Olivet College Hiring for Director of Student Transitions and Academic Success at Olivet, MI Full Time

Olivet College, a private liberal arts college of about 1,000 undergraduate students in southern mid-Michigan, announces its search for a Director of Student Transitions and Academic Success (“Director”). Reporting to the Associate Provost for Student Development, the Director coordinates, implements, and assesses student development and success programming and initiatives. The director is responsible for remaining attentive to the campus community’s needs and committed to identifying and realizing success initiatives that promote high performance inside and outside the classroom. This position will facilitate student success initiatives related to:

1. 1. Implementing a first-year transition and onboarding experience
   2. Sustaining a robust first-year college experience focused on increasing retention rates throughout the first-year experience
   3. Incorporating proactive, data-informed academic advising tools
   4. Fostering a ‘success-oriented’ mindset by creating a better sense of belonging
   5. Resolving institutional barriers to simplify college access and improve academic success measures

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum

1. 1. 1. Bachelor’s degree.
      2. Three or more years of experience in Student Engagement, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, or related area.
      3. Knowledge of best practices related to student transitions and academic advising programs.
      4. Experience with retention initiatives.
      5. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. If hired, a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, must be completed at the start of employment.

Preferred

1. 1. 1. Master’s degree
      2. Supervision of direct reports
      3. Grant writing and administration to support student success

STARTING DATE: Start date preferred on or around July 1, 2022

APPLICATION PROCESS: Review of applications will begin May 1st and will continue until the position is filled.

Click on the “Online Application Form” link to be directed to the Career Center. Once at the Career Center, select this title and then the “Apply” icon to complete a profile and submit the following materials:

1. 1. 1. Letter of application, including reasons for interest in this position at Olivet College
      2. Resume
      3. Contact information for three references

POSITION DETAILS FOLLOW

SUMMARY

As a member of the Student Development Team, under the supervision of the Associate Provost for Student Development, the Director of Student Transitions and Academic Success will work collaboratively to ensure the strategic priorities are intentionally supported and assessed. The Student Development Team will implement and sustain a wide range of data-driven, forward-thinking programming focused on clearly defined and well-coordinated strategies and assessment of student development at Olivet College. Success in this role will include, but is not limited, to improved enrollment, improved retention, persistence, and graduation rates for all students and targeted subgroups that historically underperform in these measures. The Director of Student Transitions and Academic Success will effectively engage and work with faculty and staff to foster the successful implementation of new initiatives and programs.

PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES

The existence of the following will demonstrate the success of the Director of Student Transitions and Academic Success:

1. 1. Increased and improved measures of student success as measured by retention of our first-year students through a comprehensive onboarding program;
   2. Increased employee engagement in the college’s efforts to increase student success measures, including, but not limited to, improved enrollment and retention, persistence, and graduation rates.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1. Ensures the overall development of each student as a person within the context of the college’s vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility with an emphasis on active engagement in the student’s first-year and academic advising.
   2. Performs duties dependably and effectively in a diverse, challenging, and occasionally stressful environment.
   3. Promotes diversity and the understanding and respect for all peoples and cultures.
   4. Collaborates with the campus community to establish, implement, and assess strategic student success initiatives consistent with the institution’s goals to improve retention, persistence, and graduation rates.
   5. Provides leadership in statistical modeling and analyses of institutional, state, and national data to support retention and graduation initiatives and decision-making.
   6. Effectively collaborates with internal stakeholders to support student development focused on academic support and engagement.
   7. Maintains current knowledge of instructional methods and new technologies pertinent to assigned programs; learns and applies emerging technologies and advances (e.g., computer software applications) as necessary to perform duties in an efficient, organized and timely manner.
   8. Develops an advising profile tool that assesses academic mindsets, learning strategies, and help-seeking behaviors that tailor support to each student’s unique needs and intervene as necessary on identifiable risk factors.
   9. Provides direction for the development of new programs, including contribution to the development or redesign of existing programs within areas of responsibility.
   10. Develops a robust summer bridge and accelerated academic programming that promotes early-graduation and year-round academic engagement.
   11. Coordinates the delivery of an intentional academic and social engagement system that includes opportunities within the Advanced Learning Term (ALT), first-year seminar, and Self-and-Community to support academic expectations
   12. Coordinates a transition coaching partnership between incoming students to develop a report with designated advisors within the student development team that utilizes current student ambassadors as college mentors.
   13. Facilitates a New Student Orientation experience for incoming students that focuses on building relationships with the campus community and prepares them for their first-year experiential engagement.
   14. Organizes, attends, or chairs a variety of administrative and staff meetings as required; serves on committees as assigned; provides administrative oversight of special projects or programs as assigned.
   15. Serves as a secondary academic advisor for students as needed.
   16. Responds to prospective students and families who inquire about student success programming at Olivet College.
   17. Provides direction for the development of new programs, including contribution to the development or redesign of existing programs related to student success and transitions.
   18. Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

1. 1. The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to work effectively, both independently and in a diverse team environment;
   2. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong planning and organizational ability;
   3. Knowledge of established and emerging trends, standards, research-based best practices, procedures, and techniques in the field and knowledge of the theories and principles of higher education, undergraduate education, student development, retention, and student learning;
   4. Strong management, organization, supervision, and teambuilding skills;
   5. Ability to prioritize and implement program activities efficiently and handle multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressures;
   6. Knowledge of admissions, accommodations, and evidence-based best practices related to retention and student success;
   7. Ability to analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data to implement innovative practices and strategies around retention and student success.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, disorders and/or impairments to perform the essential functions.

1. 1. The employee must be able to perform duties dependably and effectively in a diverse, challenging, and occasionally stressful environment.
   2. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:
      • stay in a stationary position for long periods and operate a keyboard or type;
      • use common business office machines such as a copier and telephone;
      • handle materials weighing less than 20 lbs;
      • regularly traverse campus;
      • communicate effectively with diverse constituencies; and,
      • operate a computer.
   3. The noise level in the work environment is usually mild to moderate.