| Position Summary |
Reporting to the Executive Director for University Student Success in the University College, the Student Success Director leads a dynamic and diverse team consisting of staff members across different levels, external partners, student employees, as well as interns and graduate assistants. Their primary objective is to foster seamless collaboration with college deans and faculty to guide freshman and sophomore students in making well-informed decisions regarding their academic plans and career trajectories. This role requires supporting students in transitioning between paths, actively contributing to the college leadership’s strategic direction by leveraging your expertise in student success and leading activities and initiatives aimed at enhancing student retention, progression, and persistence.
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 9,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 166,000 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.
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| Primary Duties and Responsibilities |
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Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a multifaceted team comprising staff members, student employees, interns, and graduate assistants. Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages innovation, growth, and synergy among team members. Develop effective on-boarding and professional growth opportunities for team members.
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Training and Development: Encourage engagement in professional development opportunities for all team members as appropriate and share relevant opportunities with department chairs and faculty. Develop internal presentations or workshops to inform the university community on advising and retention best practices.
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Strategic Partnership: Establish and nurture effective partnerships with college deans, internal stakeholders, and external partners to align academic and career pathways with students’ aspirations and market demands.
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Student Guidance and Support: Provide comprehensive guidance to freshmen and sophomore students, facilitating informed decisions related to their academic and career journeys. Assist students in understanding the financial implications of their choices, ensuring responsible decision-making. Guide students in self-advocacy strategies to overcome academic challenges.
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Pathway Flexibility: Develop strategies to support students in seamlessly transitioning between academic and career pathways, enabling them to explore and pivot as needed.
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Expertise Contribution: Contribute your deep expertise in student success to the college’s leadership discussions, aiding in the formulation of strategies that enhance overall student outcomes, including faculty development.
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Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize data analysis and relevant metrics to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement in academic advising and student retention practices.
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Resource Responsibility: Leverage personnel and budgetary resources to best support the work of the college-based Student Success team.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
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| Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities |
- Knowledge of current professional literature trends in academic advising, and University and degree requirements.
- Ability to interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community, students, family members, and the public.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information; maintain files accurately, in paper and in software programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, SungardHE Banner).
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Strong planning, collaboration and time-management skills.
- Ability to efficiently operate a personal computer and associated software (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.) and SungardHE Banner.
- Knowledge of APSU undergraduate degree requirements.
- Ability to diffuse challenging situations.
- Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately, both verbally and in writing.
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| Physical Requirements |
- Sedentary Work- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
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| Required Minimum Qualifications |
- Master’s degree in Education, College Student Personnel, Higher Education, Psychology, Communications, or closely related field
- Minimum of three (3) years experience in higher education advising or student success initiatives experience.
- A background check will be required of the successful candidate.
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