Associate Dean and Director of the Student Success Center

The Associate Dean and Director of the Student Success Center (“Center”) is a senior leadership position in Student Affairs and serves on the Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT). The position reports to, advises, assists, and provides executive level support to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) in achieving University and Student Affairs priorities. Representing and under general supervision of the VPSA, this position is responsible for envisioning, explaining, executing, and evaluating data-informed, student-centered, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and collaborative student experiences and services that improve student learning, student retention, graduation, post-baccalaureate placement, and other student success outcomes of all students from enrollment to degree or program completion. The position is directly responsible for overseeing and ensuring the success of the Student Success Center in compliance with University policies and procedures and applicable state and federal laws (e.g., FERPA, Americans with Disabilities Act). The position is also responsible for developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with various campus stakeholders such as Student Affairs colleagues, academic colleges, Admission, Student Financial Services, Office of the Registrar, Center for International Education, Academic Advisors, Information Technology, Marketing and Communication, and others. At the employee’s request and in consultation with the disabilities support office (ADA office), employees receive reasonable accommodations to perform the essential duties associated with the position. The position requires predictable evening and weekend hours to supervise or participate in Center, student, staff, and University programs and events.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Position Specific Responsibilities

• Maintaining knowledge of and communicating to staff and faculty promising practices related to achieving academic, personal, professional, and other forms of student success.
• Developing a high-performing, results-oriented, and diverse organizational culture AND team of professional, paraprofessional, and graduate staff through, for example, effective hiring, coaching, mentoring, supervision, inclusion in appropriate decision-making activities, delegating, and fair evaluation practices.
• Leading, delegating, evaluating/assessing, and ensuring the success of all Student Success Center areas (e.g., career success and professional development, disability accommodation services, exploratory advising for undecided students, First Year Experience courses for targeted students, orientation experiences for targeted new students and their parents, summer bridge/early arrival experiences for targeted students, supplemental instruction, and tutoring) through, for example, strategic planning, policy development, record-keeping, measurable performance indicators, campus partnerships, and effective oversight.
• Collaborating with staff and stakeholders to develop, implement, evaluate/assess, and improve outreach, intervention, support, and service delivery for unique student populations including but not limited to academic warning and probation students, international students, transfer students, non-traditional adult learners, commuters, first generation students, low-income students, historically excluded BIPOC students, and LGBTQ+ students.
• Serving as the University’s ADA coordinator and resource person for students which includes but may not be limited to: (1) partnering with VPSA and Chief Human Resources Officer to monitor campus-wide compliance with American with Disabilities (ADA) Act and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; (2) considering, developing, issuing, and enforcing reasonable accommodations and supporting students with disabilities; (3) communicating reasonable accessibility accommodations with faculty effectively; (4) assisting students with short term accommodation requests because of medical or mental health needs; (5) managing protocols for emotional support and service animals for students; and (6) partnering with VPSA and Chief Human Resources Officer to investigate any ADA facilities and instructional compliance-related complaints and grievances.
• Assisting the Office of the Registrar, academic colleges, and academic advisors with registration and advising experiences. 
• Partnering with the academic colleges and their faculty to strengthen their ability to teach, serve, and meet the academic and psychosocial needs of all their students to promote student belonging, retention, and success.
• Collaborating with the Office of Information Technology and Office of the Registrar to improve personal and staff’s proficiency in using technological platforms (e.g., Ellucian, Target X, Banner, Argos, Handshake, myMillikin’s Event Management, etc.) to collect and analyze retention and other data to improve institutional practices and student success outcomes. 
• Collaborating with the VPSA and marketing and communications office to brand Center materials; ensure consistency with marketing and communication requirements; prepare and disseminate messaging to campus community, students, parents, and others; and ensure that the Center’s website and other resource materials are reviewed and updated regularly throughout the year.
• Ensuring the annual completion of the First Destination Survey to assess students’ post-baccalaureate placement and other success outcomes.
• Ensuring the planning, implementation, evaluation/assessment, and improvement of Career and Internship Fairs.
• Chairing the interdisciplinary Student Affairs Students of Concern Team to develop and monitor action plans for students experiencing difficulties impacting academic success and advising the Vice President for Student Affairs as appropriate when campus safety may be compromised.
• Serving as a member of the senior student conduct team, providing investigative and adjudicatory support to Title IX and campus bias incidents as requested.
• Developing, updating, and implementing plans to ensure continuity of operations during staff vacancies.
• Participating in the emergency on-call program schedule to assist and support students experiencing difficulties.
• Serving as one of the responsible administrators in the absence of the VPSA.

