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Northland Pioneer CollegeEXECUTIVE SEARCH PROFILE

PRESIDENT

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THE OPPORTUNITYThe Northland Pioneer College President will have the opportunity to lead, inspire, and empower a team of dedicated and talented faculty and staff who are focused on providing quality programs and services to their students and the communities they serve.

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THE COLLEGE

Northland Pioneer College (NPC), established in 1972, is the only comprehensive, multi-campus community college serving Navajo and Apache Counties in rural and remote northeastern Arizona.

After more than fifteen years of planning and advocacy by several hundred Navajo County residents to establish a community college, Northland Pioneer College opened its doors to students in fall of 1974. During the planning period, some residents questioned the need for and possible success of a community college located in this vast expanse of northeastern Arizona. The College enrolled 2,000 students in its first semester, more than double the anticipated number.

Today, an average of 8,000 students per year take courses at one of nine locations. Students may participate in traditional classroom lectures and hands-on labs. They may also choose online courses or classes offered in interactive connected classroom environments. There are four full-service campuses located in larger communities: White Mountain (Show Low), Silver Creek (Snowflake), Painted Desert (Holbrook, the location of the District’s primary offices), and Little Colorado (Winslow). Five centers serve more geographically dispersed, outlying communities: Kayenta (Navajo Nation), Hopi (Hopi Reservation at Polacca), Whiteriver (Fort Apache Reservation), St. Johns, and Springerville-Eagar.

NPC serves an area of 21,148 square miles, with a population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile. For perspective, there are 56.3 persons per square mile across all of Arizona and 432.4 per square mile in Maricopa County, home of Phoenix, the state capital of Arizona. To further illustrate the vastness of the NPC service area, West Virginia, which covers approximately the same land area, has twenty-two separate community college districts (2013 U.S. Census American Community Survey).

According to the most recent census figures, the area’s permanent population is estimated at 187,985. The Navajo, Hopi, and White Mountain Apache Indian Reservations occupy more than sixty percent of the total land in the College’s service area, and also account for sixty percent of the population.

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AccreditationThe Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is charged with evaluating Northland Pioneer College. NPC passed the most recent (2010) evaluation with unqualified approval of every area of college operations. The HLC currently has revised its 10-year evaluation schedule to one that continuously monitors excellence of operational and educational standards. This new model ensures NPC students of an up-to-date, nationally recognized and accredited educational experience.

Governance The Navajo County Community College District Governing Board (five members, who are elected by District) governs Northland Pioneer College.

Our Mission Northland Pioneer College provides, supports and promotes lifelong learning.

Our Shared Vision Northland Pioneer College provides a learner-centered environment, responds to community needs through effective and innovative service to our students, and fosters professional growth and collegial collaboration.

Our Shared Values Northland Pioneer College upholds the following values:

– A quality learning environment – Diversity and accessibility – Integrity and accountability – Collaboration toward success

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NPC has four academic divisions: Arts & Sciences; Career & Technical Education; Education and College and Career Preparation; and Nursing & Allied Health.

Students may choose from the following seven Associate Degrees: Applied Science; Arts; Arts in Early Childhood; Arts in Elementary Education; Business; General Studies; or Science. Five of the degrees meet the general education requirements of the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) and as such, the general education courses completed at NPC transfer as a block, without loss of credit, to all Arizona state universities.

For those wishing to gain employment skills for a selected field rather than taking the full spectrum of general education courses required to earn the Associate of Applied Science Degree,

students may pursue the Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) and choose from 17 programs. The CAS requires a specified minimum number of credits in an area of specialization and just six pre-determined units of general education. The general education credits provide the student with the basic knowledge appropriate for the selected occupational field.

Pursuing a Certificate of Proficiency (CP) is yet another option for students highly focused on training or re-training in selected occupational programs. By earning the CP, students can often move toward testing and certification from national agencies in their chosen field. Requirements for the CP vary by program. Students who complete a CP with a requirement of 32 or more credit hours are recognized at commencement.

ACADEMICPROGRAMS

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Adult Education and High School Equivalency (GED®) PreparationThe College and Career Preparation (CCP) program provides adult students with a variety of support services for academic success. Students receive instruction in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. The CCP curriculum is designed to help students attain the skills necessary to enter postsecondary education and training.

ACADEMICPROGRAMS

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NPC provides a comprehensive array of services to assist students in achieving their educational, career, and personal goals. Students may meet with academic advisors at any of the College’s locations. Additional services are available through the Career Services Office. There is a Veterans Center at the White Mountain Campus that consists of a lounge with computer access. Further, NPC provides a variety of services to assist individuals with special needs.

