"Assistant Director of Student Success"

Posting Summary

The Office of Graduate Student Life and Development at Teachers College Columbia University is seeking an Assistant Director of Student Success who will support academic engagement.

Reporting to the Director of Student Success, the Assistant Director will function as a member of the Graduate Student Life and Development team to support academic engagement. The Assistant Director will work directly on New Student Orientation, doctoral programming, and academic support services, focusing on programs, resources, and initiatives that ensure students’ success from entry to graduation.

The incumbent will be essential to the in-person office operations, including event planning and facilitation, front desk support, and maintaining an on-campus presence to engage directly with students, with occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.

Job Summary/Basic Function

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Academic Support and Engagement

• Assist the Director of Student Success with all aspects of Fall, Spring, and Summer New Student Orientation (NSO). This involves in-person attendance at events, program preparation and execution, managing TC’s virtual orientation platform to provide a digital engagement opportunity for all remote and non-attending students.
• Support targeted programming to address the specific academic needs of various student populations, including master’s, doctoral, and first-gen students.
• Identify key milestones and developmental moments for Doctoral and Masters students and create targeted programming and opportunities to meet needs for engagement and support
• Host monthly Doctoral student programs that target academic support
• Implement academic support services and workshops to assist with academic success, primarily in areas of academic readiness.

Academic Readiness Advising

• Work with TC students to enhance their academic skills, focusing on achieving clarity in their work, ensuring assignment requirements are met.
• Improving organizational habits, and encouraging effective use of support sources and materials.
• Support TC students in developing awareness of their academic style and skills, and provide academic strategies that strengthen their academic journey.
• Develop, implement, and assess academic support milestone-focused workshops and engagement programming for Master's and Doctoral students, including but not limited to the planning and execution of a Faculty Master Class series
• Contribute to the growth and engagement of the Doctoral Cohort Program by supporting doctoral students' initiatives and fostering opportunities for advanced academic development and collaboration.
• Serve as a resource for students navigating academic policies, procedures, and institutional expectations.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to connect students with academic support resources.
• Track student engagement with advising services and assess the impact on retention and Support.

General GSLD Duties

• Assist with office administrative functions and supervision of student employees. This includes the full lifecycle of student personnel: recruitment, hiring, training, and scheduling.
• Support with all office and College-wide events and programs
• Serve as campus representative knowledgeable of resources and services available to students through Teachers College and Columbia University
• Represent GSLD on campus-wide committees and meetings as assigned by the Senior Associate Director
• Assist with maintaining up-to-date program and service information across office communication platforms (website, newsletters, etc.).
• Work with staff in fostering student engagement in the learning process through intentional programs, and provide a high level of personal contact
• Partner with faculty, staff, and campus offices

Other duties as assigned

This job summary is not intended to be inclusive of all expectations for this position

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education, training and experience
• 2-4 years of related experience
• Strong computer skills (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google, Canva) as well as the ability to use web-based technology
• Experience with providing exemplary customer service
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while being detail-oriented and self-motivated
• Diligent attention to detail and meticulous record-keeping
• Demonstrated ability to supervise student staff
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative, innovative, and communicative environments that promote student success through mentorship and advising
• Demonstrated success in event and program management
• Ability to work effectively to create a culture of collegial relationships with all constituents, including students/alumni, faculty and administration
• Sound professional judgment and a strong sense of ethics
• Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed
• Must be able to work in a standard office setting, sit or stand for extended periods, lift up to 20 lbs, and travel as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Education Leadership, or a related field
• Understanding of the general doctoral student experience
• Experience working with faculty and academic departments
• Proven ability and experience working with web-based platforms such as Salesforce, Banner, Canvas, etc.

Salary Range

$63k-$68k

Work Modality

Onsite