Rate My Professor Rick Sluder

Dr. Rick Sluder serves as Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of University College at Middle Tennessee State University, where he also holds a professorial appointment in the Department of Criminal Justice Administration. He earned his PhD in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in 1991, with a specialization in Organizational Theory and Management and a dissertation titled 'An Examination of Probation Officers' Work Ideologies and Personality Type.' Sluder also holds an MA in Human Resources Management from Truman State University in 1987 and a BS in Criminal Justice, cum laude, from the same institution in 1978. His early career included service in law enforcement as a Captain at Adams County Sheriff's Department in Colorado, managing a 485-bed facility and a $5 million budget from 1985 to 1986.

Sluder's academic career began as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Truman State University (1991-1992) and progressed at the University of Central Missouri, where he advanced from Assistant Professor (1992-1995) to Professor (1999-2014), serving concurrently as Graduate Program Coordinator, Associate Dean, Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Services (2002-2006), Dean of the College of Health and Human Services (2007-2011), and Vice Provost for Recruitment and Outreach (2010-2014). At UCM, he drove enrollment growth, expanded online programs, implemented strategic reorganizations, and oversaw facilities development. Since 2014 at MTSU, he has led the Quest for Student Success initiative, incorporating predictive analytics through the EAB SSC platform, redesigning 27 gateway courses, expanding tutoring for over 180 courses, reinvigorating Supplemental Instruction serving 1,551 students, and launching the Finish Line Scholarship. His scholarly contributions include co-authoring the book Forces of Deviance: Understanding the Dark Side of Policing (2nd ed., 1998), editing Opening and Operating Charter Schools: The Kansas City Experience (2001), and publishing '5 Strategies to Implement Successful University-Wide Student Success Initiatives' (Educause Review, 2016), alongside numerous articles on criminal justice topics such as police ideology, probation revocation, and prison victimization. Sluder has been honored with the Data-Driven Impact Award (Education Advisory Board, 2015), Model of Excellence Award (University Business, 2016), and was a finalist for the APLU Project Degree Completion Award (2015).