Assistant Director of Early Support

About Worcester State University:

WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY is a liberal arts and sciences university with a long tradition of academic excellence dating back to 1874, as well as an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to reflect the diversity of its community. Our workforce is dedicated to academic quality, student-centered programming, engaged citizenship, open exchanges of ideas, diversity and inclusiveness, and civility and integrity. We are looking for job applicants who share these values and commitment to our students.

Worcester State is centrally located in Massachusetts, about an hour's drive from Boston, Springfield, and Providence, Rhode Island. Our 58-acre campus is nestled in the residential northwest side of Worcester--the second largest city in New England and home to 37,000 college students at more than a dozen colleges and universities. Over 6,000 of those students attend Worcester State--approximately 5,300 are undergraduates and 1,000 are graduate students. Learn more about us at worcester.edu/about.

Job Description:

OFFICIAL TITLE: Assistant Director of Early Support
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Interim Assistant Dean of Academic Services, Retention, and Success
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Reengagement Specialists

General Statement of Duties: The Assistant Director of Early Support oversees the institution's Early Support systems encompassing a range of crucial responsibilities. The Assistant Director of Early Support will spearhead the continued development and implementation of effective Early Support systems aimed at identifying at-risk students and initiating timely interventions. Utilizing data analytics, you'll monitor student progress, identify trends, and predict potential retention issues. Collaboration with academic advisors, faculty, and student support services is essential to coordinate interventions and support strategies for all students. Serving as a student advocate, the Assistant Director of Early Support will connect individuals facing challenges with appropriate resources and support services. The Assistant Director will ensure that the Early Support system supports the university's Strategic Plan and Enrollment Management Plan.

(E) = Essential

1. (E) Assume primary responsibility of the Early Support retention software system for maximizing the success and retention of at-risk students, anticipating, and evaluating likely needs and obstacles.
2. (E) Collaborate with faculty and staff to develop new data collection and reporting strategies as needed for the Early Support system.
3. (E) Inventory and evaluate current campus data sources for viability, accuracy, and inclusion in Early Support to optimize existing reports when possible.
4. (E) Assist in the identification of students for participation in Early Support cohorts.
5. (E) Implement and monitor Census and Mid-Semester Progress Surveys each semester and support follow-up initiatives for students identified as in need of support.
6. (E) Solve minor technical issues with Early Support and other software systems.
7. (E) Collaborate with IT in the support, maintenance, and development of the Early Support system and the range of features offered to support student persistence, retention, and degree completion.
8. (E) Schedule, coordinate, conduct, and lead all Early Support training for faculty and staff.
9. (E) Identify priorities, strategic goals, and action plan items to enhance Early Support to increase student persistence, retention, and progress to degree completion.
10. (E) Serve as a liaison to faculty and staff in the development/improvement of programs that enhance student success.
11. (E) Serve as a student advocate, connecting individuals facing challenges with appropriate resources and support services.
12. (E) Create training guides and marketing materials, print and web, to increase faculty and staff usage of flags, kudos, and referrals.
13. (E) Use a variety of technological systems to organize retention resources and related data, compose and prepare correspondence, and create reports, and other materials.
14. (E) Develop, maintain, and communicate a complete list of support services for faculty and staff to reference when needing retention assistance.
15. (E) Support outreach efforts designed to increase persistence, retention, and graduation of students.
16. (E) Design and implement mentorship programs geared toward the persistence and retention of assigned student populations.
17. (E) Actively participate in campus committees, task forces, and working groups related to student retention, academic support, or other relevant areas, contributing insights and expertise to support the university's mission and goals.
18. All other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• Experience in an educational setting providing and/or coordinating services related to enhancing student success.
• Computer literacy skills and ability to manage computer programs to acquire, interpret, and use data to guide one's work.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a complex environment with competing projects, within a broad framework and institutional priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact and work collaboratively with diverse populations of students, staff, and faculty.
• Commitment to campus efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with student administration systems such as Datatel/Colleague.
• Experience with an Early Alert System (Starfish, Navigate, etc.)

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, benefited, exempt, professional APA position. The firm annual salary for this position is $80,000. The anticipated start date for this position is August 1, 2026.

Here at Worcester State University, it is strongly recommended that all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they begin employment.

Worcester State University offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• a choice of 8 different pre-taxed, health insurance plan options
• a choice of pension or 401(a), and supplemental plan retirement options
• life insurance up to 8x the annual salary
• long-term disability coverage
• dental insurance
• 20 vacation days accrued per year
• 15 sick days accrued per year
• 5 personal days per year
• paid holidays
• tuition remission for self, spouse, and dependent children
• and more...

We are an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. M/F/D/V. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:

Applicants must apply online and may do so by visiting www.worcester.edu/careers, and submitting a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of three professional references.

For assistance with uploading materials, log a ticket via the HelpDesk link, or contact us directly at 508-929-8053.

URL: www.worcester.edu