Core Responsibilities for All Student Affairs Staff 

1. Promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sense of Belonging for students and staff (e.g., foster welcoming environment; participate in and ensure staff participation in appropriate training and professional development; ensure accessibility to services; promote inclusive excellence in programming and service delivery; report policy, legal, and regulatory violations; etc.).  
2. Completing or assisting with routine administrative functions as appropriate (e.g., budgeting, report-writing, strategic planning, record-keeping, data collection and management, developing policies and procedures, and evaluation and assessments related to student outcomes and program effectiveness).  
3. Implementing or assisting with feedback processes to ensure concerns are addressed and improvements are considered. 
4. Supporting and assisting with signature student experiences (e.g., Admitted Student Days; Orientation and Registration Days; Convocations; Commencements; Homecoming and Family Weekend; Student Welcome Week; Involvement Fairs; Career Fairs; Annual Awards Program; etc.).   
5. Serving on appropriate university or community committees, councils, and boards as recommended by the supervisor or University President.  
6. Implementing emergency communication plans and protocols which includes providing direction, oversight, guidance, and support as needed in emergency or crisis situations.
7. Seeking and proposing opportunities for ongoing appropriate professional development.
8. Communicating effectively university and department goals, achievements, challenges, solutions, practices, changes, and consistently enforcing all policies and regulations. 
9. Maintaining high ethical standards and integrity by conducting all operations professionally, including acting in accordance with all Millikin University policies and procedures.
10. Performing other mission-critical and job-related duties as assigned based on operational needs. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES   

• Supervises professional and administrative support staff in the Center
• Supervises paraprofessionals (undergraduate students)
• Supervises graduate assistants

QUALIFICATIONS: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a results-driven professional organization. Transferable skills from relevant experiences in education, not-for-profit, business, or other industries and fields will be considered. Additional qualifications specific to this position are below:

Education and/or Experience 

Required: 

1. Master’s degree. 
2. At least five years of direct or transferable leadership experience. 
3. Direct experience providing related services to individuals.

Preferred: 

1. Doctoral degree. 
2. Related experiences in a college or university setting. 
3. Experience supervising staff at any professional level. 
4. Experience using student service, retention, or other technological tools such as Banner, Ellucian, Target X, Argos. 
5. Direct experience with enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
6. Direct experience with developing, monitoring, and enforcing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
7. Experience working in or managing federal TRIO educational outreach programs (e.g., Student Support Services, McNair Scholars, Upward Bound, etc.).
8. Experience applying wellness, student development, advising, and/or trauma-informed practices in service-delivery.

Desired Critical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities of this job are described below. 

Knowledge 

•  Preparatory knowledge: coursework (e.g., student development theories, retention theories, engagement theories, wellness models, trauma-informed theories, advising models, student affairs practice); military; or work-based knowledge.  
• Disabilities: Understand accommodations and services for people with documented disabilities to include experience in compliance related to the American with Disabilities (ADA) Act, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Software/database systems: student service, retention, or other technological tools such as Banner, Ellucian, Target X, Argos.
• Accountability: experience with applying formative, summative, qualitative, and/or quantitative methodologies which can be used to assess student learning outcomes and/or evaluate operations, programs, and services.  
• Multimedia experience: ability to collaborate on or design brochures, event flyers, and/or newsletters and/or ability to develop or manage social media efforts.  
• Events management: ability to plan, organize, manage, and execute programs and events.  

Skills  

• Communication skills: excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.  
• Self-management skills: ability to manage time effectively, learn and contribute to overall departmental tasks and goals.   
• Project coordination skills: ability to lead or contribute to planning or organizing projects, programs, services, etc.  
• Conflict resolution skills: ability to use interpersonal skills to develop and maintain positive professional relationships and resolve conflict in a team environment and with individuals from various diverse backgrounds and experiences.  
• Analytical skills: ability to analyze information and offer sound recommendations.   
• Computational skills: ability to perform basic mathematical computations to assist with financial operations and/or data collection, analysis, and reporting.  
• Computer skills: proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software, preferably Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Outlook Calendaring, Office 365.  

Abilities  

•  Ability to adhere to work attendance requirements.  
• Ability to be flexible, diplomatic, patient, service-driven, and a self-starter.  
• Ability to model self-care and well-being for colleagues and, most importantly, students.  
• Ability to promote and achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion of multi-racial/ethnic, low-income, LGBTQ+, veteran, non-traditional, online, disability, first-generation, and others.  
• Ability to work independently under limited supervision and in teams.   
• Ability to manage emotions, function effectively, and make sound decisions in stressful and crisis situations. 
• Ability to handle multiple projects, services, activities, etc. in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment.  
• Ability to make reasoned administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive and confidential issues.   
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours based on operational need.  
• Ability to comply with university vehicle-use requirements (some driving may be necessary, including transporting students and staff to approved events).