Director of Early College

the college service area including Columbia State’s four campus locations, off-campus sites, and service area high schools that offer embedded courses.

The position facilitates communications of course and program requests from local education systems to the Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President of Partnerships and Southern Campuses, academic deans and the associate vice-president for faculty and programs as well as enrollment services and campus staff. The Director is the administrative lead for facilitating early college student appeals and conflict resolution.

This exempt, in-person position is primarily located on the Columbia Campus with frequent travel among the college’s service area counties to high schools.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the College’s administrative lead and liaison for all EPSOs recognized by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Department of Education; represent the College concerning the department’s activities on a local, regional, and national basis.
• Develop, implement, and assess a strategic enrollment and recruitment plan for dual enrollment and middle college students as well as the conversion of dual enrollment to first-time freshmen.
• Create and maintain strategies to increase the reverse transfer graduation rate of prior dual enrollment students.
• Facilitate all EPSO student appeals and conflict resolution while coordinating with Academic Affairs.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local high schools and school systems within Columbia State’s nine-county service area including private and home school associations.
• Coordinate and assess the processes and policies related to dual enrollment, middle college, state and local dual credit, industry certifications, CLEP, Advance Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge (EPSOs).
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, deans, extended campus staff, and local school system administrators on dual enrollment and middle college course offerings.
• Stay abreast of TBR, THEC/TSAC policies and procedures related to grant and admissions regulations.
• Create and maintain a dual enrollment and middle college student handbook and update the college web pages for high school programs.
• Create and maintain an institutional high school program calendar including deadlines and communications for administrative purposes.
• Serve as the liaison to the business office regarding high school program billing processes.
• Assist college staff in answering question issues about policies and procedures from high school dual enrollment and middle college students and parents.
• Assist the enrollment services team during peak periods with dual enrollment, middle college and academically talented and gifted admissions, registration, and orientation.
• Coordinate with the Institutional Effectiveness/Institutional Research department the collection, compilation, and analysis of all EPSO-related data for dual enrollment, middle college, academically talented and gifted, and dual credit program activity data; develop, write, edit, and present comprehensive statistical and narrative program reports and evaluations.
• Develop and maintain the dual credit and articulation agreement repository with local education agencies/schools.
• Create an onboarding orientation for new dual enrollment and middle college students.
• Provide development, oversight of programs and services that result in enrollment, progression, retention and graduation growth for the service area.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Supplemental Functions

• Assess and recommend to leadership, dual enrollment, middle college, academically talented and gifted, and dual credit policies and procedures.
• Able to work collaboratively and collegially with staff across the college and local education agencies, home school associations, and private schools.
• Participate in planning and implementing a publicity and outreach program that informs and involves dual enrollment and middle college students.
• Serve on standing and ad hoc committees as assigned.
• Supervise student employees and interns.

Education, Training, and Experience

Required:

• Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, human services, business, public administration, or related field
• Minimum three years of higher education, secondary school or customer service experience with demonstrated concern for and delivery of exceptional customer support.

Preferred:

• Experience in admissions, records, financial aid, or other related student affairs areas within a higher education or secondary school settings.
• Prior experience with student information systems and CRM is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency with standard office technologies, including Microsoft 365, MS Word, Excel, electronic calendar, instant messaging, information sourcing, etc.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal and organizational skills
• Exceptional time management skills
• Ability to work independently under general supervision and collaboratively as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work on special projects with minimal supervision and guidance
• Independent, sound decision-making and problem-solving skills

Working Conditions

• Sit or stand for prolonged periods
• Use computers to input, review, and retrieve information for extended periods
• Travel among the college’s service area counties to high schools and the state for meetings and events

Titles Supervised

Student Workers

This exempt, in-person position is primarily located on the Columbia Campus with frequent travel among the college’s service area counties to high schools

Hiring Salary Range (Annual): $55,000 - $68,740

Special Note to Applicants: Salary offers are determined based on documented education and relevant full-time experience. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all qualifying credentials and experience are clearly reflected on their resume for consideration.

All applications must be submitted online. Applications submitted by email, mail, or in person will not be accepted. The application will remain open until filled.

About Columbia State Community College:

As Tennessee’s first community college (established in 1966), Columbia State is committed to student success both in and out of the classroom, as well as economic and community development in our nine-county service area. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Columbia State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

• Vacation and Sick Leave
• 14 paid holidays
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement plans
• Optional 401K and 403B Deferred Compensation Plans
• Educational benefits for the employee and their spouse and dependents

Columbia State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies:

Executive Director of Human Resources
humanresources@columbiastate.edu
1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401
931-540-2501