Please send any feedback regarding the DRAFT University of Utah Presidential Search Invitation for Applications and Nominations to utahpresidentialsearch@ushe.edu.
DRAFT U of U Presidential Search Invitation for Applications & Nominations
PRESIDENT
The Utah Board of Higher Education invites nominations and applications for the position of President of the University of Utah, the state’s flagship institution of higher education and one of sixteen institutions within the Utah System of Higher Education.
The University of Utah was founded in 1850, and is located in Salt Lake City on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains neighboring seven world-class ski resorts. It serves more than 32,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world. With more than 90 major subjects at the undergraduate level and more than 100 major fields of study at the graduate level, including law and medicine, the university prepares students to live and compete in the global workplace. The U encourages an active, holistic lifestyle and collaborative thinking to engage students, faculty, and business leaders. As part of its active and engaged campus, the U of U is also a member of the PAC-12 Athletic Conference.
The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Utah as an R1: Doctoral University-Very High Research Institution, and in 2019, the University of Utah joined the prestigious Association of American Universities, which requires its member institutions to be engaged at the highest levels of research, scholarship, and education. Notably, in fiscal year 2020, the university obtained a historic high of $603 million in research funding, which benefits higher education, the State of Utah, and society as a whole by creating new knowledge, jobs, and patents. In 2017, the Milken Institute named the U as No. 1 for the Best Universities for Technology Transfer.
The U leads not only in research but in instruction and innovation as well, including in its nationally heralded health care system. For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Utah Hospital was ranked No. 1 in Utah and the Salt Lake City metro area by U.S. News and World Report. With strong community ties, the university’s nationally ranked Colleges of Health, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Sciences Library, and Schools of Dentistry and Medicine provide tens of thousands of hours of service yearly to Utahns—visiting more than 20 rural communities as part of the Rural & Under-served Utah Training Experience in 2020.
The president is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Higher Education and is responsible to the Board for the overall administration of the university. Candidates will have demonstrated success in a leadership role, preferably at a research university; ideal candidates will also have a proven record of scholarly achievement in higher education, experience and success in fundraising, and leadership qualities essential for the administration of a large, culturally diverse, and complex academic and research institution. The university is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which is central to its mission and is evident throughout its campus and curriculum. Candidates must be inclusive in their methods and perspectives, creating a culture where these practices can flourish. The next president of the university must be committed to cultivating safe environments on campus that meet the community’s needs.
Ideal candidates will also recognize that the university has grown to serve more than just its students but surrounding communities as well. The next president must excel at developing strong partnerships, establishing critical relationships with local and national government leaders, and providing collaborative leadership alongside colleagues within the System. A terminal degree or equivalent is required.
Application materials should include a current curriculum vitae and a letter addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:
The Presidential Search Committee will begin reviewing candidate nominations in the summer of 2021. For more information about the university, visit presidentsearch.utah.edu. To learn more about the Utah System of Higher Education, visit ushe.edu.
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