What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Belonging and Student Success Programs position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
The Director of Belonging and Student Success Programs will work to provide an inclusive environment committed to the success of all students and to enhance a shared sense of connection to student life at the University. This work will include providing oversight to programs and services that enhance a student’s capacity for critical thought on community and belonging, as well as their ability to engage across differences and create inclusive spaces. The Director will also provide leadership to Native Student Programs and the Barner McDuffie House.
This work will be highly collaborative with other offices in the lntercultural Collective and across the Division. In this role, the Director uses wellness, student development, and community building frameworks to provide programming, individualized and group-based developmental advising and coaching to support students. The Director collaborates with the Executive Director to plan, implement, and evaluate unique engagement activities that promote community, fellowship, and a sense of belonging among students.
Education and Experience
Tools/Equipment
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community
Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.
The Director of Belonging and Student Success Programs will work to provide an inclusive environment committed to the success of all students and to enhance a shared sense of connection to student life at the University. This work will include providing oversight to programs and services that enhance a student’s capacity for critical thought on community and belonging, as well as their ability to engage across differences and create inclusive spaces. The Director will also provide leadership to Native Student Programs and the Barner McDuffie House.
This work will be highly collaborative with other offices in the lntercultural Collective and across the Division. In this role, the Director uses wellness, student development, and community building frameworks to provide programming, individualized and group-based developmental advising and coaching to support students. The Director collaborates with the Executive Director to plan, implement, and evaluate unique engagement activities that promote community, fellowship, and a sense of belonging among students.
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree required.
- Must have a minimum of three years of higher education experience developing, and/or providing student and/or employee programming focused on student connection, belonging, and community building.
- Demonstrated knowledge of current and historical theories, practices, and trends related to student development through student connection and the ability to understand and adapt to cultural difference within a group/environment effectively.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills.
- Ability and willingness to work in a team-oriented environment.
- Excellent writing and editing skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media platforms
- Provide administrative and programmatic oversight for student community building and belonging programs initiatives, which may include budget, marketing, communications, event planning, and student outreach efforts.
- Provide leadership to the assistant director, program manager and coordinators to appropriately and effectively manage all services and staff of Belonging and Student Success programs.
- Participates in the coordination, orientation, training and on-boarding for professional and student staff in the lntercultural Collective.
- Work in close partnership with the Executive Director and colleagues within the Collective and across the division and campus in efforts to promote a sense of connection, community, and belonging.
- Develop educational opportunities, and initiatives that promote students’ development of intercultural competence, including the planning and celebration of various heritage months. Compile an annual report on programming conducted by Belonging and Student Success Programs.
- Hire, train, and supervise graduate students to provide theory to practice support for programs, events and other belonging activities.
- Lead the staff of 113 Euclid and the Barner McDuffie House staff to coordinate programs and manage communications with the campus community and greater community regarding announcements, engagement events, and activities for students.
- Participate in the planning and implementation student success programming to include mentoring programs and historical celebratory months. Provide support and advise cultural student groups where possible
- Lead the planning and implementation of large-scale events for students.
- Provide oversight to staff supporting student success mentoring programs.
- Serve on divisional and campus committees as requested/needed.
- Assist in the oversight of graduate and student employees of the intercultural Collective.
Tools/Equipment
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community
Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.
