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Posted: 22-Jul-23
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 165035
The Director of First & Sophomore Year Experience provides vision and oversight for developing and implementing holistic and intentional experiences and support for students in their transition and exploration at Clark University. The Director is an energetic, motivated, and highly-visible position that supports Clark's diverse students and families from acceptance to major declaration and beyond. The director will manage department-specific retention efforts and coordinate and collaborate with campus partners' retention and persistence efforts for undergraduate students--from a student's first year to their four-year/six-year graduation year, including direct support of the first year student success advising team, orientation, the Navigator program, FYE and SYE ongoing pathway programming and collaboration.
Reporting to the Associate Dean of Student Success overseeing student engagement and belonging, the Director will work closely with the first year student success team, Engagement Team, Division of Student Success, and key campus partners to create and sustain a culture of student co-curricular learning, belonging, and success. The office is housed within the Division of Student Success. The Division aspires for every student to be in a community that allows them to find their sense of purpose, cultivate their authentic selves, feel a sense of belonging, foster lifelong connections, and engage in transformational Clark experiences to change the world. Ultimately, we ethically develop graduates with the confidence to learn, persist, and grow holistically through life's challenges and leave their mark on the world.
The Director will also play a key role in developing and maintaining key relationships with other campus departments, such as Admissions, Alumni & Friends Engagement, International Center, faculty, the Dean of the College, the Graduate Schools, Residential Life & Housing, Facilities, Information Technology Services, Human Resources, University Libraries, offices within the Division of Student Success, and others. The successful candidate will take a student-centered, inclusive, and innovative approach to their work with a diverse, engaged, and intellectual student population. This position is responsible for overall transition and orientation processes for undergraduate students, the coordination of the first-year experience and direct student support through the first-year student success advising team and Navigator program, and support of the sophomore year experience to ensure student transition, retention, and success.
Departmental Leadership
- Provide leadership, vision, direction, and management of the Office of First & Sophomore Year Experience. Lead regular departmental meetings and communicate effectively with the team
- Provide supervision, feedback, training, and direction to the first-year student success advising team (5) and para-professional staff (Peer Mentors, student office assistants, etc.) in the implementation of programs, initiatives, and services
- Manage all applicable budgets, and supervise department members in their budget management
- Provide leadership in the development of campus-wide policies and student retention strategies and initiatives to support incoming, first, and sophomore year students
- Serve as a member of the Engagement Team and Division of Student Success, providing insight and leadership where applicable, supporting campus, division, and engagement goals
- Remain cognizant of the University's mission and identity, the constant promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of student voices and persistence; promote efficiency and courtesy throughout the university community and be consistent with division's mission and values
- Support key initiatives and experiences within Student Success and the University, such as opening weekend, orientation, commencement, family weekend, traditional events, etc.
- Serve as an active and responsible committee member for divisional and university-wide committees, communicate relevant information as appropriate
- Establish annual goals, key performance indicators and prepare documentation, including annual reports, assessment projects, and other materials as required.
- Oversee, direct, and maintain marketing and webpage efforts to reach and provide resources for helping the broadest audience (current and prospective students, family members, Clark faculty and staff, etc.).
- Other duties as assigned that are within the best interest of the division
Student Onboarding and First Year Experience
- Oversee the transition and development of all new full-time undergraduate students and transfer students to Clark University, including robust summer and winter onboarding and anti-melt initiatives, programming, and tracking; move-in day planning, volunteers, and execution; orientation training, scheduling, and curriculum; and pre-arrival programs, working in close collaboration with campus partners
- Coordinate new student orientation programs for students, parents, and families, including selecting and training student leaders, implementing programs, and coordinating academic advising, testing, and registration, providing new students with the information and tools necessary to thrive in a college environment, and consistently evaluating and assessing these goals and outcomes
- Coordinate the First Year Experience program connecting the transitional experiences of first-year students with various campus partners
- Coordinate and collaborate with campus partners on developing integrative first-year initiatives, including pre-arrival programs, residential living and learning communities, Navigator, bridge programs, and more.
- Develop a schedule of programs to enhance the holistic development of all new students and collaborate with members of the University community.
- Research and recommend modifications to the current first-year experience to make more intentional and formal connections between various entities of the First Year Experience (orientation, residential life, academics, Navigator).
- Provide ongoing assessment and creative and intentional initiatives to support first year student success
Sophomore Year Experience
- Coordinate and develop sustainability of support programs and interventions for the Sophomore Year.
- Work with key campus partners to build out high-impact practices to bolster Sophomore success, including the coordination and creation of bridge programs
- Address Sophomore year challenges and help students to overcome the "sophomore slump" by providing direct support services, including academic and career advisement, counseling, and tutoring support, as well as provide holistic programming focused on student persistence and success.
- Provide ongoing assessment and creative and intentional initiatives to support sophomore student success.
Facilitate retention and persistence efforts
- Coordinate and support retention initiatives for undergraduate students, including working with the University Student Success Strategic Steering Committee and the First-Year and Sophomore Tactical Groups.
- Coordinate and monitor comprehensive data concerning student retention and persistence.
- Develop recommended retention and persistence goals and strategies for improving student retention and determine additional research that should be conducted to understand retention and persistence issues and ensure that this research plan is completed.
- Compile reports and track data regarding the first year and sophomore year students to enhance strategy and provide constant communication, develop programs, and ensure student success.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Student Development, Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, or similar required.
- 2-4 years progressive experience in orientation and family programs, academic advising, student retention, or similar fields
- Awareness of contemporary standards of practice in the fields of student engagement, orientation and new student programs, belonging, inclusive advising, and retention
- Possess a high level of intercultural competence, including demonstrated experience working with students of color, international students, first generation, low socio-economic status, and LGBTQIA+ students
- Strong understanding of student development, multicultural competence, and leadership development
- Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with students, student leaders, campus partners, faculty, and the community
- Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule to support student programming needs
- Experience in supervising student and professional staff
- Experience managing, overseeing, and organizing multiple budgets
- Experience with technology preferred, including MS Office, Engage, Slate, EMS Event Management System, Qualtrics, social media, and familiarity with Banner
- Ability to manage key areas of responsibility and serve as the key decision maker for those areas
- Ability to think critically, strategically, and collaboratively to set departmental goals that contribute to the University's mission, LEEP, the Engagement Team and Division of Student Success
Additional Information:
As of June 1, 2023 Clark University no longer requires employees or students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, Clark urges all community members to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, which recommend that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including booster doses. This is important for your own personal health as well as the health of our community.
Clark University embraces equal opportunity as a core value: we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. This commitment applies to every aspect of education, services, and employment policies and practices at Clark. Our commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. All positions at Clark share in the responsibility for building a community that values diversity and the uniqueness of others by exhibiting integrity and respect in interacting with all members of the Clark community to create an atmosphere of fairness and belonging. We strongly encourage members from historically underrepresented communities, inclusive of all women, to apply.
Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.
