LEADERSHIP CRITERIA

Oklahoma City University seeks a new president, the seventeenth person to serve in its 105-year history. The successful candidate will possess high academic and personal standards as well as persistence in the pursuit of excellence.

OCU is a top-tier university with a regional, national and international reputation for excellence. We are a complex organization comprising diverse schools and colleges with a commitment to individual initiatives as well as collaboration. We have a dedicated faculty and staff and an engaged student body working to embody and advance the university's core beliefs and values. We value our existing local, state, national, and international relationships. We seek to promote visionary teaching, research, and service; to develop innovative programs and methodologies; to enhance our reputation; and to meet the changing needs of society while maintaining our commitment to preeminence in teaching, service, and research.

Personal Characteristics

We are seeking a President who will provide both strong leadership and a commitment to our collaborative environment. Specifically, we seek someone who is committed to private liberal arts and professional education; who will embrace our vision, mission, and core beliefs and values; and who values intellectual inquiry.

We seek a leader with business acumen and integrity; who fosters an open decision-making process; who is able to work effectively and collaboratively with diverse constituencies; and who respects the role of those constituencies in decision-making.

We seek a leader who has an appreciation for instructional and information technologies and an understanding of national and international trends, issues, and demographics affecting the university. We seek a leader who is energetic, dedicated, creative, and fair, and who has a sincere appreciation for the spiritual values of all denominations, particularly of the United Methodist Church.

Professional Characteristics

We are seeking a President who has proven leadership qualities and experience, significant experience as a leader of a major complex organization, a distinguished record of leadership and intellectual achievement, and demonstrated excellence in fundraising.

Leadership Agenda

Our next President will lead our strategic planning process to articulate a transformative vision for the University and develop academic priorities, programs, resources and facilities that enable us to realize our full potential as an institution of superior academic quality.

The President will work to improve our public profile, to enhance our resources, to develop new relationships with the community, and to nurture existing alliances; and will be an articulate, effective and passionate advocate representing the university and its values to diverse constituencies.

The President will encourage creativity and entrepreneurial initiatives; protect and further the excellence of each school and college in the university; and inspire and support the efforts of faculty and staff to transform students into servant leaders who are prepared to make positive contributions to society.

The President will engage, seek counsel from, and build consensus among internal and external constituencies with competing and diverse interests and points of view.

The President will develop a prominent community and state profile; will be actively engaged in civic, social and higher education organizations; and will be fully engaged with the campus community of students, faculty, alumni, donors, and staff.

The President will work closely with the faculty, staff, students, and trustees; will develop a professional leadership team to achieve prudent and effective management of the university's resources; and will establish an environment of accountability.

The President will work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff: fostering communication with and among all members; respecting their priorities and furthering their initiatives; engaging them in the formulation and implementation of strategic and budget plans to advance the university's mission and goals; consulting with them and considering alternative views in the development of major policies; and keeping them apprised of significant issues and conditions with implications for the university.

The President will foster and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with the United Methodist Churches of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Methodist Conference and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.