Trinity Christian College seeks a full-time Assistant Dean of Student Engagement. The Assistant Dean of Student Engagement will serve as a key campus leader in the Student Engagement Office whose primary responsibilities are to supervise Student Activities and involvement initiatives and coordinate First Year Experience and transition opportunities. This position will cast a compelling vision for welcoming students into Trinity’s academic community and cultivating an environment where these students can connect and flourish in their first year and beyond. The purpose of Student Life at Trinity is to cultivate an academic community in which students flourish as they encounter the triune God with their whole lives and discover the joy of their vocation.
The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to the following:
Serve as a key leader in the Student Engagement Office - Student Engagement at Trinity mobilizes student leaders, encourages connection, promotes involvement, and fosters holistic development as members of a Christian learning community.
Establish and maintain a mentoring posture with students that focuses on leadership development
Manage departmental budgets for assigned areas – approximately $100,000 annually
Serve as primary leader in Student Life for new student orientation initiatives and Student Activities programming
Track student engagement and report retention data for first year students
Research, evaluate, and launch programs meant to engage our traditional undergraduate commuter student population
Coordinate the welcome, orientation, and curriculum for newly enrolled first year students.
Trinity’s new student orientation process is a campus-wide initiative, collaborating with multiple offices to welcome new students to life at Trinity. This role will serve as a leader and representative for Student Life in this campus initiative and coordinate the academic courses for first-year and transfer students.
Co-chair orientation committee: Partner with colleagues in academics, admissions, residence life, student engagement, and athletics to plan key pre-semester events (Admitted Student Day, summer orientation, and registration programming), move-in experience, campus communication, and co-curricular orientation program
Collaborate with residence life Area Director for first year students
Evaluate first year student experience and their retention trends
Curriculum development – serve as the student life representative on the Foundations committee to evaluate Foundations curriculum for first time freshmen, transfer, and adult program students.
Coordinate and implement orientation courses for first semester students. Our current Foundations curriculum includes distinct courses for transfers and first-time freshman
Recruit, hire, and supervise Student Interns and Student Mentors for orientation courses
Assist in recruiting and training faculty mentors for orientation course sections
Collaborate with Adult Undergraduate Programs to provide FDN 111 for Adult Programs students
Engage in supporting overall campus retention efforts, particularly with first- and second-year students
Oversee and supervise Trinity’s Student Activities (STAC) programs
STAC exists at Trinity to create an atmosphere of activity and opportunity on campus, to invite students to actively engage with the campus community, and to develop student leaders who are equipped to serve that campus community. STAC focuses on leading an engaging weekend experience at Trinity and STAC is committed to providing social experiences for traditional undergraduate students every weekend of the academic year and encouraging students to explore the Chicago metropolitan area. STAC also oversees and maintains key student campus traditions.
Serve as the primary professional staff person providing vision and leadership for student activities and engagement initiatives through Student Life
Recruit, train, and supervise Student Activities leadership team – 6 student leaders
Develop, implement, and assess a variety of student events to support student belonging and student leadership
Oversee and enhance Trinity’s signature student traditions
Address risk management issues related to Student Activities, including student travel, event management, and contract negotiation
Regularly attend STAC weekend events for support, student supervision, and program development
Coordinate efforts to communicate with commuter students about campus programming and college resources
Other Communication and Collaboration:
Participate in college-wide events to promote the goals and mission to serve first-year students (e.g., Admitted Students Day, summer orientation programming, Visit Days)
Serve as a member of Trinity’s Care Team and other committees as appropriate
Participate in broader organizations within First Year Experience and/or Student Activities and Engagement for professional development and increased opportunities for Trinity students, as time allows
Other duties as requested or assigned.
This position is full-time exempt and will require evening and weekend requirements for programming planning and support. Weekly office hour scheduling will be flexible based on the unique requirements of this role. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Qualifications include:
Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree (higher education, student development, or related area) preferred
Previous experience in higher education (academic affairs or student life) preferred
Sincere allegiance to the mission of the College
Personal faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ
Diversity and Belonging - commitment to strategic and ongoing action to ensure that all students, staff, and faculty feel that they belong at Trinity with full acknowledgment that we as a community are better because of that shared belonging to Trinity and to God
Professional expertise and integrity
Demonstrated administrative and organizational skills
Demonstrated strengths in oral, written, and digital communication, including confidence in public speaking
A deep appreciation for and understanding of a robust, holistic approach to vocation as a joyful response to God’s calling
Strong desire to be part of a highly-collaborative, joy-filled workplace that is unwaveringly committed to students
Ability to use and/or learn Microsoft products
Trinity Christian College embraces diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.
For full consideration, interested applications should be prepared to upload the following:
A brief cover letter
A professional resume
A written statement that describes his/her Christian faith commitment and how it is expressed through involvement with the body of Christ and participation in a local church
Please provide a brief written statement that articulates your vision for diversity at a Christian college and how your vision shapes your work. (300 words or less)
