CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Director, First Year Experience / Position Control Number: 001302
Department: University College / Reports To: Associate Dean, University College
Supervises: N/A / Classification:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Director of First Year Experience (FYE) provides leadership for the delivery of an exceptional FYE for first year students at Central State University (CSU). As the designated FYE Leader, the Director coordinates and evaluates the programs for New Student Orientation. First Year Seminar/Convocation, Learning Communities, Service Learning and Engagement, and other components that constitute FYE at SCU, and ensures that FYE helps University College and CSU to achieve its first year student retention, course completion and graduation goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·  Ensure quality-efficient programs and services are provided during the first year

·  Effectively plan, develop, and implement New Student Orientation/Enrollment days in conjunction with Enrollment Management each semester and summer to help first-year students prepare for transition into college life

·  Create the Service Learning Curriculum in collaboration with Student Affairs and Academic Affairs units

·  Coordinate the First Year Seminars and Learning Community Program in conjunction with the Director, Office of Academic Advising and Assistance which includes selection, training, and evaluation of faculty; the management of learning community registration, and the development of all program publicity

·  Develop and implements strategies for increasing student, faculty, and staff participation in retention programs.

·  Identify areas of needed change that would increase student retention in a continuous improvement environment.

·  Develop policy recommendations on solutions, alternative systems and procedures that will increase retention.

·  Serve as a clearinghouse for information on developing a customer service culture at the University.

·  Provide faculty and staff with professional development and training on our retention philosophy, systems, and tools.

·  Conduct workshops, and seminars on retention issues.

·  Perform needs-assessment, planning, data collection and analysis in order to make continual improvement to on-going retention programs.

·  Establish and maintain a Retention Program website which would include student, staff, and faculty resources and tools.

·  Work with outside consultants as necessary to assist in retention programs.

·  Coordinate the development and expansion of the campus and community partnerships necessary for service-learning programs

·  Work collaboratively with Student Affairs to plan and implement Freshman Academy and First Week CSU events

·  Work with the Student Leadership & Development Officer to plan, develop and implement student development activities for first-year students throughout the academic year

·  Oversee the CSU Parent Involvement Program

·  Coordinate First Year Retention Advisory Council and other similar working groups

·  Effectively develop, administer, and assess the Summer Reading Program

·  Work with Residence Hall Coordinators to implement evening and weekend programs

·  Use social media and other tools to provide information to first-year and transfer students

·  Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·  Demonstrated knowledge in areas that impact student retention, course completion, and graduation

·  Strong leadership and coordination skills

·  Ability to work well in collaboration with others

·  Proven success in the areas of early academic intervention, and program development

·  Exemplary communication skills (both written and oral)

·  Demonstrated computer competency and preferably knowledgeable of Power Point, Publisher, Outlook, and other software programs

MININIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

·  Earned Master’s Degree in Higher Education or related field

·  Minimum of 3-5 years of administrative and leadership experience involving first-year student experience and engagement and/or student success program development, implementation and evaluation

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·  Demonstrated knowledge in areas that impact student retention, course completion, and graduation

·  Strong leadership and coordination skills

·  Ability to work well in collaboration with others

·  Proven success in the areas of early academic intervention, and program development

·  Exemplary communication skills (both written and oral)

·  Demonstrated computer competency and preferably knowledgeable of PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, and other software programs

CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

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5/19/08