Associate Director of Residence Life, Student Outreach & Assessment - 003559

Associate Director of Residence Life, Student Outreach & Assessment - 003559

Western Carolina University

Department: Residential Living

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

This is a live-on campus position. As a condition of employment, the Associate Director of Residence Life, Student Outreach and Assessment is required to reside in university-provided housing on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.

This position is designated as exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA).

The Associate Director of Residence Life, Student Outreach and Assessment, serves as a member of the central management team, advancing the academic mission of the Office of Residence Life, the Department of Residential Living, and Western Carolina University. This position bridges academics and residential life by integrating the universitys educational priorities into the residential experience while supervising three Residential Case Managers.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading residential learning communities and departmental retention initiatives that support student success
• Providing departmental leadership in staff selection, training, and professional development
• Serving as a consultant to residence life staff on academic integration and student support strategies
• Conducting comprehensive assessment of residential programs and services to ensure continuous improvement
• Developing and delivering training on supporting at-risk and vulnerable student populations

The Associate Director reports to the Director of Residence Life.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Interested candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship or any other immigration-related assistance.
• Masters Degree in College Student Personnel, Education, Human Services, Higher Education in Student Affairs or related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years demonstrated experience coordinating student learning activities in a higher education environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two (2) or more years of experience designing and implementing academic initiatives within residential settings, such as living and learning communities, first-year experience programs, or faculty collaborations.
• Two (2) or more years of experience in academic support or enhancement roles, including teaching, peer mentoring coordination, or residential academic programming.
• Demonstrated experience developing assessment instruments, evaluation plans, surveys, or data analysis reports to measure program effectiveness.
• Five (5) or more years of progressive leadership experience in residence life, student affairs, housing operations, or related student-centered field.
• Two (2) or more years of direct supervisory experience managing undergraduate and/or graduate student staff, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation.

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered, you must apply online. Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of professional references to complete the application process.

Review of applications will begin immediatly and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

For questions or additional information, please contact Stephanie Sue Rowell at shelmers@wcu.edu