25-104 Assistant Director (MAN 180) - The Academic Support & Advocacy Center

Join a vibrant campus community whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s Academic Support & Advocacy Center invites applications for the position of Assistant Director. 

There are three open positions in the areas of holistic student support, transfer student support, and data and assessment.
 
West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.
 
WCU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with generous retirement plans; many wellness programs; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities. 
 
The Academic Support & Advocacy Center (ASA) works to help support retention and close equity gaps for WCU students. The Center was established in 2022 as a new decentralized advising structure with the goal of providing holistic, collaborative support to undergraduate students. ASA also serves as a centralized structure for the institution’s student success coordinators and student advocates who focus on supporting students’ adjustment to college in the following domains: academic, cultural, emotional, financial, intellectual, and social. 

The Assistant Director will lead a team of professional student success experts within WCU’s decentralized advising structure. This structure aims to foster enhanced collaboration among departments and reduce redundancy in student support services by facilitating streamlined communication and decision-making. This position will work directly with students and with other ASA staff to assess barriers to success and connect students with necessary resources. The Assistant Director helps to ensure these processes are effective and maintains day-to-day operations. 

The ideal candidate will value teamwork and a commitment to developing the academic, professional and personal well-being of students; demonstrate experience managing programs and activities that emphasize a strengths-based approach to student success; experience assessing and evaluating programs and leading process improvements; and the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse campus partners including students,  faculty, and staff.

Responsibilities include:

• Supervise a team of experienced ASA professionals providing support to students within designated departments across campus
• Lead and train the ASA team of student support professionals
• Collaborate with colleagues across campus to design and improve the holistic student enrollment and support experience
• Collaborate with leadership on policy and continual process improvements
• Effectively design ASA programming, and outreach to support student needs
• Lead and direct efforts to connect students with academic, material, and psychological support when necessary, and collaborate with academic departments, colleges, university personnel, and outside resources when working with students, so they may receive holistic support
• Maintain a strong command of shifting academic requirements
• Other duties as assigned

• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, education or related field
• Five (5) years of experience in student counseling/support or academic advising at the college level
• Three (3) years of experience in higher education leadership or supervision
• Three (3) years of experience in student services, retention initiatives, or related areas within higher education

• Experience planning, implementing, and managing programs and activities with a strength-based approach to support student success 
• Experience managing projects 
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing process improvements
• Experience working with a diverse population primarily including faculty, students, and staff
• Experience using higher education systems including EAB Navigate, Ellucian Banner, OnBase, and Slate
• Knowledge of student development theory
• Experience managing unionized staff

These on-campus positions are eligible for limited hybrid work but are not remote. 

The ability to work occasional evenings and weekends is required.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  
 
Candidates should apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Application materials must include a resume, cover letter and references (all required for consideration).
 
Applicants must successfully complete the interview process to be considered as a finalist.

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all pre-employment background checks.

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances West Chester University’s educational mission.  West Chester University is an Affirmative Action – Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary : $84,867