WILLIAM V. S. TUBMAN UNIVERSITY

Presidential Search

THE SEARCH

William V. S. Tubman University seeks a visionary, strategic, and inspirational leader to serve as its next president. At a time when education is focused on student success, technology, value, and innovation, Tubman University endeavors to provide its students with the most relevant education and in-demand skills for the twenty-first century in a highly individualized and supportive environment. The 4th president will join a small community of scholars and teachers, dedicated staff and administrators, motivated students, and loyal alumni. As Tubman University celebrates 14 years in 2023, the next president will be charged with leading the University through an unprecedented time in public higher education in Liberia, ensuring financial health and sustainability, and leveraging its strengths and opportunities to chart and execute a vision for its future success for the next decades.

Founded in honor of Liberia 19th and longest serving president, William V. S. Tubman University is a public, national university that aspires to be the hub for technology education in Liberia. The campus is in Tubman Town, two kilometers east of Harper City, and serves 2096 undergraduate students from across the 15 counties of Liberia. The university employs approximately 504 employees, including 105 full-time faculty, from ten (10) countries.

Tubman University endeavors to produce outstanding engineers and technologists, scientists, agriculturists, educators, health professional, business executives, and creative leaders providing and exceptionally demanding, interdisciplinary experience. Tubman University understands that new technologies, emerging fields, and expanding career opportunities require new approaches to teaching and learning and is devoted to grounding its students in the fundamentals and how to successfully navigate the unique challenges of today’s complex world.

The next president, in collaboration with the full range of stakeholders, will provide vision and administrative leadership and management to see Tubman University not just through, but beyond, these unprecedented times. The president must be an excellent financial steward, support innovation and excellence in the academic, research and administrative programs of the university, cultivate a culture of empowerment and professional development for staff and faculty, champion diversity and inclusion, garner philanthropic support, and be an accessible and engaged member of the Tubman University and local communities.

BRIEF HISTORY

William V. S. Tubman University was formerly called William V. S. Tubman College of Technology (TC) which was closed because of the national civil conflict that erupted in 1989. Between 2006 and 2007, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) were prodded by 52nd Legislature and prominent citizens moved to action to look into the possibility of reopening the school. They created an interim Management Team and funded their assessment. MOE and

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NCHE founded an engineering assessment that later led to the establishment of a permanent team in 2008. The team reported that a successful revival of TC was possible. Thus, on September 14, 2009, an Act of the Legislature transformed the William V. S. Tubman College of Technology into the William V. S. Tubman University.

The Visitor of the University, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, appointed Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell as the first President of the University. Dr. Davis-Russell raised the bar by envisioning an institution having five colleges – Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Management and Administration, Agriculture and Food Science, and Education – initially to provide much the needed education, services, and contributions to the southeastern region, the nation of Liberia, and to the world at large. Fortunately, within a short period of its existence, the sixth college was established – Arts and Sciences. Instruction promptly commenced, employing the services of a corps of highly qualified doctoral and master’s degree holders in the administrative echelon of the University, a few United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) personnel assigned in Harper, available professionals from local public institutions and eight volunteers/faculty sent by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all with master’s degree.

In addition to its establishment, facilities for a Rubber Science Technology Institute (RSTI) were made possible by a gift from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Today, the University employs a group of diverse faculty members from over ten (10) countries and has significantly increased its enrollment to approximately 2,100. The University runs a remedial program for incoming students with deficiencies in Mathematics and English. It also runs the “Grow-Our-Own Program”, a staff development initiative intended to provide higher academic qualifications to faculty and staff to take on teaching and research roles.

Academic Units

Today, Tubman University is comprised of six (6) colleges and a Graduate School.

The College of Arts & Sciences is the University’s welcoming and servicing college to the various colleges in the University. It offers the general education courses that each student must complete before he/she can proceed to his/her selected area of specialization. The college also offers several four-year-degree programs in the arts and sciences under the different departments. There are five departments in the college namely: Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Social Sciences, Languages and Literature and Sports Science. The Department of Natural Sciences offers Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, Bachelor of Science in Biology, and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with minors in either Biology or Mathematics while the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics offers Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. The Department of Social Sciences offers Bachelor of Arts in Psychology,

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the Department of Languages and Literature offers Bachelor of Arts in English and Certificate in French while the Department of Sports Science offers Diploma in Sport Administration and Management, Diploma in Soccer Coaching and Associate Degree in Human Kinetics. Finally, the college provides students a breadth and depth of knowledge in global culture, social sciences, the sciences and the arts that prepares them for the career that they choose.

The Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell College of Education offers four programs leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees and Ministry of Education (MOE) teaching certification in (1) Early Childhood Education & Development; (2) Primary Education; (3) Secondary Education with emphasis in Biology, Chemistry, English and Literature, History, and Mathematics; and (4) Guidance and Counseling. All programs offer candidates the opportunity to experience course work in pedagogy and in the content areas and practicum. The college is currently working to launch concentrations in Physics, Economics, Geography, and Home Economics.

The College of Agriculture and Food Science is designed to foster the development of agriculture and food sciences in Liberia and in the world community by training students in the food and agricultural sciences. It provides the foundation of a dream for tomorrow. It is where one begins to cultivate love and passion for agriculture and environment that lead into life-giving profession. Its programs reflect today’s technological advancements and possibilities, and its faculty is devoted to teaching, research, and extension. It is geared to the exploration of new possibilities and developments, and the dissemination of new technologies to the students and the community. The College offers Bachelor of Science degree in General Agriculture.

The College of Health Sciences values integrity, advocacy, excellence, lifelong learning, respect for others, and competence. Within such context, it draws upon the insights and experiences of its students, faculty, staff and community. The College comprises of Department of Public Health and the Department of Nursing and Midwifery. As Tubman University strives to position itself as a 21st century university CHS prides itself on the tradition of excellence in education and preparing tomorrow’s health care professionals to serve people and communities locally, nationally, and globally. The College of Health Sciences offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health.

The College of Business & Administration offers five (5) four-year degree programs including Accounting, Banking & Finance, Business Administration, Economics, and Public Administration. It provides a curriculum that incorporates general education; specific College required courses, and professional courses as well as elective that fulfill the requirements for the students to qualify for a degree.

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The Graduate School was accredited by the National Commission on Higher Education in 2019 and will receive its first batch of students in 2023. Each college in the University will offer courses through the Graduate School. The programs will include: Master of Science in Engineering Management, Master of Science in Agronomy, Master of Science in Environmental Science, Master of Education in Educational Leadership with emphasis in Principalship, Master of Education in Curriculum and Instructions with concentrations in English, Mathematics and Science Education, Master of Arts in Demography and Population Studies, Master of Global Public Health, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Business Administration in International Human Resource Management.

Facilities

The University occupies 280 acres of land situated in Tubman Town, two kilometers east of Harper City. There are currently five (5) academic buildings, four (4) administrative buildings, and houses approximately 100 faculty and staff in on-campus housing units. In addition, there is a student services building, a 1000-seater hall, a clinic, and various other facilities.

The University holdings include a 500-acre farmland in Barrobo and another 500 acres in Cavalla, both in Maryland County. The University currently cultivates approximately 100 acres of cash crops (rubber and cocoa) and vegetables. However, the Cavalla land remains uncultivated. The University also owns 20 acres of vacant land 1.5 kilometers northeast of Harper.

The University runs an office in Monrovia, situated on two city lots of and along the Tubman Boulevard in Sinkor. The Monrovia Office includes offices and a conference room. Plans are afoot to build classrooms for the Graduate School and a guest house above the current building.

Finances

Tubman University operates with an approximate average annual operating budget of 6.14 million. Net government subsidy accounts for 98% of total revenue while internally generated revenue account for only 2%. There is currently no endowment and no philanthropic giving to the University.

The next president must prioritize long-term financial sustainability and stability in developing an entrepreneurial vision for Tubman University’s future, increasing non government revenue to 25% by 2028. The next president must also initiate and lead a comprehensive fundraising campaign, focusing on several capital projects, including the

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Graduate School Building, on-campus housing, faculty office complex, a new information technology infrastructure, and renewable energy generation.

Leadership and Governance

Tubman University is run by a 15-member Board of Trustees appointed by the President of Liberia and Visitor of the University. The Board of Trustees manage the affairs of the University and grant and confer such academic degrees and honors as are permitted by its charter. It has fiduciary responsibility for the welfare of the institution.

The University has several layers of administrative structures including the President’s Cabinet. The president’s cabinet comprises all vice presidents, associate and assistant vice presidents and equivalent roles. It serves as an advisory and consultative body to the president of the University. Other layers include the President’s Council, the University Council, the Academic Council, and the Faculty Senate.

Strategic Framework

The University is currently crafting its five-year strategic plan, which the next president can build on and make their own. There are five (5) thematic foci: Excellence in Teaching, Learning, Research, and Scholarship; Student Success; Sustainability, Economic Development, and Community Partnership; Campus Infrastructure and Asset Management; and Institutional Effectiveness and University Advancement. Three (3) major strategic initiatives under this plan include launching the Graduate School and creating an online campus for graduate studies; developing the structure for entrepreneurship; and making the Barrobo farm fully operational with the possibilities of relocating the College of Agriculture to Barrobo.

THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT

The president is the chief executive officer of the University, setting a vision and strategy to lead the institution forward, enhancing academic excellence, supervising, and managing all institutional affairs, developing, and maintaining relationships with a wide array of constituents in the University community and beyond, and representing the institution externally, all in support of the University’s mission. Across the world, the role of college president has become all-encompassing and more complex. The president must be the chief ambassador and fundraiser, externally positioned, and, at the same time, be an accessible, reliable, inspiring champion and moral compass to the university community.

The president currently maintains a cabinet of seven (7) direct reports: Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Administration, Associate Vice President for Student

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Affairs, Associate Vice President for Budget & Finance, Associate Vice President for University Advancement & Chief of Staff, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Assistant Vice President for Human Resource & Compliance.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The 4th president of Tubman University will successfully address the following opportunities and challenges:

Develop and implement a strategic vision for the future of the University Collaborating with faculty, staff, students, alumni, the Board of Trustees, and the government, and building on the strategic plan in development, the next president will articulate and implement a vision for advancing the university into the future. The strategic vision must be responsive to the changing higher education landscape while remaining true to the university’s institutional identity, core values, and principles. To build and sustain the academic distinction and reputation of the University, the president must take a holistic view of education and of the student experience, examining both curricular and co-curricular programming considering the ever-changing student and workforce demands and expectations. The president will be charged with making tough decisions in bringing long-lasting stability to campus and building on and enhancing existing strengths, as well as evaluating opportunities for change and new directions. The strategic vision must prioritize the Graduate School and position it to serve working adults across the global through an online campus. The strategic vision must also identify new streams of non-governmental revenue through entrepreneurship, research and scholarship, philanthropic giving, and endowment.

Resource mobilization and financial sustainability

The next president is charged with managing the current resources of the university effectively and efficiently and providing leadership in the face of competing financial priorities and weak revenue. The president must ensure that the University is sufficiently resourced into the future, ensuring both short- and long-term fiscal health and sustainability. In addition to other strategies for smart, sustainable growth, further leveraging of graduate education, regional and online campuses can provide untapped revenue potential. The president will secure and strengthen current and future sources of revenue, match donor interests and strategic goals, lead major fundraising efforts and cultivate a culture of philanthropy. The president is charged with developing a comprehensive capital campaign, working with the cabinet and the Board of Trustees.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Tubman University seeks an engaged, charismatic, and entrepreneurial president whose intellect and experience will inspire confidence in the University community. The search committee seeks candidates with many of the following ideal personal qualities and professional characteristics:

∙ A deep commitment to Tubman University’s mission and core values; a passion for holistic, technical, and professional education; and a commitment to educational access and social mobility that transforms the lives of students;

∙ Demonstrated ability to provide visionary and forward-thinking leadership with a bias for action; experience designing, managing, executing, and communicating a strategic planning process with demonstrable outcomes;

∙ Commitment to high academic quality, rigor, and excellence;

∙ A personal commitment to and professional record of success in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including the recruitment and retention of a diverse and representative population of students, faculty, and staff;

∙ Knowledge of current and emerging issues, trends, and strategies in higher education; a keen understanding of enrollment; experience developing strategies to address demographic shifts, including internal and external marketing and communications;

∙ Successful experience as a strategic, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and visible leader; the ability to build strong management teams, delegate responsibility and authority, and execute plans with fiscal responsibility;

∙ An ability to cultivate trust and build relationships to bring campus constituencies to actionable consensus and the ability to energize and inspire students, faculty, staff, alumni, board members, and external stakeholders around a collective vision;

∙ Personal charisma and energy; a natural preference for collaboration and comfort with cross-cultural communication and interactions with people of different backgrounds;

∙ The personality and demonstrated skills to fundraise successfully and an ability to connect with potential donors individually and in a group;

∙ A clear understanding of financial accounting, including budgeting and the role of enrollment and retention in the budget process, and the measurement of operating performance for small, independent institutions of higher education;

∙ Experience building and sustaining relationships with government, business, community partners, and other educational leaders;

∙ Unquestioned integrity, trustworthiness, sound judgment, and ethics; and ∙ Distinguished intellectual credentials, including a track record of teaching and scholarly achievement; a terminal degree or equivalent is required.

TO APPLY

To apply, interested persons must submit a curriculum vitae and a two- to three-page Expression of Interest. The expression of interest should cover the interest of the applicant in the new role, examples from experiences that are relevant to the opportunities, challenges, skills, and duties of the job. The Expression of Interest must articulate the applicant’s philosophy of education and their vision for the university and strategies to make it less dependent on government funding and advancing excellence in teaching, learning, research, and scholarship.

Interested parties should address their Expression of Interest, CV, and student copies of all academic credentials to the following address presentialsearch@tubmanu.edu.lr. The subject should read “Response to Presidential Search.”

The Chairperson

Presidential Search Committee

William V. S. Tubman University Board of Trustees

Monrovia, Liberia