The Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) reports directly to the President and serves as the University’s senior student affairs officer, primary advocate for student life, development and holistic well-being, and a member of the President’s cabinet. The VPSA provides counsel, vision and strategic direction for a comprehensive Division of Student Affairs that advances student engagement, learning, leadership, health, wellbeing and success.

The Division includes approximately 175 professional staff across a broad range of departments, including the Athletics, Associated Students, Inc., and the University Student Center. The VPSA also oversees major University events such as New Student Orientation and Commencement and supports University participation in CSU systemwide initiatives that strengthen student outcomes.

The VPSA participates in institution-wide planning and decision-making, aligning Student Affairs priorities with the University’s mission and goals, fostering cross-divisional and community partnerships, and ensuring the effective administration of programs and services that meet the needs of students at multiple locations.

• Duties include but are not limited to:
  • Provide strategic vision, leadership and direction for the Division of Student Affairs, ensuring alignment with the University mission and the needs and aspirations of the Central Valley and our students.
  • Lead divisional planning, policy development, assessment and accreditation-related contributions.
  • Oversee the administration of Student Affairs programs and services, including co-curricular learning, basic needs initiatives, wellness programs, student engagement, leadership development and major University events such as New Student Orientation and Commencement.
  • Contribute to collaborative, transparent and ethical decision-making as a cabinet member.
  • Manage divisional budgets, financial planning and resource allocation with accountability and transparency.
  • Ensure divisional compliance with federal, state, CSU and campus regulations, including policies related to student conduct, safety, free expression and student rights.
  • Implement and leverage technology to improve administrative operations, student communications and service delivery.
  • Represent the University in local, regional and national forums relevant to student affairs and institutional partnerships.
  • Serve as a visible and accessible advocate for the needs of students, including commuter, parenting and non-traditional students.
  • Lead efforts to enhance services for every student to be successful.
  • Champion initiatives that support student engagement, holistic wellness, academic success and career readiness.
  • Ensure that students, families and supporters have access to essential, culturally and linguistically appropriate information that facilitates student success.
  • Oversee student conduct, student grievance processes, behavioral intervention and threat assessment teams to promote a safe, fair and supportive campus environment. • Lead institutional responses to student crises, campus disruptions, demonstrations and free-speech activities in accordance with Time, Place and Manner regulations and applicable law.
  • Collaborate with Title IX, Enrollment Management, Admissions and other partners to support student persistence, retention, well-being and success.
  • Maintain mechanisms for meaningful student feedback and participation in decision-making through advisory groups, student government and regular forums.
  • Supervise, mentor and evaluate direct reports and provide leadership for division-wide personnel practices that reinforce a fair, supportive and high-performing work environment.
  • Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding and professional development initiatives supporting staff learning, growth and organizational effectiveness.
  • Build strong collaborative partnerships with Academic Affairs, faculty, administrative colleagues and community organizations to support integrated student learning and success initiatives.
  • Encourage and support innovative practices and continuous improvement to enhance divisional operations and student services.
  • Lead or support divisional fundraising, grant writing and external partnership development to strengthen resources supporting student success.
  • Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum Qualifications
  • Education:  Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

    Experience:  A minimum of 6 years of senior level administrative experience in college or university student affairs.

• Preferred Qualifications
  
  • Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in higher education administration, counseling, student affairs, psychology, social work or a closely related field.
  • Experience working within a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and demonstrated success supporting first-generation, Latine and other underserved student populations.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively within Central Valley communities, including awareness of cultural nuances, languages, customs and traditions.
  • Personal or professional experience as a first-generation college student, or deep familiarity with the challenges and strengths of first-generation students.
  • Prior leadership of disability services or direct oversight of programs supporting students with disabilities.
  • Experience leading teams through significant organizational change or budget reductions, including building strong faculty and cross-divisional partnerships.
  • Experience with grant writing, fundraising or developing external partnerships to diversify resources.
    
    
    
  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
    
    • Demonstrated ability to create, articulate, and implement a strategic vision for a comprehensive Student Affairs division.
    • Proven experience leading and supporting student populations similar to that of Stan State.
    • Experience leading institution-wide planning, policy development, strategic initiatives, innovation and organizational change.
    • Proven ability to manage large, complex organizations and budgets in environments with competing priorities and limited resources.
    • Experience streamlining operations and implementing process improvements that enhance service delivery and user experience.
    • Ability to use web-based and emerging technologies to support Student Affairs programs, services, and operations.
    • Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory, student success strategies, and national trends and best practices in student affairs.
    • Experience administering day-to-day operations of a Student Affairs division, including health and wellness programs, crisis response, student conduct, and student support services.
    • Experience working effectively within academic shared governance and collective bargaining environments.
    • Demonstrated success collaborating, breaking down silos and building partnerships across departments and with external organizations and partners to improve student outcomes.
    • Demonstrated ability to communicate and work with students, faculty, staff and community partners of different backgrounds to enhance services and programs.
    • Demonstrated experience supporting and promoting learning environments where every student has a chance to participate fully.
    • Experience managing student-related demonstrations, free-speech activities, and campus disruptions in accordance with applicable policies, including Time, Place and Manner and the Student Code of Conduct.
    • Proven ability to develop and implement policies and practices aligned with federal, state and higher-education laws and regulations.
      • Ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to assess programs, identify leading indicators of student success, evaluate learning outcomes and guide continuous improvement at the institutional, divisional and unit levels.
    • Demonstrated ability to implement assessment practices that improve student engagement, satisfaction, retention and persistence.
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to listen effectively, build consensus, and clearly convey policies and plans.
    • Ability to mentor and develop staff, foster a culture of learning, cooperation and service, and lead high-performing teams.

Application Process: 

• The Stanislaus State Search Committee will review applications as they are received and continue until the position is filled.  For full consideration, candidates should submit materials by January 12, 2026. 
• Dr. Ronald L. Carter (Carter & Associates) is assisting with the search
• Full Job Prospectus can be found at this address

Required Materials: 

• Stanislaus State online employment application (Careers at Stanislaus State)
• Letter of Interest addressing qualifications
• Current CV
• Name and Contact Details for five references (references will not be contacted without permission). 

• Criminal Background Clearance Notice
• Satisfactory completion of a background check (which includes checks of employment records, education records, criminal records, civil records; and may include motor vehicle records, professional licenses, and sex offender registries, as position requires) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Additional Information

• Campus & Area
  California State University, Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion - one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty holds doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than 10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and performing arts.
  
  Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation rates. In addition, U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the West’s No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Clery Act Disclosure
  
  Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the annual security report (ASR), is now available for viewing at https://www.csustan.edu/annual-campus-security-report. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Stanislaus State for the previous three years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the office of the Clery Director located at One University Circle, Turlock, CA 95382.
  
  Equal Employment Opportunity
  
  The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised 7/21/17, as a condition of employment.
  
  Applicants requiring necessary accommodations to the application process may contact the Human Resources Department at (209) 667-3351. California Relay Service is available at (800) 735-2922 voice and (800) 735-2929 TDD. As a federal contractor, we are committed to attracting a diverse applicant pool. Please consider completing the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability form (your response will not be shared with the search committee) at: Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability PDF Form.
  
  CSU Stanislaus hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
  
  The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.
• The individuals who appear to be the best qualified for this position will be contacted by telephone or email for an interview.
  
  INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE