"Honors College Director"

Job Description

The Honors College Director will be critical to the growth and expansion of the new Honors College. Central to this role is the ability to successfully recruit and retain high-achieving students. Open to all majors, the Honors College is where ambition meets opportunity. The Honors College Director will champion expansive excellence and foster an intellectually stimulating, fun learning environment that attracts and supports high-achieving students who will be the next leaders in their chosen fields. The Honors College Director will work with all academic departments, student affairs and residential life, the Academic Success Center, the Career Development Center, Admissions, and the Registrar. Because the Honors College Director will work across numerous areas to deliver an excellent program focused on student success, the candidate must have advanced knowledge of best practices in recruitment, retention, and an ability to make data-driven decisions based on data analysis. The role will be integral in carrying out best practices in honors education, which will require an advanced knowledge of ways in which academic and student experiences lead to successful learning and career outcomes across majors. Assessing initiatives and student experiences will be critical to program development. Strong communication skills will be required, as the Honors College Director will interact with prospective students and parents, current students, faculty, staff, and administration. A strong ability to persuade those across divisions who may have competing interests will be important to the success of the program due to the broad impact of the Honors College across all undergraduate programs. Expected outcomes include the growth of the Honors College/program, increased retention rates for Honors students, and an increased sense of belonging.

Responsibilities and Results

The director’s primary activities focus on the recruitment and retention of Honors students.

Program Leadership, Development, and Coordination

Reporting to the Dean of the Honors College, provide leadership for the ongoing development, administration, and expansion of the Honors Program. Develop and implement plans to assess and report the ongoing effectiveness and performance of the Honors Program, and take corrective action when necessary. Manage, plan, coordinate, and participate in all Honors recruitment, outreach, and related retention activities to achieve enrollment objectives. Participate in campus recruitment events (e.g. Preview Days, Scholarship Days, Junior Day, etc.), meet with prospective students, engage in recruitment-oriented outreach events, visit high schools, community colleges, or college fairs as requested. Work with college Student Relations Coordinators, First Year Programs, and the Academic Success Center as needed to retain Honors students. Provide support to the Dean of the Honors College in the areas of fundraising, event planning, and other administrative tasks necessary to the success and expansion of Honors College. Track and analyze Honors student success data and make data-driven decisions. Co-Chair the Honors Committee with the Honors Experiential Learning Fellow. Prepare and manage the Honors budget. Oversee the development and maintenance of the Honors program website and marketing materials. All other duties assigned that relate to the successful development of the Honors College.

Collaboration, Teaching, Planning Implementation:

Provide direct instruction for Honors College courses as needed based off program enrollment, not to exceed 6 credits per semester. Collaborate and plan with departments and colleges to connect Honors students with the broader university community. Mentor, advise, and support Honors students in their academic and professional development. Collaborate with the Honors faculty and the Honors Experiential Learning Fellow to enhance the overall Honors student experience. Meet regularly with the Honors Student Executive Council. Collaborate with the Career Development Center to create and implement Honors-based career, business, and industry-specific partnerships.

Event Planning and Community Outreach

Engage in scholarly activities and represent the Honors Program at conferences and events. Foster membership and participation in local, regional, and national Honors organizations. Assist faculty with the implementation of the annual Student Academic Conference. Develop, plan, and implement Honors-specific student events, including extra- and co-curricular experiences. Communicate and coordinate with internal and external communities about Honors Program activities, achievements, and opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications

3 years advanced professional experience in administration and management of academic and/or student affairs programs. Strong leadership skills and ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to develop and implement strategic plans for program growth and development. Experience in budget management. Demonstrated commitment to expansive excellence in pedagogy and/or administrative practices. Ability to work successfully with students, faculty, and staff of diverse backgrounds, including sensitivity to their needs and concerns. This position provides course instruction and requires a Master’s degree in a relevant field or a discipline within the university. Excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualification

Terminal degree in a relevant field. Experience with honors program development, administration, and management. Proven track record of successful program development and implementation. Grant writing experience. Demonstrated experience collaborating across fields and/or with industry/community partners (e.g., interdisciplinary collaboration, community partnerships, etc.). Experience with high impact practices and experiential learning (e.g., undergraduate research, study abroad, undergraduate research conferences and publication, creative scholarship and exhibitions, internships and apprenticeships, learning communities, service learning, etc.).

Other Requirements

Occasional Travel Required. The successful candidate must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States by the day employment begins. Work Shift (Hours / Days of work): Monday - Friday, 8 AM- 4:30 PM. Telework: No.