Director, Assistant, Student Success and Retention Services
#RPM
The Assistant Director works in conjunction with the Director of Student Success and Retention Services to manage the daily operations and activities of the department to meet student needs and divisional and institutional goals. The department is comprised of the Office for International Students, New Student Orientation, Academic Advising, Academic Intervention, and Career Services.
The Assistant Director is responsible for assisting students with the development and evaluation of an educational plan. S/he maintains and provides accurate program and course information for new and returning students seeking certificates, diplomas, and degrees. S/he provides information on all aspects of new student orientation, placement test interpretation, advising services, and career identification and selection. The Assistant Director provides academic advising and career exploration guidance to new and continuing students in a face-to-face or online environment. S/he assists students in determining their major course of study by offering resources for self-exploration related to careers; interprets career assessment results and guides students in researching employment trends and gathering information related to careers of interest. S/he maintains current information related to resume writing, interviewing skills, and general job search strategies, providing resume critiques, interview advice, and mock interviews for students seeking employment.
The Assistant Director focuses efforts on assisting students with identifying and utilizing college resources that will support degree completion and further aid students in successfully accomplishing their academic goals. S/he assists with course selection, course withdrawal, program changes, and teaches students about technology available to them for registration. S/he monitors student educational progress and provides information about college academic and personal resources as necessary. S/he oversees a caseload of students through constant contact throughout the semester to ensure satisfactory academic progress. Responds to early alerts from faculty with outreach to students struggling in classes, offering assistance, and making referrals to college resources in an effort to promote student retention.
The Assistant Director works with the Director to ensure that the Center provides smooth, effective and efficient services to students. The Assistant Director hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates Student Success Coaches. S/he hires, trains, supervises, and coordinates schedules of work-study students and part-time employees who provide academic advising support to students. S/he works in collaboration with the Director and Center colleagues to design, implement, and assess initiatives in collaboration with faculty and other Student Support Services areas focused on increased retention and intervention programs. S/he monitors and updates the departmental website on a regular basis, as well as oversees the Center’s email account, answering questions from students and assigning others to assist in this effort as needed. The Assistant Director identifies, collects, analyzes and interprets data determining trends and anomalies in support of the Center’s retention efforts, presenting reports to the Director as requested.
The Assistant Director serves as Club Advisor for the College Transfer Club. S/he develops and maintains relationships with individuals from area universities to establish transfer opportunities for GTCC students. The Assistant Director plans, implements and manages all aspects of the semi-annual college transfer fair, and also plans monthly opportunities for individuals from universities to come to campus to meet with students interested in exploring transfer/admission options.
· Provide academic advising and career exploration services for new and continuing face-to-face and online students, assisting students in determining their college major by offering resources for self-exploration related to career opportunities and employment trends. Evaluate incoming transcripts and track completed courses to ensure students are guided to appropriate courses. Refer students to print and web-based resources related to career information. Make students aware of campus and community resources, including online student services and academic support services.
· Provide students with information related to resume writing, interviewing skills, and general job search strategies.
· Responds to early alerts from faculty with outreach to students struggling in classes, offering assistance, and making referrals to college resources in an effort to promote student retention.
· Conduct reporting and data analytics duties including data collection and report production. Find new ways to incorporate data into the department’s processes.
· Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate all Student Success Coaches.
· Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate all student workers and part-time advisors for the Center. Work with other Student Success Coaches to assign student workers to projects and activities as needed.
· Develop informational/recruiting activities for four-year institutions to introduce GTCC students to opportunities for transfer to other institutions. Plan, implement, and advertise opportunities to the college community.
· Oversee Student Success Center e-mail communications/responses to students; enlist the assistance of others as necessary.
· Plan, implement, and manage all aspects of the semi-annual college transfer fair, promoting opportunities for students to connect with potential transfer institutions.
· Serve as Club Advisor for the College Transfer Club, meeting the goal/mission of the club and fulfilling all duties as outlined by the college for Club Advisors.
· Monitor and update college and departmental website on a regular basis, ensuring that accurate information is displayed.
· Participate in college training offerings, departmental meetings, and statewide and regional professional development opportunities to improve knowledge and skill base and proficiency in the field.
