Position Description
Chancellor,
Texas Tech University System
The Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System invites nominations, inquiries, and applications for the role of Chancellor, Texas Tech University System. Reporting directly to the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System, the Chancellor will be the Chief Executive Officer of the System with oversight responsibility for the System’s components: Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso.
The Texas Tech University System
Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System has emerged as one of the top
public university systems in Texas and is a dynamic force in higher education. The
TTU System consists of four component institutions and operates at multiple campuses
and academic sites across the state and globe. Headquartered in Lubbock, the System
employs approximately 17,000 and has an annual operating budget of $1.7 billion.
In the past seven years, the Texas Tech University System has experienced an unprecedented period of growth and success:
- • The TTU System has doubled in size, growing from two components to four institutions, with the addition of Angelo State University in 2007 and the creation of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso in May 2013.
- • Enrollment across the TTU System has increased 45 percent, totaling more than 44,000 students in the fall of 2013.
- • Research expenditures have, in effect, tripled since 2006, averaging $200 million both in 2011 and 2012.
- • More than $503 million has been invested in construction on our campuses, with another $201 million underway.
- • The TTU System is supplying a record number of educated professionals to the workforce, awarding upwards of 10,000 degrees in 2012. This is a 46 percent increase since 2006.
- • The largest and most successful fundraising effort in the history of the TTU System, Vision & Tradition: The Campaign for Texas Tech, surpassed its 1 Billion-dollar goal, advancing a year ahead of schedule.
- • The TTU System endowment has increased more than 60 percent since 2006.
Governance, Mission, and Strategic Plan
The Texas Tech University System is governed, controlled, and directed by a nine-member
Board of Regents who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas legislature,
as well as a non-voting student regent who is appointed by the governor.
The mission of the Texas Tech University System is to provide leadership and support
services for its component institutions in the attainment of each component's individual
mission, including raising funds, managing endowments, overseeing strategic planning,
and carrying out Board of Regents’ rules and policies.
In February 2013, the Texas Tech University System adopted Value Added, Value Accounted,
(http://www.texastech.edu/downloads/strategicplan/ttu-system-administration-strategic-plan-2013-online.pdf) the strategic plan and value report for the TTU System central administration that
outlines the priorities and goals of the TTU System administration and the value the
System provides to the component institutions.
Position Overview
The Chancellor is responsible for providing transformative leadership, focus, and
strategic vision as Chief Executive Officer of the System. In conjunction with, and
at the direction of the Board of Regents, the Chancellor is expected to develop and
implement strategic plans and directions for quality targeted growth of the System
and its component institutions, including plans that foster collaboration with other
universities and partnerships with companies for the advancement of public higher
education and research activities in Texas. The Chancellor provides visionary leadership and
teambuilding for each component institution, specifically the Presidents. It is important
that the Chancellor brings a record of significant fund-raising expertise, as well
as a record of effectiveness in political and governmental arenas to foster ongoing
support and resources to meet the goals and objectives of the TTU System and its component
institutions.
The Chancellor is expected to work tirelessly to advance the TTU System on its pathway to excellence, and to embrace the Board of Regents’ broad-based strategic priorities.
System Chancellor Role Specifications and Attributes
Background/experiences and skills/accomplishments that are key to the success of the
Chancellor
- • The Board of Regents seeks an individual with unquestionable integrity, high energy, and demonstrated leadership with effective administrative abilities who can shape, articulate, lead and implement the purposeful, engaging, and dynamic mission of the TTU System in the twenty-first century.
- • The Chancellor is expected to possess the skills to counsel with and advise the Board of Regents with respect to the policies, purposes, and goals of the TTU System. The Chancellor acts as executive agent of the board in implementing its policies and system of internal controls. Additionally, the Chancellor represents and articulates the TTU System's academic, administrative, and developmental policies, needs and concerns to the general public,also focusing on constituencies at the community, state, regional, and national levels.
- • The Chancellor is expected to possess an outstanding reputation for executive-level management with documented ability to lead change and growth, along with a clear understanding of the financial sophistication required to manage a financially complex institution.
