Assistant Director for Student Transition and Leadership

The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) serves as the primary source of social programming, leadership, and co-curricular campus opportunities for all Edgewood College students. We cultivate a variety of opportunities for campus engagement that create a well-rounded student experience. The Assistant Director of Student Transition and Leadership is responsible for welcoming incoming students and student leadership initiatives. This includes coordination of Orientation, advising Student Senate as well as serving as a staff member in the Office of Student Involvement which encompasses campus programming, student leadership, commuter student services, and student organizations.  

The purpose of the position is to develop, implement, monitor, and assess student-centered programs and services to improve retention and graduation rates and actively contribute to a collaborative campus-wide culture for student belonging and success. This position serves as campus leadership related to retention and student success initiatives.  The Assistant Director will assist in budget management appropriate to their specialty areas.

Additional job functions will include advising Student Senate and planning for and attending Student Life sponsored major events and programs.

This is a 12-month position; evening and weekend hours are required, depending on programs, events and student meetings.

Transition Programming

• Provide leadership for the College’s August and January orientation programs including New Student Orientation and Transfer Orientation, and online student orientation
• Chair the Edgewood College Orientation Planning Committee
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and train the Orientation student staff and graduate intern(s)
• Coordinate communication and logistics for Orientation programming
• Collaborate with campus partners to ensure Orientation meets the needs of the academic program
• Work closely with Admissions and Marketing to design and coordinate a comprehensive and seamless communication protocol for new students
• Communicate Orientation goals and objectives to campus partners
• Conduct annual assessment of Orientation for future improvement and development
• Evaluate processes and delivery of Orientation programs, including analysis and reporting of data for distribution to College leadership.
• Serve as consultant to the College on transition issues of new students
• Supervise and collaborate with Student Life staff to plan and execute Welcome Week programs

Supervision and Partnership

• Hire, supervise, train, support and evaluate OSI student desk staff, Orientation Leadership Team members and NODA Intern (summer)
• Provide leadership for planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating the programs and services offered through OSI
• Assist in the development of manuals, guides, and other materials necessary for efficient and effective administration and operation
• Work in partnership with Student Development staff, Mission, Values, and Inclusion, Academic Affairs and other campus departments and divisions to develop services and programming that creates a sense of belonging and inclusion among our diverse student population

Leadership Programming

• Provide strategic direction for developing programs and implementing high-impact practices that support first-year student academic transition, retention, and success
• Build and strengthen relationships within the College to provide a comprehensive first year experience for first year students aligned with the college mission, and to provide plans and strategies for retention and progression of undergraduate students
• Coordinate and execute the Summer Social program for incoming students.
• Research and implement current trends and best practices to improve existing programs, with a focus on retention and the development of the whole student
• Maintain the Student Resource Center
• Develop, plan, implement, and assess strategic initiatives and programs that support the co-curricular engagement of all Edgewood College Students, including student organizations, student events and activities, new student and transfer student orientations, commuter student support, and student leadership development.

Professional Development

• Participate in continuous professional development around student transition programs and student involvement and engagement within a higher education and student affairs framework 

College Service

• Represent the Division of Student Development on institutional committees, task forces, and groups. Also serves on Student Development division-wide committees  
• Serve as member of the Student Development staff attending meetings and retreats 
• Participate in campus events as a department and division representative 

• Master’s degree, and related combination of experience in counseling, student affairs or other related fields focused on college student development.
• Two-year professional experience, graduate work included, working in the areas of orientation, student involvement, student organization advising or another functional area with demonstrated transferrable skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse student population and students from underrepresented populations.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of student development theories, practices, and current trends/best practices in the area of new student transition.

• Experience with supervision of student staff and/or advising of student leaders
• High level of multicultural competence; the awareness, knowledge and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant and productive ways.
• Demonstrate competency skills in the areas of Student Involvement including event planning, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, orientation, and student affairs
• Strong organizational ability, interpersonal skills, and high aptitude in oral and written communications.
• Proactive and creative approach to problem solving and experience providing crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate campus and community resources.