· Collaborate as a team member on delivery of career services, student retention initiatives, information nights/open houses, job fairs, transfer fairs, orientations, and Student Success workshops as needed. Participate in community outreach programs/presentations with the college Admissions Recruiter or faculty members as appropriate.
· Administer and interpret career interest/ability instruments, review, interpret, and evaluate applicant test scores and other information to determine course placement.
· Collect data and participate in the assessment of services as requested by the Director. Evaluate the effectiveness of center activities on a regular basis.
· Works collaboratively with instructional departments to provide appropriate advising services to students. Serve as the primary point of contact for advising information for assigned instructional division.
· Actively serve as an effective member to appointed college committees and participate in college activities as requested.
· Demonstrate and model the College’s employability skills: Adaptability, communication, information processing, problem solving, responsibility, and teamwork
· Other duties as assigned by Director.
Difficult Challenges:
· Balance between funding and appropriate number of individuals needed to adequately serve student needs.
· Retention/completion of diverse student populations.
Contacts:
· Daily: Students & Director
· Daily: Assessment Center and other Student Support Services departments
· Several times a week: Staff and Faculty in other departments
· Monthly: Division/Department Chairs
· Monthly: Adult Education
· Monthly: Individuals from other institutions across the state
· Balance between funding and appropriate number of individuals needed to adequately serve student needs.
· Retention/completion of diverse student populations.
· Daily: Students & Director
· Daily: Assessment Center and other Student Support Services departments
· Several times a week: Staff and Faculty in other departments
· Monthly: Division/Department Chairs
· Monthly: Adult Education
· Monthly: Individuals from other institutions across the state
· Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution
· Master’s degree in Education, Social Work, Counseling, Business, Social Sciences or related field from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution
· A minimum of two years of experience within higher education in a fast paced, diverse student services related field, such as Academic Advising, Career Services or other closely related field.
· Experience working with diverse students including first generation college students, students from under-represented populations, and students transitioning from adult high school programs.
· Experience including supervision of employees, program development experience and experience working with special populations of students.
· Knowledge of academic advising and student success initiatives.
· Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships working effectively and cooperatively with students, faculty, staff, administration and the general public. General knowledge and experience working with multicultural post-secondary students.
· Ability to utilize data to assess practices and effectiveness of programs.
· Knowledge of current and emergent practices in higher education which facilitate student success.
· Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Must have strong presentation skills.
· Demonstrate knowledge, good judgment, and the willingness to support and enforce college policy and procedures and maintain confidentiality.
· Ability to work independently, as well as in a collaborative team environment, using good judgment, analytical skills, and problem solving skills while upholding college procedures and policies and promoting teamwork within the organization.
· Ability to use a personal computer and other office equipment, including college related software and email. Knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
· Familiarity with integrating online and web-based tools which support academic advising and college retention efforts, while understanding the challenges that students and staff face with technology.
· Ability to adapt in a changing workplace environment that is focused on student retention and success.
· Must have general knowledge of the community college system and understand the philosophy and mission of the community college.
· Exhibited skills in advising techniques, interpersonal relations, communications, test interpretation, transcript evaluation, and career development.
· Possess a general knowledge of career exploration steps and general tests which assist students in assessing their skills, interests, and abilities and the ability to interpret the outcomes.
• Departmental hours are 8-6pm Monday through Thursday and 8-5pm on Friday; evening and weekend work required during heavy registration peak times; registration, graduation, and other heavy work periods will require additional hours; summer schedules vary. Ability to work a flexible schedule. A work schedule will be determined by the Director to cover the necessary hours based on the needs of the department.
The following (compliance) training is required and must be completed within the first 30 days of hire with annual refresher training thereafter:
· Ethics
· Safety/Shooter on Campus
· Personal Information Protection Training (PIP)
· Anti-Discrimination/Harassment & Title IX
· Other training may be required as determined applicable.
Other departmental training:
· Bloodborne Pathogens – Annually
· Emergency Action Plans/Emergency Equipment (incl. Fire Extinguisher) – Annually
· E-Vac Chair – Annually
Physical Activity: Primarily sitting
Environmental Hazard(s): <15%
Lifting: 20<→50lbs.