Director of First-Year Experience Programs

Position/Application Information

McNeese State University invites qualified applicants to apply for the position of Director of First-Year Experience Programs.

DEPARTMENT: Office of Student Affairs

POSITION INFORMATION: This is a full-time, 12–month, unclassified position. The appointment is available to begin as early as February 1, 2025, and is intended to be filled no later than March 1, 2025.

POSITION #: U99115

SALARY: $60,000 - $67,500 based on education, qualifications, and experience

DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND MATERIALS: For the application process, applicants MUST complete an electronic application and upload required documents listed below to ensure full consideration:

• Letter of Application
• Resume
• References (name, phone number, and e-mail address of at least three)
• Unofficial Transcripts

• 
  Only completed application packets including all items listed above will be reviewed.

TO APPLY FOR THIS VACANCY, click on the “APPLY” button at the top of advertisement to complete the electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. *Required application materials WILL NOT be accepted after the deadline, if applicable. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

ALL JOB OFFERS ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE SUCCESSFUL RESULT OF A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AND RECEIPT OF OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) IF APPLICABLE.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS POSITION MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CHAIR:

Dr. Kedrick A. Nicholas, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs at knicholas@mcneese.edu

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the Employment HR Analyst:

Kim Dronett at kdronett@mcneese.edu

Position Duties/Responsibilities

The Director of First-Year Experience Programs partners with Student Success and Retention, Student Services, and other campus units to plan, lead, and oversee micro and macro programs for first-year students. This includes programming based on best practices and recent trends along with Cowboy Camp, Non-Traditional Orientation, and Freshman Convocation. The director is responsible for the following job functions:

• Plan and implementation of First-Year Experience programs at McNeese State University
• Partner with major departments on campus who are integral to the academic success of first-year students in the planning and implementation of First Year Experience programming
• Create and facilitate implementation of a curriculum and timeline that outlines learning outcomes, organizational structure, topics, and activities for first-year experience programs
• Coordinate and collaborate with freshman instructors to create learning communities to implement curriculum while integrating research-based practices that facilitate academic success
• Integrate methods and practices to identify high-risk first-year students along with strategies for addressing their needs
• Build and collaborate with the First-Year Experience Interdisciplinary Task Force to shape the vision and execution of first-year experience programming
• Monitor and evaluate learning and academic support practices built into the freshman experience
• Assess FYE overall impact on persistence and retention for continuous change and improvement
• Develop and utilize student information systems and related electronic platforms to track student communications, interventions, and outcomes
• Proactively create opportunities for student outreach, communication, intervention, and recovery based on data collected by student information systems and related electronic platforms
• Collaborate with member units of the Student Success Center to develop and integrate their services and resources into first-year experience programming
• Implement guidelines and procedures for first-year experience peer mentorship
• Develop and oversee the training of first-year experience peer mentors
• Participate in professional development activities to remain abreast of best practices and evidence-based strategies relating to student support and retention
• Participate in University activities, including committee work, student activities, and other college events
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or higher authority

Required/Preferred Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s Degree from an accredited institution
• At least three years of related professional experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience teaching and/or supervising college students
• Understanding of using computer software needed to complete job duties such as the Microsoft Office 365, Banner (or other) student information system and a campus portal platform
• Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends with prior notice

• Evidence of an energetic, student-centered approach to completion of work duties and program development

Preferred:

• Doctoral degree in student affairs, student services, higher education, educational leadership, or other field related to the position, current pursuit of doctoral degree, or a commitment to do so
• Five years or more of related experience
• Prior experience with first year experience programs
• Prior supervision experiences of individuals 18 years of age or older
• Experience formulating assessment and generating data/action reports based on findings
• Experience supervising peer mentors/tutors and managing areas of student support services for college students

General University information

McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is a public university and a member of the University of Louisiana System. Under Louisiana law, applications and all supporting materials will become public record. All applicants are expected to submit complete and accurate materials as specified in the position announcement. A background check and an English Proficiency assessment (Faculty Only) will be conducted on selected finalists. We comply with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:1001, et seq, and State of Louisiana Executive Order 98-38, which provides for drug testing of employees, appointees, prospective employees, and prospective appointees. Prospective employees and employees are informed if a drug test is required.

McNeese State University is an AA/EEO/ADA employer committed to excellence through diversity and a SAME agency (State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities) for the State of Louisiana.

Persons needing reasonable accommodations as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the ADA Coordinator, Krisshunn Youngblood, Office of Inclusive Excellence: Voice: (337) 475-5428; TDD/TTY, Hearing Impaired: (337) 562-4227; or kyoungblood@mcneese.edu.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires McNeese State University to inform applicants that the University can employ only U.S. citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Each new employee is required to present documentation verifying his/her identity and right to accept employment. McNeese participates in E-Verify.

Louisiana Revised Statute 42:31-“Eligibility requirements for certain unclassified employees”-requires any person hired or employed in an unclassified position, whose annual salary or rate of compensation is equal to or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars, provide proof to his public employer that he has been issued a Louisiana driver’s license and that all vehicles registered in his name are registered in Louisiana within thirty days of being hired or employed at such salary.

Transcripts from Foreign Universities: Prospective faculty submitting transcripts from foreign universities or schools must have the coursework evaluated for equivalency to United States-accredited coursework by a University-approved agency. The prospective faculty member is responsible for the cost of the evaluation. McNeese typically accepts evaluations by World Education Services ( or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.