Presidential Search

Butler Community College’s next President will serve as the institution’s sixth president and have an opportunity to build upon the foundation of 97 years of visionary leadership, educational excellence, and robust community and donor partnerships. Butler is known for a deeply embedded focus on student support and success, innovative teaching and learning, and an outstanding history of athletic, fine arts, and student organization accomplishments. Butler is recognized as the second largest community college in Kansas and a leader among Kansas higher education institutions.

Serving south central Kansas, including the Wichita-metro area, Butler supports the educational goals of more than 9,500 students through more than 100 degree and certificate programs. Butler’s Nursing program is highly competitive and recognized across the region for outstanding graduates. The College is designated a “National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education” by the National Security Agency and since 2018 has saved students more than $2.6 M using OER’s in the English courses alone. Butler has a 49-year partnership with McConnell Air Force Base and a 21-year partnership with Emporia State University offering bachelors degrees in Education on Butler’s campuses. Butler is Wichita State University’s #1 transfer institution and will receive nearly $1 M in foundation scholarships alone this academic year. Butler is the largest employer in the county with a total direct economic impact in the county of over $49 M and a more than $754 M economic impact in its 10-county primary market in south central Kansas.

Qualifications and Experience

The next President should demonstrate the following Minimum Qualifications, Preferred Experience, and Desired Strengths and Leadership Characteristics.

Minimum Qualifications:

Earned Doctorate from a regionally accredited institution
A record of successful senior leadership, administrative experience, and deep understanding of the role of the community college in higher education
Strong support of a comprehensive community college with a diverse student body offering traditional academic transfer and technical degrees and certificates, athletics, fine arts, student organizations, residential housing, off-site locations, online and hyflex learning, concurrent enrollment, Early College Academy pathways, prison education programs and non-credit training

Preferred Experience:

A leader with five years of demonstrated successful community college experience including significant decision-making responsibilities at the higher education administration level is preferred
Distinguished record of teaching and experience in public higher education is preferred
A leader with business and/or budget management experience is preferred

Desired Strengths and Leadership Characteristics:

Communication and Interpersonal Strengths

The ability to inspire and lead a diverse college organization, and to advance achievement of the college’s strategic goals
A leader with strong integrity and commitment to collaboration and partnership with internal and external constituencies
A servant-leader who values openness, who fosters a culture of optimism and success, and who possesses excellent communication skills in speaking, writing and listening in work with the Board of Trustees, Butler Foundation, citizens, employees, and students
A strong faculty and staff advocate who values academic freedom and promotes quality outcomes throughout the institution
A visible, personable, accessible, and visionary leader who is actively engaged on campus, in the communities and maintains an “open door” approach
Demonstrated commitment to create a campus culture of access, collaboration, creativity, equal opportunity, and innovation
Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and difficult situations diplomacy while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality

Student Centered Advocacy

Strong instructional advocate, who values multiple learning pathways for students to achieve their goals, who instills high expectations for faculty and the programs they build, and who values accountability measures to ensure quality
A strong student-centered advocate, with documented achievements in student success and accountability, who will focus on eliminating achievement gaps among students with focused efforts on retention, persistence, and completion

Operational Successes

A strong accreditation advocate who values the responsibility to ensure quality throughout all aspects of the institution
Demonstrated ability to manage complex operational and capital budgets with an understanding of federal, state, and local regulations and contemporary issues

Board of Trustees and External Relationships

A strong policy governance advocate who values the role of the governing board in promoting accountability and transparency regarding the use of taxpayer dollars
Demonstrated strengths in establishing partnerships and relationships with business and industry, educational entities, state agencies, elected officials, community organizations
Success in forging external partnerships to strengthen workforce education and in response to local labor market trends
Demonstrated understanding, commitment, and success in fund raising from private donors, foundations, corporations, and governmental sources

Application Process

Apply online at https://paulygroup.com/positions/?apply=president-1 and click on “Apply Now” for Butler Community College, President.

Attach the following three items: A cover letter that addresses the topics identified in the Minimum Qualifications, Preferred Experience, and Desired Strengths and Leadership Characteristics, a current resumé, a list of three professional references’ names and contact information.

Please direct all confidential inquiries and nominations to the College’s search consultant:

Dr. Angela Provart, President
Pauly Group Inc.
3901 Wood Duck Dr. Suite E, Springfield, IL 62711
Phone: 217-241-5400
Email: [email protected]

The committee will begin review of applications in mid-January. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with materials submitted by Friday, February 7, 2025 receiving priority consideration. All applications are confidential and references will not be contacted without the expressed authorization of the applicant.