the search or Columbia College, please visit web sites www.columbiasc.edu or www.agbsearch.com

The search is being assisted by consultants Dr. Tobie van der Vorm, and Dr. Jim Davis with AGB Search, Inc. Correspondence can be forwarded to either of the following addresses: [email protected] or

[email protected] and the phone numbers are 202-255-3225 and 540-539-9415 respectively.

Columbia College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

□ Financial acuity with the ability to fundraise to build a larger resource base as well as manage funding for strategic improvements;

□ A desire to engage and be an active part of the campus life of students, staff, and faculty;

□ Ability to balance high visibility in campus activities with an active presence in community, state, national, and international outreach;

□ A broad understanding of higher education issues, seeking to be a vital force in leadership organizations that help to shape policy and resources for higher education.

□ A life grounded in academic excellence, personal achievement, and strong spiritual values others can be inspired to follow.

□ A clear understanding of and profound appreciation for the values of women’s colleges, liberal arts education and an ability to lead, support, and articulate Columbia College’s educational mission;

□ The qualities of integrity, warmth, compassion, fairness, humility, accessibility, tolerance, and collegiality necessary for consensus-building leadership;

□ Energy, passion, fearlessness, and enthusiasm to take on the rigors of fundraising, management, and decision-making;

□ Results-oriented leadership with the ability to inspire others to the highest performance potential;

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