- • The Chancellor is expected to engender broad-based respect to inspire institutional accountability, efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and the ethical and effective performance of all leaders within the TTU System.
- • The Chancellor is expected to possess a compelling and energetic personality with a demonstrated history of strategizing, setting appropriate and reasonable fundraising goals, and meeting those objectives with personal integrity and sound financial management.
- • The Chancellor is expected to have a proven ability to develop, advance, and fortify alliances with business, industry, government, academia, and community groups.
- • The Chancellor is expected to have an understanding of the governmental process, with skills to ensure that legislative goals on the state and federal levels are identified and met.
- • The Chancellor is expected to ensure that the TTU System is a leader in regional economic development, directing the establishment of opportunities to foster mutually beneficial local and state-wide community relations.
- • The Chancellor is expected to balance the oversight between System components, functioning as a leader and mentor to the Presidents, and ensuring the office of the Chancellor is fully attentive to the needs of each institution.
- • The Chancellor is expected to possess excellent presentation, negotiation, verbal, and written communication skills. The Chancellor is expected to clearly and succinctly articulate the System’s mission and vision to internal and external constituencies.
- • The Chancellor is expected to understand and recognize the important role the Presidents and each component’s faculty play in the overall success of the TTU System.
- • The Chancellor is expected to possess financial expertise to oversee the preparation of the annual operating budgets for the TTU System and its component institutions. Additionally, the Chancellor oversees the biennial legislative submissions to the legislative budget board and to the governor.
- • The Chancellor is expected to show commitment to a diverse faculty, staff, and student population, encouraging cultural diversity throughout the System and the communities it serves.
- • The Chancellor is expected to be transparent, forthright, and approachable, as well as, possess the ability to engender confidence and trust.
- • The Chancellor is expected to challenge the organization to excel and innovate.
- • The Chancellor is expected to bring a passion for and knowledge of higher education.
- • The Chancellor is expected to possess the social skills to host frequent social events.
- • An undergraduate degree is required, and an advanced degree or degrees are preferred. Along with a demonstrated record of executive leadership at the highest levels, the ideal candidate is expected to bring governance experience as a community/corporate board director, board chair, commissioner, governmental appointee, or similar leadership role.
Key Attractors
Key points the organization believes will be strong attractors to top candidates
- • This is a career advancing opportunity to serve as chief executive officer for a financially sound, nationally prominent higher education institution with multiple academic campuses, a law school, and health sciences centers, and to position the System and its institutions among the nation’s preeminent universities.
- • The Chancellor will enjoy one of the most respected leadership roles in West Texas, providing executive leadership to four Presidents within the TTU System and serving among a select, influential group of Chancellors that lead higher education in one of the nation’s fastest growing states.
- • The Board, Administration, and Faculty share a common vision for the System and there is a clear pathway and distinct opportunity for the chosen Chancellor to lead the TTU System to the next level, placing Texas Tech in the company of the best institutions of higher education in the United States.
- • The Chancellor will discover an environment where professional satisfaction and career achievement are paired with optimal quality of life in the economic, education, and health care hub of the thriving “South Plains” area, in a temperate climate that encourages year-round outdoor recreation within a tradition of relaxed hospitality. The foremost center of education and healthcare is in the region, (along with a nationally ranked public high school – home to the only international baccalaureate (IB) program in the region and recognized for three consecutive years by Newsweek as one of the top public high schools in the nation.) Family members of all ages will find here the elements that contribute to a safe and enjoyable lifestyle. A thriving economy (the 12th best place in the country to start a small business by CNN.com), a caring community, a renowned public university, championship collegiate athletics, and excellent public and private school options reflect the values of a family-focused community characterized by an affordable cost of living with all the amenities.
Send your CV/resume, current bio/profile, and compensation to:
Chancellor@WhelessPartners.com
For more information or to discuss this position, contact:
Mike Wheless, Jr., President of Texas Operations or Mabry Smith, Corporate President
and Managing Partner
800 448 0926