The College has made a substantial investment in telepresence technology to make education accessible to residents in its vast service area. Students may utilize distance education options, including connected classrooms at all college sites and online courses, to overcome transportation and access challenges.

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of clubs and organizations, such as the Eagle Club, Early Childhood Education Club, Outdoor Club, Student Government Organization, or to serve as a Student Ambassador.

Student Resources

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According to a 2015 economic impact study, NPC’s impact on the local business community during the analysis year amounted to $222.4 million. The results of the study demonstrate that NPC creates value from multiple perspectives. The College benefits local businesses by increasing consumer spending in the region and supplying a steady flow of qualified, trained workers into the workforce. It enriches the lives of students by raising their lifetime incomes and helping them achieve their individual potential. It benefits society as a whole in Arizona by creating a more prosperous economy and generating a variety of savings through the improved lifestyles of students. Finally, it benefits state and local taxpayers through increased tax receipts across the state and a reduced demand for government-supported social services.

Economic Impact

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The College’s service area spanning more than 21,000 square miles offers a variety of attractions for tourists and residents. Show Low, the largest city in NPC’s service area and home to NPC’s White Mountain Campus, is referred to as the gateway to the White Mountains. Its 6,400 feet elevation results in average temperatures 25 degrees lower than Phoenix. Show Low was recognized by Outdoor Magazine as one of the top 200 towns for outdoor activities. Examples of activities include: hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, and ATV riding. Show Low has a regional medical center, world-class golf courses, parks, and recreational areas. The nation’s largest stand of ponderosa pines is also located in the area. Fifty lakes and streams are found in the area.

Holbrook, the site of the Painted Desert Campus and District’s primary offices, is at an elevation of 5,079 feet. The Petrified Forest National Park is located 25 miles east of Holbrook. Outdoor activities also abound in the Holbrook area, including camping, fishing, and hunting.

NPC plays an integral role in improving the quality of life of residents in its service area. This is exemplified, not only by the College’s credit offerings, but also by its non-credit classes and its corporate training services. Further, the College’s Talon Art Gallery at the White Mountain Campus and its Performing Arts Center at its Silver Creek Campus demonstrate the value the College adds to the communities it serves.

Quality of Life

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THE POSITIONDue to the pending retirement of Dr. Jeanne Swarthout in July 2018, the Navajo Community College District Governing Board seeks confidential applications and nominations for the next president of Northland Pioneer College. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead, inspire, and empower a team of dedicated and talented faculty and staff who are focused on providing quality programs and services to their students and the communities they serve.

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– Funding for the College’s programs and operations remains an acute concern. Approximately 40% of the revenue comes from local property taxes and 20% from state appropriations. The property tax base is predicted to decline in large measure due to the closure of a coal-fired power plant. Legislative appropriations are uncertain.

– The service region for NPC covers 21,000 square miles with four campuses and five higher education centers. This necessitates significant travel time. Because of the distances involved there is duplication of services at several locations.

– The communities served by the College are very different and the populations quite diverse. This necessitates a deep understanding of the extremely complex cultural variation, particularly among the three primary tribal groups.

– Navajo and Apache Counties are among the poorest in the nation. Many families live in homes without running water and/or electricity. It is estimated that 50%-60% of Navajo Nation does not have reliable internet access. Job opportunities and employment options are limited.

– The extremely rural nature of the communities served makes recruitment and retention of faculty and staff (particularly IT and HR staff) difficult.

– Many of the students living in the least populated regions have no transportation to reach either a center or a campus.

– Other than retirees, there is anticipated decline in population and K-12 enrollment in the region.

– Other community colleges and distance-learning providers are becoming significant competitors.

– Though NPC has one of the finest distance learning systems in the nation, at present, maintaining this position will require significant future investment of human and financial capital.

– To become a data-informed institution, NPC must invest more resources to identify, warehouse, and make accessible all data to meet college needs. Predictive analytics and data-informed decision-making are currently inadequate.

CHALLENGES

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– There are exciting opportunities for the creation of productive partnerships with other community colleges, public schools, upper division and graduate institutions, healthcare institutions, government entities, economic development organizations, businesses, and industries.

– Some campuses and centers are underutilized, allowing for enhancement of services and programming in these locations.

– NPC employs a passionate, dedicated, and highly competent faculty and staff. They are ready for unification, a compelling vision, inspiration, and direction. The human capital at the institution is its greatest asset and the strongest force for enhancement of the College.

– Funding issues create the opportunity to expand revenue sources and improve operational efficiencies where indicated.

