Associate Dean, Student Success & Graduation Student Success & Graduation

JOB TITLE:

Associate Dean Student Success & Graduation

JOB PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of the AVP Dean of Student Success and Graduation the Associate Dean will serve as the strategic and operational representative to enhance student success by developing and implementing student success initiatives and advisement strategies to advance learning engagement retention and completion. The Associate Dean will work closely with academic affairs and campus partners to offer co-curricular activities that support student development academic achievement and the Universitys vision mission and values in pursuing excellence.

The Associate Dean will oversee and manage the delivery of student success programming including but not limited to Saddle-Up peer mentorship student services and wellness resources and activities that contribute to academic success and personal development. The Associate Dean supervises professional and student staff members and oversees the selection training and evaluation of staff supports the development of strategic planning and assessment of the peer-to-peer mentorship program for freshmen and sophomores. The Associate Dean will participate in Student Affairs and University committees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervision and Leadership

• Serves as the second in command to the AVP/Dean of Student Success and acts as an Appointing Authority in the AVP/Deans absence; assumes full administrative responsibility for the Student Success and Graduation Hub personnel and fiscal resources during the AVP/Deans absence.
• Supervise two project coordinators (Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives and Coordinator of Commencement/Parent & Family).
• Develop mentor and coach staff of all levels (full-time staff and student employees)
• Evaluate staff performance.
• Provide leadership and coordination for all Saddle-Up programs.
• Collaborate with campus partners such as the VP for Student Affairs Dean of Students Office Center for Student Involvement and Leadership Disability Support Services the University Counseling Center Student Health Services Alumni Affairs the Presidents Office and the Provosts Office.
• Maintain high visibility throughout the division of Student Affairs and beyond through collaborations and participation.
• Oversee and perform reviews and analyses of existing retention persistence graduation rates new initiatives and resources with consideration for enrollment trends and resource support. Make recommendations to the AVP and Dean of Student Success and campus administrators to develop strategic plans implementing recommendations.
• Lead develop and analyze results of Saddle-Up. Ensure faculty staff and students promote overall student recruitment and retention efforts.
• In collaboration with divisional faculty department chairs directors and campus leaders and administrators establish and implement divisional and campus policy developing creative solutions to address varied and complex issues with widespread impact.
• Participate in developing strategic planning support to the SS&G Hub and Student Success Institutional Transformation Taskforce (SSITT) strategic plan.
• Co-lead on executing the SSITT strategic plan and the Division of Student Affairs strategic plan focused on student success.
• Lead stop-out and re-enrollment campaigns.
• Direct and/or formulate policies and long-term strategies for enhancing the divisions vitality and effectiveness in achieving its broad goals.

Student Excellence Engagement and Inclusion

• In collaboration with the AVP/Dean and campus administrators develops and implement the divisions vision and strategic plan for student excellence engagement and inclusion. Stays well-informed about trends in higher education regarding student excellence and engagement. Engages with campus units focused on student success.
• With consideration to related research and student feedback assist the AVP/Dean with development of programs resources and institutional changes to meet student needs.
• Oversees student-focused outreach relating to campus resources and programs.
• Ensures divisional representation on campus-level committees related to student success including advising-related committees.
• Facilitate organizational development and change to promote progressive and efficient retention engagement and completion strategies.

External Communications

• In conjunction with institutional marketing help to develop the internal and external communications for Student Success and Graduation and the AVP portfolio.

Events Management

• Works with the program and project coordinators within the division to balance the workload among internally and externally facing events.
• Collaborate with developing and building a robust Parent and Family Program including Parent and Family Weekend.
• Provide leadership to the coordinator for organizing and executing two commencements a year.
• Coordinate with Alumni Affairs hosting Cowboy Coffee during Homecoming.

Training & Professional Development

• Develop implement and evaluate training for student and professional staff including summer and winter training and ongoing professional development.
• Collaborate and develop relationships with campus partners for training sessions and initiatives.
• Commit to learning and development in all areas of student success and retention.

Community Development

• Provide leadership to the Saddle-Up Cowboy Coaches and Families in developing caring inclusive and academically prepared students.
• Create opportunities for staff to connect Cowboy Coaches to the university Laramie community and beyond.
• Provide leadership in creating civically engaged communities that encompass student development and respect differences.
• Collaborate with campus colleagues.
• Provide opportunities for staff and student input for all areas of supervision.

COMPETENCIES:

• Adaptability
• Initiative
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork
• Strategic Planning

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters Degree and five years experience in education higher education preferred.
• An understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing higher education with experience and background sufficient to conceptualize communicate and implement the Universitys mission and goals.
• Excellent analytical organizational planning and management skills plus related experience to creatively address instructional research and administrative issues effectively define and implement strategic plans and goals and promptly complete critical projects and tasks. Extensive experience using problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and skills to manage and motivate a diverse administrative professional and technical staff. Focus on fostering teamwork formulating and instituting reporting structures and processes to achieve maximum functionality and efficiency.
• Flexibility and skill in successfully leading staff and other teams through organizational change.
• Strong negotiating mediation and decision-making skills and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex academic and administrative issues clearly both verbally and in writing to understand the concerns of various groups. Ability to use information gathered through appropriate consultation in proposing solutions and to represent and explain the mission and work of Student Success and Graduation Office to campus.
• Valid drivers license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the Driving for University Business SAP.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in a related field.
• A background leading large-scale programs and initiatives on a higher education campus.
• Demonstrated experience supervising teams.