Assistant Director of Student Belonging and Cultural Inclusion

ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION VACANCY

Title (Function): Assistant Director of Student Belonging
Department: Student Services
Reporting To: Director of Student Life
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: $49,500.00. Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Click here for more information!
Open Date: 04/18/2025
Close Date: 05/05/2025 11:59 PM MST

SECTION
I - OUR VALUES CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE

At CMU, we believe
in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to
form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the
pursuit of new possibilities. It's this courage that enables the Mavily to explore
new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no
perfect idea.

From this place of humility and courage, we've built a culture of resilience.
We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming
challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is
constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless
curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing
opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community
rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities
for growth and advancement.

Inspired by the soul of the West-the spirit that our region embodies-we emerge
as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a
Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared
vision of the world we aspire to create.

Colorado Mesa University Core Values
Love - Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and
others
Dignity - Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and
believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill
Courage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities
Humility - Suspending one's ego and pride to recognize that no idea
is perfect and being open to the input of others
Resiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes,
overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity
Curiosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown
Power - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to
achieve our goals

SECTION
II - THE SEAT

At CMU, we look at
every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat
contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and
accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships
that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric
organization, a priority is to ensure we have the "right seats" in our
organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are
defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the
seats.

OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS

The Assistant Director of Student Belonging plays a pivotal role
in advancing the university's mission to foster an environment of belonging to
support students. This role focuses on recruitment, retention, and the success
of students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, ensuring
their sense of community and belonging at Colorado Mesa University. The
position coordinates with and supports student life activities and collaborates
with multiple departments to ensure the success of student groups from varying
backgrounds.

This role provides Leadership, Management, and Accountability (LMA) for student inclusion initiatives and serves as the advisor to the Cultural
Inclusion Council, supporting all of the various student Alliances and Associations.
This component of the position accounts for roughly a quarter of the time.

Additionally, the role involves programming for cultural celebrations and
fostering a sense of belonging on campus in conjunction with community
organizations and partners as necessary and applicable. Including also outreaches
to departments, clubs, teams, and individual students as necessary to provide
the best opportunity for all students to feel welcome and belong to our campus. This component of the position accounts
for roughly three quarters of the time.

• Team Oversight: Manages
  student leaders in various cultural organizations.
  
• Decision-Making: Strategic
  decision-making responsibilities include planning programs, improving
  belonging initiatives, and managing resources to achieve goals related to
  belonging and engagement.
  
• Financial
  Management: Responsible for budget oversight related to student belonging
  events, programs, and Cultural Inclusion Council.

  SECTION III - OUR DESIRES FOR RIGHT FIT

  For the success of our mission and our
  teams, we desire to have individuals who are a "Right Fit" in our seats. We
  define "Right Fit" as those who embrace our culture, demonstrate our values,
  understand the seat and what is required. We seek individuals wanting this
  seat, desire to be a part of a bigger vision and have the capacity to be a
  successful member of our CMU team.

  
  CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS

• 
  Knowledge and
  Skills: Strong background in student affairs, academic advising, and belonging
  and engagement practices. Knowledge of program management, budget
  oversight, and conflict resolution.
  
• Emotional
  Intelligence and Cultural Communication: The candidate must demonstrate
  the ability to empathize with students from diverse backgrounds, be
  self-aware, and facilitate effective communication between students,
  staff, and faculty.
  
• Heart Capacity: The ideal
  candidate will possess humility and courage in handling delicate cultural
  discussions while fostering a supportive and nurturing environment for all
  students.
  
• Effort and
  Hours: Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends for events and
  programs.
  
• Capacity for
  Leadership: The candidate must be able to manage multiple student-led
  initiatives and foster an environment of collaboration and growth.
  
  

  ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR RIGHT FIT

• 
  Experience: Minimum of
  three years of experience in student services, particularly in supporting
  underrepresented student populations.
  
• Education: Bachelor's
  degree required; master's degree preferred in a relevant field such as
  student affairs, counseling, or diversity/inclusion studies.
  
• Desired
  Expertise: Experience in academic advising, program management, conflict
  resolution, and multicultural programming.

  Reasonable
  accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
  the essential functions.

  DISCLAIMER - This position description is only a summary of the typical
  functions of this seat, and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and
  areas of accountability.
  
  DIRECT INQUIRIES
  CONTACT: Trey Downey, tedowney@coloradomesa.edu
  
  HOW TO APPLY: Applicants will be
  asked to complete an online application by creating a profile and then
  providing personal and demographic information. In addition, please be prepared
  to upload a:



• Cover letter
  
• Resume
  
• Include the name,
  phone number, email address and relationship of at least three professional
  references who can attest to your ability to perform the job you are applying
  for. Professional references should include at least one current or former
  supervisor. Professional reference may also include current or former
  employers, colleagues or other professionals who have first-hand knowledge and
  can recommend you for employment.
  
• Copy of
  transcripts for all degrees completed (if your transcripts include a social
  security number or birthdate, please redact that information before uploading
  the document. Official transcripts will be required upon hire)

  ABOUT
  COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY

  A comprehensive
  university in Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa University provides exceptional
  educational opportunities on a state-of-the-art campus. As western Colorado's
  largest university, CMU serves students on its main campus in Grand Junction,
  its satellite campus in Montrose, its technical college, CMU Tech, and via
  online offerings.
  
  Colorado Mesa
  University serves as the primary intellectual and cultural center of western
  Colorado and promotes the exchange of ideas that are of regional, national, and
  international importance. Founded in 1925, it is a dynamic university enrolling
  10,000 students at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels.
  
  At the heart of
  the CMU experience is an integrative and experiential approach to higher
  education that encourages students to think differently and empowers them to
  challenge assumptions. CMU brings students together with expert scholars and
  thinkers from different disciplines to make connections between ideas and gain
  the skills to solve the unstructured, complex problems they will encounter in
  life. Our focus is on providing quality academic programs, built on a strong
  liberal arts core that supports students' interests and regional employment
  needs, as well as technical programs that respond to vocational workforce
  demands.
  
  The Grand Valley is
  home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the state of Colorado and you
  will not have to fight traffic and crowds to enjoy it. CMU is surrounded by the
  Grand Mesa, Book Cliffs, and the Colorado National Monument. We have
  world-class mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, and a mountain
  resort that's less than 45 minutes from campus for skiing, snowboarding, and
  cross-country skiing. Living and working in Grand Junction, you will be able to
  explore one of Colorado's best kept secrets.
  
  Colorado Mesa
  University is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working
  with students from diverse backgrounds and who have a demonstrated commitment
  to improving the levels of access and success for underrepresented students
  within higher education.
  
  Colorado Mesa
  University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living
  community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all
  final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations
  include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when
  appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. Applicant must be able
  to verify U.S. employment eligibility. Colorado Mesa University is an Equal
  Opportunity Employer, committed to a culturally diverse faculty, staff and
  student body. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Any person with a
  disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided
  reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an
  employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact the CMU
  Human Resources Office by phone or email. You may be asked to provide
  additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional
  limitations and the type of accommodation needed.

  
  Colorado Mesa University
  
  Attn: Human Resources Office
  
  1100 North Avenue
  
  Grand Junction, CO 81501

  
  970.248.1820