Dean of Students and Chief Retention Officer

Position Summary:

The Dean of Students and Chief Retention Officer serves as a senior leader in the division with significant responsibility for managing the university-wide efforts on student success, sense of belonging, student life, and strategic initiatives that drive and increase persistence and completion. This role also serves as the 'second in command' in the division of student affairs, managing crises, leading the division in the absence of the vice president, and providing support for division needs. The Dean will provide vision and leadership for fostering a robust and inclusive undergraduate student co-curricular experience. Mount Mary University is an ethnically rich and culturally diverse campus community with continued success in serving students from historically marginalized backgrounds. Nearly 70% of undergraduate students identify as students of color, 55% first-generation students and 72% Pell-Eligible students. This position provides a unique opportunity for a professional to contribute meaningfully to the institution's priorities around community through the lens of equity and inclusion.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Achieve a comprehensive and integrated approach to improving retention and timely graduation rates of all undergraduate students by providing collaborative leadership and strategic guidance while serving as the universities chief retention officer.
• Provide institutional focus on supporting historically marginalized students towards success while implementing best practices that are culturally relevant and responsive.
• Provide vision, leadership, collaboration, and direction that connects curricular and co-curricular initiatives that drive increased retention and completion rates.
• Create a robust and inclusive co-curricular experience for all undergraduate students.
• Supervise the staff in the Student Success Center and the Student Life Department and create synergies amongst the areas that lead to an increase sense of belonging and student success.
• Lead efforts in continuing enrollment for each semester, including new and continuing student registration, tracking, reporting and managing the work of the staff who drives student re-enrollment.
• Oversee withdrawal processes and procedures, meeting with students who plan to withdraw from the university to troubleshoot barriers for success prior to their final decision.
• Manage division-wide assessment, data analysis and learning outcomes to make data-informed decisions that focus on continuous improvement and increased retention and completion.
• Track necessary data on retention, completion, persistence, engagement and provide regular reports to the cabinet and board of trustees as needed.
• Serve on the senior leadership within the division of student affairs, representing the division as needed and collaborating across areas towards increasing retention and completion rates.
• Respond to student and campus crises, support the needs of the division, and act as the vice president in their absence.
• Act as a Conduct Officer, when deemed necessary, and Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, special projects, and serve on additional university wide teams or committees as assigned.

Skills and Experience:

• Earned Master's degree in higher education administration (or similar degree).
• At least five years of progressive professional experience within higher education.

• Experience related to student success, persistence and/or retention and sense of belonging.
• Knowledge of diverse students' needs, including students who are first-generation, Pell recipients, and those from historically marginalized backgrounds.
• Characterized as a strategic thinker; proactive problem-solver; solutions-oriented and hands-on; willing to operate at both strategic and tactical levels as needed; team player.

Qualifications:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform primary functions.
• This position description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Dean of Students and Chief Retention Officer role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.

Physical Demands:

• May be required to lift up to 20 lbs.
• Must reach, bend, stoop, lift
• Must sit, walk, or stand
• Some repetitive motion may be required

Working Conditions:

• Varying workflow; sometimes stressful with high workload times of the year
• Complete work required within a limited space
• Complete work required within a limited time

Mount Mary University practices equal opportunity employment as part of our ongoing commitment to diversity in our workplace.

Mount Mary University encourages applications from all qualified candidates and is vitally committed to all aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from qualified candidates and all will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, pregnancy, disability, genetic information or any other groups protected by law. Mount Mary seeks to hire and retain personnel who will make a positive contribution to its mission, vision and values.

For more information about diversity, equity and inclusion at Mount Mary please visit http://www.mtmary.edu/about/diversity