Position Details

University of Colorado | Denver

Official Title: Associate Vice Chancellor of Graduate Studies

Working Title: Associate Vice Chancellor of Graduate Studies

FTE: Full-time

Salary Range: $180,000 - $205,000



Open to CU Denver employees only

Job Description

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

The Associate Vice Chancellor of Graduate Studies provides university-wide leadership for graduate education at the University of Colorado Denver, shaping and advancing institutional strategy to strengthen the quality, competitiveness, growth, and impact of graduate programs and the success of graduate students. Reporting directly to the Provost, the Associate Vice Chancellor serves as the university's senior academic leader for graduate education and leads the Office of Graduate Studies, working in partnership with deans, faculty, Graduate Council, and academic and administrative leaders across the university.

In CU Denver's decentralized graduate education model, the Associate Vice Chancellor provides the institutional leadership and coordination necessary to advance a coherent graduate education agenda while respecting the disciplinary expertise and academic authority of the schools and colleges. The position provides strategic leadership for graduate education policy, program quality and innovation, graduate enrollment and student success, graduate student support and funding, and the integration of graduate education with the university's research and academic priorities. The Associate Vice Chancellor also serves as a senior advisor to the Provost on emerging opportunities, challenges, and investments affecting graduate education and works across the university to translate institutional priorities into effective policies, practices, and outcomes.

Associate Vice Chancellor of Graduate Studies

What you will do:

Graduate Education Strategy and Institutional Leadership

Lead the university-wide vision and strategy for graduate education; advise the Provost and Chancellor; establish priorities, metrics, and accountability for graduate enrollment, quality, student success, research integration, and institutional competitiveness.

Ensure that policies provide institution-wide consistency while explicitly allowing programs flexibility to define discipline appropriate standards, as recommended by the Working Group.

Lead regular review and revision of policies to ensure clarity, compliance, and alignment with best practices in graduate education.

Graduate Program Portfolio and Innovation

Lead strategies for development, review, redesign, growth, differentiation, and discontinuation of graduate programs; foster interdisciplinary and innovative graduate education responsive to student demand, workforce needs, research strengths, and institutional priorities.

Graduate Enrollment, Recruitment, and Student Success

Partner with academic units and Enrollment Management to advance graduate recruitment, enrollment, retention, completion, student support, mentoring, professional development, career outcomes, and graduate student well-being.

Graduate Research and Funding

Partner with Research leadership and academic deans to strengthen graduate research training, fellowships, assistantships, external funding, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Strategize and coordinate policy alignment among academic units, HR, and finance to ensure equitable, transparent, and sustainable graduate employment practices. Oversee financial strategy and resource allocation for graduate education initiatives, including tuition remission and programmatic investments.

Graduate Education Resources and External Partnerships

Provide strategic leadership for graduate financial support, tuition remission, assistantships, fellowships, partnerships, and external resources; collaborate with Advancement, government, industry, and other partners to strengthen graduate education.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
• CU Denver Employee
• Earned doctorate degree from an accredited institution.
• Eight (8) or more years of experience in graduate education leadership, such as graduate program director, associate dean, department chair, or comparable administrative role.
• Demonstrated understanding of:

o Graduate education policy and governance

o Faculty led academic cultures

o Complex, decentralized university environments

o Evidence of strong collaboration, communication, and consensus building skills.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)
• Experience working at a public R1 or urban research university.
• Familiarity with Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) best practices.
• Experience implementing or managing graduate student funding, assistantships, or tuition remission policies.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change during periods of transition.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Comfort leading through influence rather than direct authority
• Commitment to faculty shared governance
• Ability to balance consistency with flexibility
• Skill in translating recommendations into sustainable operation

Conditions of Employment
• Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements
• INTERPERSONAL SKILLS/BEHAVIORS - Dealing with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors in a tactful, congenial, personal manner so as not to alienate or antagonize them COMMUNICATING - Talking with and/or listening to and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, includes giving/receiving assignments and/or directions.
• NEGOTIATING - Exchanging ideas, information, and opinions with others to formulate policies and programs and/or jointly arrive at decisions, conclusions, solutions, or solve disputes.
• SEDENTARY - Exert up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $180,000 - $205,000.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefit

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Application Deadline

Open to CU Denver employees only- Application deadline September 21, 2026.

Required Application Materials:

To apply, please visit: http://www.cu.edu/cu-careers and attach:
• A cover letter which specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines qualification
• A current CV/resume
• List of three references (we will notify you prior to contacting both on and off-list references)

Questions should be directed to Tyler Keyworth, [email protected]

Background Check Policy

The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.