Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research, Academic Affairs, Provost Office

The Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research provides university-wide leadership for the quality, growth, innovation, and impact of graduate education and research at Lipscomb University. Reporting to the Vice Provost and serving as a member of the Provost's senior leadership team, the Associate Provost serves as the University's Chief Graduate Officer and provides strategic leadership for graduate academic affairs, graduate enrollment and student success, research and scholarship, external funding, and strategic partnerships.

The Associate Provost works collaboratively with academic deans, faculty, Enrollment Management, Finance, Student Life, and external partners to strengthen graduate academic quality, grow and optimize the University's graduate portfolio, expand research and scholarly activity, increase external funding, and create an integrated graduate student experience. This work will advance Lipscomb University's Christian mission and strategic priorities while strengthening the University's regional and national reputation for graduate education, scholarship, innovation, and service.

Position Summary:

• Faculty, Tenure Track
• Full time, 12 months
• Start Date: January 4, 2027
• 30 Workload hours; 6 Teaching hours, 24 administrative hours.

Graduate Academic Excellence and Innovation

The Associate Provost provides strategic leadership for the quality, integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement of graduate education across Lipscomb University.

Responsibilities:

• Chair and provide leadership for the Graduate Academic Council (GAC), guiding graduate policy, curriculum, and academic governance.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous review of graduate academic policies and procedures.
• Maintain graduate academic policies published in the University Catalog and ensure appropriate university-wide communication and implementation.
• Provide oversight for graduate academic standing matters, including probation, suspension, reinstatement, and academic appeals.
• Collaborate with colleges and schools on graduate curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and program review.
• Lead the development of new graduate certificates, master's, doctoral, interdisciplinary, and other innovative programs aligned with institutional priorities, student demand, and workforce needs.
• Lead the development and expansion of innovative graduate delivery models, including online and hybrid programs, certificates, stackable credentials, accelerated pathways, and other flexible learning opportunities.
• Collaborate with academic deans, Enrollment Management, and Finance to evaluate graduate programs based on academic quality, enrollment performance, workforce relevance, student outcomes, and financial sustainability.
• Identify opportunities to grow high-performing graduate programs and recommend investment, redesign, consolidation, or discontinuation when appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and state and federal regulations governing graduate education.
• Provide strategic oversight for graduate academic administration, including the Graduate Catalog, graduate orientation, graduate academic resources, and other university-wide graduate academic functions.

Graduate Enrollment, Student Success, and Program Sustainability

The Associate Provost leads university-wide efforts to strengthen graduate enrollment, student success, persistence, completion, and career preparation while ensuring a high-quality and mission-centered graduate student experience.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with Enrollment Management and academic deans to establish and achieve annual and long-term graduate enrollment goals.
• Provide leadership to ensure that the graduate academic portfolio, program delivery models, market positioning, and student experience support sustainable enrollment growth.
• Analyze graduate enrollment trends, market demand, workforce needs, student outcomes, and program performance to inform academic planning and investment.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive Graduate Student Academic Success Initiative.
• Provide university-wide leadership for an integrated graduate student experience from recruitment and matriculation through persistence, graduation, career preparation, and alumni transition.
• Lead the University's strategy to expand undergraduate-to-graduate pathways, including accelerated bachelor's-to-master's programs, early-entry opportunities, internal recruitment strategies, and other pathways designed to increase the number of Lipscomb undergraduates continuing into Lipscomb graduate programs.
• Develop graduate student professional development, leadership, and career-readiness opportunities in collaboration with academic and university partners.
• Expand graduate assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, research opportunities, and other strategies that strengthen recruitment and student success.
• Develop and lead graduate student mentoring initiatives that foster meaningful relationships, strengthen students' sense of connection and belonging, and support engagement, persistence, and retention.
• Develop initiatives that help graduate students explore and discern vocation, connecting academic and professional preparation with calling, purpose, faith, service, and meaningful contribution in their professions and communities.
• Assess graduate student outcomes and implement evidence-based strategies for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with academic deans, Enrollment Management, and Finance to monitor the financial sustainability and net revenue contribution of the graduate portfolio.

Research and Scholarly Excellence

The Associate Provost advances Lipscomb University's research enterprise by fostering a culture of scholarship, discovery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and external engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the Office of Research and Grants.
• Develop and implement a university-wide research and scholarship strategy aligned with institutional priorities.
• Establish annual and multi-year goals for externally funded research, grant submissions and awards, faculty scholarship, and graduate student participation in research.
• Increase external funding through grants, contracts, sponsored research, and strategic partnerships.
• Strengthen institutional infrastructure to support grant development, sponsored research administration, compliance, and effective post-award management.
• Support faculty in identifying funding opportunities and developing competitive grant proposals.
• Promote interdisciplinary research and collaborative scholarship across colleges and schools.
• Expand graduate student participation in research, scholarship, and creative activity.
• Oversee research compliance, including research integrity, responsible conduct of research, human subjects protections, and other applicable institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
• Support dissemination and visibility of faculty and student scholarship through publications, conferences, presentations, performances, and creative works.
• Develop initiatives that strengthen Lipscomb's regional and national reputation for research, scholarship, and academic excellence.

Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Alignment

The Associate Provost strengthens Lipscomb University's graduate education and research enterprise through strategic partnerships that advance enrollment, academic innovation, workforce development, research, and institutional impact.

Responsibilities:

• Develop strategic partnerships with healthcare organizations, businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches, school districts, governmental agencies, and community organizations that enhance graduate education and research.
• Build employer and organizational partnerships that create graduate enrollment pipelines, sponsored cohorts, applied research opportunities, workforce-aligned academic programs, and professional development opportunities.
• Work with academic leaders to identify emerging workforce needs and translate those needs into new or redesigned graduate programs, credentials, and learning opportunities.
• Cultivate opportunities for external partners to support faculty and graduate student research, scholarship, internships, fellowships, and applied learning.
• Represent Lipscomb University in appropriate regional and national graduate education, research, and professional organizations.
• Strengthen connections among graduate education, research, workforce development, and Lipscomb's broader external engagement strategy.

Institutional Leadership, Governance, and Administration

As a senior academic leader, the Associate Provost provides strategic counsel, cross-functional leadership, and accountability for university-wide graduate education and research priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a member of the Provost's senior leadership team and advise the Provost and Vice Provost on graduate education, research, academic innovation, and related strategic priorities.
• Lead the Undergraduate-to-Graduate Pipeline Committee and other university-wide groups related to graduate education and research.
• Support institutional strategic planning and implementation initiatives that advance graduate education, scholarship, innovation, and student success.
• Monitor and report key performance indicators related to graduate enrollment and net revenue, retention and completion, undergraduate-to-graduate conversion, new program performance, research productivity, external funding, faculty scholarship, graduate student research participation, and career outcomes.
• Prepare annual reports, analyses, and recommendations for the Provost regarding graduate education, research, program performance, resource allocation, and strategic priorities.
• Provide oversight for university-wide graduate communications and academic resources, including graduate orientation, the Graduate Studies Newsletter, Graduate CANVAS resources, and the Graduate Catalog.
• Assist with appropriate academic policy and Faculty Handbook responsibilities.
• Serve on university committees and undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the Provost or Vice Provost.

Qualifications

Required

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution.
• Record of academic achievement and leadership sufficient for appointment at an appropriate senior faculty rank at Lipscomb University.
• Significant record of teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Progressive academic leadership experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated success in graduate education administration, academic program development, or related leadership.
• Experience supporting faculty scholarship, research, and academic excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives and collaborate effectively with academic and administrative leaders.
• Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and collaborative leadership skills.
• Commitment to and ability to advance the Christian mission and values of Lipscomb University.

Preferred

• Experience leading graduate schools, graduate academic affairs, or a significant graduate education portfolio.
• Demonstrated success growing graduate enrollment and developing sustainable graduate programs.
• Experience with online, hybrid, accelerated, or alternative graduate delivery models.
• Experience with academic program portfolio management and data-informed academic decision-making.
• Experience overseeing sponsored research, grants administration, and research compliance.
• Knowledge of accreditation, assessment, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience developing new academic programs, certificates, or credentials responsive to student and workforce demand.
• Experience building employer, industry, community, or other external partnerships.
• Demonstrated success leading institutional change and complex cross-functional initiatives.

Direct Administrative Oversight

The Associate Provost provides leadership and strategic oversight for:

• Office of Research and Grants
• Graduate Academic Council (GAC)
• Graduate academic policies and academic standing
• Graduate Student Academic Success Initiative
• Undergraduate-to-Graduate Pipeline Committee
• Graduate orientation and university-wide graduate academic resources
• Graduate Catalog and Graduate Studies communications
• Graduate research, scholarship, and external funding initiatives
• Additional graduate education and research initiatives as assigned by the Provost or Vice Provost

Leadership Expectations

The Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research will be a visionary, collaborative, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and mission-centered academic leader who translates strategy into measurable results. The successful candidate will be expected to strengthen graduate academic quality, grow enrollment and sustainable graduate programs, improve student persistence and outcomes, expand research and scholarly activity, increase external funding, and build partnerships that create new opportunities for students, faculty, and the University.

Through this leadership, the Associate Provost will advance Lipscomb University's commitment to academic excellence, Christian faith integration, innovation, vocation, and service while strengthening Lipscomb's reputation and impact as a nationally recognized Christian university.