"Director of First-Year Transitional Programs"

Description

The Director of First-Year Transitional Programs directs all aspects of the College’s summer Bridge program and the First-Year Summit, which are programs designed to support the successful “bridge in” of first-year students to campus and help them retain and succeed. The Director will train all First-Year Summit Guides in classroom management and pedagogy, first-year transition best practices, and essential campus resources and student policies and procedures. The Director will also serve as a Guide for two Summit sections. It is essential that this individual collaborate closely and productively with all campus areas responsible for student success, including, but not limited to, the Office of Student Success, the Labor Program Office, Admissions, Student Life, and Athletics.

Your Key Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Direct the Summer Bridge Program, a four-week pre-matriculation program for first-year students:
  • Work with campus partners, including Office of Student Success and Transition, Labor, Student Life, and others to ensure coordination of all aspects of students’ learning, working, and living experience on campus
  • Collaborate with the Dean of Faculty Development to recruit and guide faculty regarding pedagogy and course development in advance of and during Bridge
  • Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student labor teaching assistant/resident assistants for the program
  • Oversee all Bridge-related expenses
  • Oversee all team building and student success extracurricular activities in collaboration with Student Life
  • Assess program goals and outcomes
  • Coordinate the response to any problems or issues concerning Bridge students
  • Support Bridge students throughout their first year via regular meetings and events
• Direct the First-Year Summit, an access and success program designed to set students on a path to success focusing on transitional support from high school to college, academic success skill development, and corresponding personal and professional development.
  • Recruit, train, and develop Summit Guides who are professional staff at the College
  • Continue to stay fully informed of student needs and best practices to ensure quality of the program at large;
  • Oversee the activities and curriculum of the program
  • Work closely with the Labor Program to ensure hours are accurately monitored and Guides are familiar with related Labor Program policies
  • Work closely with Student Success and Transition and advising to ensure Guides are familiar with academic policy and follow best practice in assisting students
  • Regularly develop and implement develop assessment and evaluation strategies for continuous improvement
• Serve as a Summit Guide for at least two sections
• Supervise students, including scheduling, assigning, approving and assessing work performed. The fourth great commitment is to promote learning and serving in community through the student labor program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. The Supervision would include scheduling, assigning and approving work performed. Developing students about common workplace acumen and giving them tangible work experience is an expected outcome. To learn more about the student labor program and requirements on this position see: Labor Program Goals

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a constructive learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.

What You'll Bring

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Master’s degree required

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Demonstrated success in teaching and/or training.
• Three years of relevant experience
• A record of outstanding student success programming direction and a commitment to access
• Experience working with students and diverse populations

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of best practices for supporting the unique needs of first-year students
• Classroom experience in postsecondary or K-12 education
• Essential qualities include initiative, flexibility, creativity, and commitment to collaboration
• Evidence of strong leadership as well as organization and communication skills
• Excellent oral/written communication and superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work constructively and collaboratively in a team setting
• Strong organizational skills and capacity to set priorities and attention to detail.
• Significant experience in program planning, coordination, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated aptitude for analyzing data and applying findings to direct student success programming, track student success, and implement continuous improvement efforts.
• Computer skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Required background checks
• Driver’s license

Environmental conditions:

• Fast-paced indoor office environment, interactions across campus and in public venues
• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty
• Occasional travel required for meetings, conferences, etc.

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment: computer, photocopier/scanner, phone, etc.
• Ability to drive a van for student outings as part of the Bridge program