Position located in Washington, D.C.

Overview:

SHEEO seeks to fill the position of vice president of federal relations. SHEEO is the national association of state higher education leaders who serve statewide coordinating and governing boards and other state higher education agencies. SHEEO responds to the changing needs of its members and the state higher education community and regularly pursues new projects that meet our members’ needs and align with the mission of the organization.

The vice president of federal relations will report directly to the president and will hold primary leadership responsibility for planning, implementing, and coordinating SHEEO’s portfolio of federal relations, policy, communication, and advocacy work. This position will monitor new and potential federal action (legislation, rules, and other policies and actions) that have relevance to our membership. The vice president of federal relations will be responsible for bringing these issues to the attention of SHEEO staff and SHEEO’s membership and for articulating their potential impact on our members and the institutions and students they serve. This is a new position; SHEEO has not previously maintained a permanent presence in Washington, D.C. The successful candidate will help develop SHEEO’s portfolio of work in Washington.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Make SHEEO’s leadership aware of new and potential federal action and its impact on our membership.
• Represent the interests of SHEEO’s members to federal policymakers.
• Draft monthly federal updates.
• Plan for, organize, and lead SHEEO leadership and/or membership visits to lawmakers’ and other policymakers’ offices.
• Plan for, organize, and lead any federal advocacy in which SHEEO decides to engage.
• Assist the president in developing and communicating SHEEO positions on new or potential federal actions.
• Serve as liaison between SHEEO and the various Washington, D.C. higher education associations, advocacy groups, think tanks, and foundations.
• Serve on a variety of leadership groups and teams within SHEEO.
• Advise and provide support to the SHEEO president, particularly about matters related to federal policy.
• Plan and implement federal policy projects which support the SHEEO mission, strategic priorities, and the needs of SHEEO members.
• Conduct or direct research and policy analysis on federal higher education public policy.
• Develop and maintain knowledge regarding current activities and future trends in public higher education.
• Manage a portfolio of grant-funded projects. Maintain relationships with funders and seek diversified funding sources.   
• May provide supervision or direction to other SHEEO staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• An earned doctoral degree plus at least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Additional experience in higher education may substitute for the doctoral degree.
• Expertise in the federal policymaking process and ability to analyze and interpret federal legislation and agency rules.
• Experience working in Washington, D.C. and evidence of existing relationships with federal actors (House and Senate committee staff, U.S. Department of Education staff, higher education association leadership, etc.).
• Experience and analytical expertise in one or more of the following areas related to postsecondary education: academic affairs, data systems, equity, finance, institutional research, and/or student success.
• Demonstrated ability to obtain outside funding for special projects.
• Knowledge of or experience with SHEEO agencies.
• Record of publication in state higher education policy, public policy, or social science.
• Skill in project management.
• Skill in supervisory practices and techniques.
• Fluency in statistics, data visualization, or other specialized skills.

Working Conditions:

This position will be in Washington, D.C. Periodic travel to SHEEO’s headquarters in Boulder, CO, and other national travel will be required.

Salary:

Salary will be commensurate with successful candidate’s experience and demonstrated skill level. SHEEO provides excellent staff benefits.

Application Process:

Please apply by email to: Christina Whitfield at CWhitfield@sheeo.org and include the following:

• Letter describing how you meet the requirements of the position, addressed to Christina Whitfield, SHEEO, 3035 Center Green Drive, Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301
• Curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information of three academic or professional references (References will not be contacted until you have given permission for us to do so.)

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, priority will be given to those applications received by November 29, 2019.

About SHEEO:

SHEEO serves its members as an advocate for state policy leadership, as a liaison between states and the federal government, as a vehicle for learning from and collaborating with peers, and as a source of information and analysis on educational and public policy issues. SHEEO seeks to advance public policies and educational practices to achieve more widespread access and successful participation in higher education, more new discoveries through research, and more applications of knowledge that improve the quality of human lives.

SHEEO is particularly interested in providing equal employment opportunities and employing a diverse staff. Read more about SHEEO on our website: www.sheeo.org.

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) has released two requests for proposals relating to state authorization. The first, Improving State Authorization Learning Community Request for Proposals, is for states, and the second, State Authorization Research Funding Request for Proposals, is geared toward researchers.

Improving State Authorization Learning Community Request for Proposals:

Due 5 p.m. on December 16, 2019

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is pleased to announce the creation of a new project designed to help states evaluate and strengthen their authorization processes to better protect students and improve quality in higher education. This multifaceted project will build on the recommendations provided in a recent SHEEO white paper, produce original thinking on state authorization, and provide a forum for states to work on solutions to common issues with state authorization. 

The creation of a Learning Community for states seeking to improve their role as the central actors in the higher education accountability space will be a core component of this project. The goal of the Learning Community is to support state efforts to evaluate and improve state authorization policies and processes systematically. Through in-person and web-based meetings, state teams will receive professional development, technical assistance, financial support, and peer learning opportunities. SHEEO is seeking letters of interest from states that are prepared to elevate state authorization as a core quality assurance and student protection function.

Thanks to the generous support of Lumina Foundation, the Learning Community will include teams from up to eight states. The Learning Community will meet once in person and three times via webinar over 18 months. Each state will receive a $15,000 grant to help jump-start evaluation and reform efforts. The Learning Community will function as an ongoing network of the state teams, SHEEO staff, and subject-matter experts from other education organizations.

Full Description of Improving State Authorization Learning Community Request for Proposals and Instructions for Submitting

State Authorization Research Funding Request for Proposals

Due 5 p.m. on January 15, 2020

SHEEO’s primary mission is to promote an environment that values higher education and its role in ensuring the equitable education of all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic factors. Central to that mission is equipping states with the skills and information to act when and where necessary. One area that has recently required action is state authorization of postsecondary institutions.

Following the recent surge in institutional and campus closures, the growth in online education programs and providers, and increased concerns about educational quality, SHEEO published a white paper exploring the state role in the postsecondary education regulatory triad that includes the federal government and accreditors. In the white paper, we argue that through the state authorization process, states are the central actors in the higher education public accountability space. To this end, states should evaluate and strengthen their authorization processes to better protect students and improve quality in higher education. While the paper reviews conventional approaches to state authorization and offers recommendations for state agencies to consider, we were unable to find any empirical research on the effectiveness or outcomes of different strategies for state authorization, the process of state authorization, or the experience of individuals involved in state authorization. Without an empirical base of evidence to guide our recommendations, they are not as strong or as specific as they could be.

With generous support from Arnold Ventures, SHEEO is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to fund research projects that investigate state authorization processes, policies, outcomes, and procedures. The immediate goal of these research projects is to provide states with evidence-based recommendations to improve state authorization.

SHEEO seeks to fund up to six research projects at $13,500 each through this RFP. Researchers requiring additional funds for specific research costs, such as original data collection, significant travel, and data access fees, may submit an additional funds request, including a budget outlining these costs. Awardees will receive these dollars directly as an honorarium, and they may seek funding from other sources to supplement the funds. Each project will consist primarily of two elements:

1. an empirical research paper with an abstract and an executive summary; and
2. a corresponding blog post that translates the research for a more general policy audience.

Proposals will be reviewed by a committee consisting of SHEEO staff, state higher education leaders, and external researchers. Successful proposals will propose research that promises to have immediate relevance to improving state authorization of postsecondary education providers and that meets traditional academic standards for quality and rigor.

Full Description of State Authorization Research Funding Request for Proposals

Submit a Request for Proposal