Assistant Vice President for Wellness

NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

The Assistant Vice President for Wellness (AVPW) is a strategic and visionary leader in the areas of campus health, wellness, education, and prevention for students and the overall well-being of the entire campus community. While the primary responsibility is for student health, well-being, thriving, and flourishing, there are public health issues that affect the entire campus that the AVPW will have some involvement with. The AVPW is a member of the Student Life Leadership Team (Dean’s Council), and reports directly to the Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students. Areas of immediate responsibility are: The Counselling Center, Health Center and Community Health Education, and Sexual Violence Prevention. The AVPW also works closely with community health entities in the city of Walla Walla and the region in areas relevant to campus health. The AVPW shares with other Student Affairs leaders the general responsibility of supporting the educational aims of the College and assisting students in their efforts to make full use of the opportunities available to them at the College. The AVPW will lead health and wellbeing efforts that are attentive to the needs of a diverse student body and take into account culturally responsive practices to ensure that barriers to access to health and wellbeing services are lowered. Whitman College is committed to the thriving and flourishing of all of its students, staff, and faculty and the ability to work effectively in such an environment is crucial to this position. The AVPW supervises the Director of the Counseling Center, the Director of the Health Center, and the Assistant Director of Community Health Education and Sexual Violence Prevention. The AVPW is responsible for strategic planning, assessment, and implementation of the most promising practices in college health and wellness. The AVPW will ensure that the Health and Wellness division is complying with all administrative protocols and clinical activities in accordance with professional ethical principles and professional practices. The AVPW keeps up with current trends in college health and wellbeing and identifies campus health and wellness needs and provides maximum access and services within staffing and budgetary limits. The AVPW serves as a resource to faculty, professional staff, and students for health and wellbeing.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• In consultation with appropriate units, develop and implement a strategy that is campus-wide with the specific goal of improving student health and wellbeing in a fully integrated student health model. Including basic methods of assessment and metrics.

• Participate and support the campus-wide emergency preparedness and response work in particular as it relates to student’s behavioral and physical health and well-being. 

• Supervise the Director of the Counselling Center, Director of the Health Center, and the Assistant Director of Community Health, Education, Prevention and Sexual Violence Prevention. 

• Coordinate with the appropriate Directors in crisis intervention and emergency coverage 24/7 for students in crisis. Conduct crisis debriefings and workshops for the campus community after tragic events.

• Work closely with the VPSA/Dean of Students when the Dean’s office is dealing with students who may be exhibiting disruptive conduct due to behavioral health challenges.

• Develop and maintain a referral network for therapeutic, medical, and emergency services with area clinicians, mental health clinics, hospitals, and specialists. 

• Ensure that Directors (Counseling and Health) are facilitating the coordination of services for students and referral to outside agencies when necessary, including after hospitalizations and mandated assessments by the College. 

• Oversee and maintain compliance standards for staff licensure and certifications, record keeping in accordance with state regulations, and psychiatric consultant agreements.

• Assess, formulate, and administer departmental policies and procedures to ensure efficient operation of the Centers and delivery of services. 

• Oversee the development, preparation, and administration of budgets by Directors.

• Provide professional development in-services on health and wellness issues for applicable staff, student leaders (e.g. RA's), and faculty, and provide ongoing consultation for staff, administrators, parents, and faculty regarding student health and wellness as needed.

• Participate in professional training to develop knowledge and expertise in current campus health and wellness and legal trends on college campuses.

• Supervise outcome assessments of counseling services, health education and prevention, and the health center and prepare data reports documenting the activities of the units.

• Represent the College at campus-wide programs including Admission Open Houses, and New Student and Parent Orientations. 

• Serve on the College’s CARE team, the Dean’s Council, and the Institutional Human Subjects Review Board. 

• Oversee the development of a curriculum to address alcohol and other drug use among students, including both prevention and harm reduction strategies with the Assistant Director of Community Health, Prevention, Education, and Sexual Violence Prevention.

• Additional responsibilities at the direction of the VPSL/Dean of Students. 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Knowledgeable of physical health and psychological trends on college campuses and legal issues related to directing a college health, counseling center community health education and prevention.

• Ability to effectively work with students from a broad range of backgrounds and life experiences; a commitment to inclusion and diversity, and team building; excellent interpersonal skills.

• Solid writing, oral communication, and organizational skills; competency with basic computer software programs. 

• Demonstrated ability for strategic planning, assessment, and the use of data to make policy decisions.

• Knowledge of integrated care and openness to its implementation and use in a college setting.

• Knowledge of student health, well-being, education, and prevention among college students, including behavioral health.

• Knowledge of education and mitigation efforts for alcohol and other drug use among young adults of college age.

• Knowledge of the role of disability services and accommodations in an educational setting.

• Knowledge of patient electronic records systems.

• Knowledge of student development.

• Knowledge of budget planning and management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Health Administration, Public or Community Health, Public Administration, Clinical or Counseling Psychology, or Social Work.

• Two to three years of experience working with college-aged young adults.
• Three to five years of supervisory and administrative responsibilities in a college or university health or counseling center or comparable medical/health care facility.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctorate in Health Administration, Public or Community Health, Public Administration, Clinical or Counseling Psychology, or Social Work OR Medical degree.
• Five or more years of supervisory and leadership experience at an educational or medical institution.
• Experience leading organizational change.
• Experience in a residential liberal arts college setting.
• Experience responding to health and behavioral crises.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission – Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for one Whitman course per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Learn more about benefits eligibility here. 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin February 29, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. 

START DATE

August 1, 2024.