– The state-of-the-art distance learning system, utilized by the College, offers multiple opportunities for further deployment which would provide greater educational access. Partnering with telecommunication vendors and municipalities could be an important part of this effort.

– NPC could explore initiatives that would position it to become a cultural hub of the region.

– Because of the rural, poor, and underserved demographic, there are many available grant opportunities to secure additional resources for scholarships, programs, and services.

OPPORTUNITIES

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– Master’s degree is required, earned doctorate preferred.

– Five to seven years of administrative experience in positions of increasing responsibility and a thorough understanding of higher education leadership, including the important role of shared governance.

– Passion for student success particularly among first-generation, impoverished, and Native American students.

– Comfortable living in a very rural environment, considerable distance from an airport served by major commercial airlines, with few of the amenities provided by a major metropolitan area.

– Strong financial management skills and creativity in developing alternative sources of revenue.

– Entrepreneurial spirit and the willingness to take prudent risks, learn from failures, and adjust accordingly.

– Political skills and sensitivity to function effectively with the state legislature, county commissions, municipalities, and tribal governments.

– Capacity and willingness to grasp the very complex socio-cultural environments within which the college operates, which requires the utmost listening skills and patience.

– Willingness to understand the complexity of NPC, absorb the collective knowledge of the board, administration, faculty, and staff.

– Willingness to acknowledge and adapt to the unique structure and identity of the college.

– Experience with distance learning and offsite delivery of education.

– Honesty and integrity.

– Understanding of the balance between traditional higher education programs and career/technical education.

– Desire to establish and enhance community connections and partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

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Key IndicatorsInvestment in Plant, less depreciation $40 MillionPlant Replacement Insured Value $61 MillionCost of Operating PlantDeferred Maintenance

$2 Million$1 Million - estimate

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Endowment/Foundation $561,000Operating Budget $FY16-17 Budget

Revenue Mix

$4.7 Million/13% - Tuition/Fees$14.4 Million/40% - Local$8.0 Million/22% - State$1.2 Million/3% - Other$7.8 Million/22% - Fed Grants$36.1 Million Total FY1617 Budget

Operating Budge per FTE $36.1 Million/ est. FTSE 2132 = $16,932Tuition $72

FTE Student Enrollment for fall 2015 1601

Total HeadcountCredit: 3,354 Non-credit: 461Total: 3,815

Percent in Developmental Programs 8.7% of credit headcount

Non-Credit Enrollment 13.7%

Student Diversity Statistics 46% Caucasian, 36% Native American, 3.2% multiple, 1.3% African American, 1.2% Hispanic, 11.6% unknown or other

Percent of Graduating Students who enroll after Graduation 12.8%

First Year Retention Rate 32.5%, Fall 15 to Fall 16

Number of Degrees Awarded Annually 170 Associates, 427 Certificates

Number Students Transferring to 4-yr Institutions Annually 352

Number of Full-Time FacultyNumber Tenure Track FacultyNumber TenuredNumber of Part-time FacultyFaculty Diversity

78No tenure

15046%M/54%F, 89.1% Caucasian, 10.9% all other

Average Faculty SalariesStarting Salary

$58,095.88$41,276

Student/Faculty Ratio 15-1

Library VolumesPercent of Electronic Volumes

48,4851.4%

Number of Intercollegiate Sports Programs None

Unions Faculty, Staff, Administrations, etc. None (some faculty AAUP membership)

What is Outsourced: Bookstore, Technology, Security, etc Bookstore

Board of Trustees: Number Elected/Appointed 5, Elected

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Jesse M. ThompsonSENIOR CONSULTANT & DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE SEARCHES(617) 901-4880NPCPresident@rhperry.com

John M. Hutchinson, PhDSENIOR CONSULTANT(217) 737-0757NPCPresident@rhperry.com

RH PERRY & ASSOCIATES206 East Chestnut StreetAsheville, NC 28801www.rhperry.com

RH Perry PolicyR. H. Perry & Associates is committed to the highest standards of professionalism in all dealings with candidates, sources, and references. We fully respect the need for confidentiality and assure interested parties that their background and interests will not be discussed without consent of the applicant prior to her or his becoming a candidate.

Northland Pioneer College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

www.npc.edu

APPLICATION PROCESSCompleted applications are due by November 22, 2017. To ensure full consideration, you will be required to submit:

1. A current resume or CV;

2. A cover letter addressing the position; and

3. The contact information for three professional references.

Submit your application securely through our website by clicking here, or at the email address listed below.

For Further Information: