Chancellor Opening

EICC is seeking a Chancellor who believes that service and leadership go hand in hand, someone who will champion the needs of our students and strengthen our community ties. This role is a chance to shape the future while staying deeply connected to the people we serve.

Join us in making a lasting impact on our students and within our communities.

Chancellor Profile

Position Overview

The Chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) serves as the Chief Executive Officer, guiding the college in fulfilling its mission: delivering high-quality education and training that prepares a skilled workforce, provides equitable access to higher education, and strengthens the community. As THE Community’s College, EICC seeks a servant leader who is committed to the institution’s mission and deeply invested in the success and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

This individual will prioritize fostering meaningful, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring a shared sense of purpose across the college community. Open and transparent communication with the Board of Trustees will be a cornerstone of this leader’s approach, ensuring alignment and progress toward the college's collective goals.

Dedicated to promoting student access, academic excellence, and successful outcomes, the Chancellor will embrace the diverse backgrounds of EICC’s student body, which includes traditional, nontraditional, continuing education, high school equivalency, concurrent enrollment, and alumni.

By leading a cohesive and empowered leadership team across the college’s three campuses and 12 centers, the Chancellor will cultivate an environment of innovation, collaboration, and shared governance. This leadership will ensure EICC thrives as THE Community’s College, meeting the needs of its students, employees, and the community.

Proven leadership with increasing responsibility at an executive level.
Master’s degree from an accredited institution (doctorate preferred).
Experience in managing financial and budgeting operations within complex organizations, including resource generation and risk management.
Ability to lead a diverse organization and inspire others to achieve the college’s vision and mission.
Demonstrated understanding of public two-year institutions' role in community and workforce development.
Community college administrative experience required, with a preference for familiarity with the Iowa community college system.

Key Responsibilities

Prioritize the needs and growth of students, faculty, and staff, ensuring their success and well-being are at the center of decision-making.
Cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters collaboration, empathy, and empowerment across all levels of the institution.
Lead by example through humility, active listening, and a commitment to service, creating a culture where the contributions of every individual are valued and encouraged.
Demonstrate the ability to cultivate a collaborative work environment that upholds the dignity of all individuals while balancing the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
Maintain a transparent and collaborative relationship with the Board of Trustees, ensuring open lines of communication, actively seeking input, and respecting feedback.

Provide visionary leadership, consistent with EICC’s mission, to oversee all operations and guide long-term direction.
Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of strategic goals that align with the institution’s mission and its commitment to the community.
Engage and support the leadership team, fostering collaboration across EICC’s three main campuses and 12 centers.

Champion a learning environment that prioritizes student success, equitable access, and high-quality instruction.
Lead efforts to embrace innovative teaching modalities, ensuring EICC’s academic programs remain accessible and adaptable to all students, whether traditional, nontraditional, concurrent, or continuing education learners.
Ensure compliance with accreditation requirements, program review cycles, and regulations to maintain academic standards.

Collaborate with the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff to ensure transparent and accountable decision-making.
Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and relevant laws, promoting shared governance across the college.

Lead the budget process and manage resource allocation in alignment with institutional priorities and with board approval, ensuring fiscal responsibility while expanding educational access.
Ensure financial sustainability through prudent management and strategic revenue generation.
Successfully secure external funding from grants, government agencies, corporate partnerships, and philanthropic foundations, while being a responsible steward of those resources to promote academic innovation and support institutional growth.

Actively advocate at the local, state, and federal levels, partnering with Community Colleges for Iowa to support initiatives that benefit students, strengthen workforce development, and address community needs.
Build strong, collaborative relationships with K-12 systems, other higher education institutions, and community organizations to enhance pathways for student success.
Foster productive partnerships with business, industry, and community organizations to address regional workforce needs and support the college’s mission of workforce development.

Act as the primary ambassador for EICC, strengthening the college’s reputation and building relationships with educational, civic, and business organizations, including outreach to underrepresented groups within the service area.
Promote a culture of service and active engagement throughout the community, reinforcing EICC’s identity as THE Community’s College.
Lead by example through active community involvement, positioning the college as a key resource for local development and a catalyst for positive change.

Embrace and cultivate a spirit of shared governance, empowering the leadership team to drive innovation, collaboration, and employee engagement.
Recognize and celebrate the unique culture and strengths of each campus, ensuring that EICC continues to thrive as THE Community’s College and serves the diverse needs of students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Grow Enrollment and Enhance Student Retention: Inspire faculty and staff to pursue innovative strategies for attracting new students and strengthening retention, while fostering partnerships with local educational institutions and industries.
Support Student Services: Collaborate with trustees, faculty, staff, and the community to identify and champion new academic initiatives that meet the evolving needs of students.
Invest in People: Support faculty and staff by promoting sustainable workloads, competitive compensation, and professional development opportunities.
Enhance Fiscal Services: Demonstrate strong business acumen, balancing the college’s role as an academic institution with effective financial management and resource development.
Cultivate and Steward Partnerships: Foster relationships with organizations outside the college community, partnering with stakeholders to address community, workforce, and program needs.

Application Process

The EICC Board of Trustees is working with Dr. Larry Ebbers in its search for the next Chancellor. The application requires three documents:

A 2-3 page detailed cover letter addressing the expectations outlined in the search profile.
A curriculum vitae.
A list of three to five professional references, including the name, title/organization, relationship to the applicant, phone number, and email address.

No additional documents are requested. Comprehensive background checks will be conducted for candidates advancing to the later stages of the process. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest should be submitted electronically, in confidence, here.

Timeline

Oct 23	Chancellor Position Announcement Posted
Jan 17	Closing Date for Applications
Jan 21 – Feb 1	Search Committee Reviews Applications
Early Feb	Search Committee Meeting to Select Semi-finalists
Feb 20-25	Search Committee Semi-finalist Zoom Interviews
Feb 25	EICC Board Meeting with Executive Session to Discuss Finalists Dr. Ebbers and the Search Committee to Recommend (3-5) Candidates to the Board Board Approves Finalists
Mar 3 – 13	Stakeholder Forums with Finalists Per Each Candidate On-site Forums at CCC, MCC and SCC One Virtual Session Feedback Forms from Stakeholders Finalists’ Onsite Interviews with the Board
Mar 17	EICC Board Meeting with Executive Session to Select a Candidate
TBD	Special Board Meeting to Announce Chancellor and Approve Contract
July 1	New Chancellor Joins EICC

About EICC & Eastern Iowa

At Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), we know that education changes lives and strengthens communities. We are proud of the work we do and the role we play as THE Community’s College.

Learn more about EICC and our colleges

Eastern Iowa is a great place to live and work. Here, we support our businesses. We support our students. And we support our communities. The area is advancing and EICC is proud to contribute to that progress by providing affordable and accessible education and workforce training programs.

Learn more about our community

Search Consultant

Larry Ebbers, PhD., has spent his career shaping the future of higher education. In addition to a 50-year tenure at Iowa State University, Ebbers is known for founding key programs like the Leader Institute for a New Century (LINC), and the Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium (CLIC), both which have prepared countless community college administrators for leadership roles. His expertise and his dedication to fostering diverse, inclusive leaders has made a significant impact nationwide.