Assistant Director

Job Title:

Assistant Director, First Year Experience

Location:

Americus, Georgia

Regular/Temporary:
Regular

Full/Part Time:
Full-Time

Job

Georgia Southwestern State University is a state university serving a diverse population of students, offering a range of strong undergraduate and graduate programs in a vibrant learning environment. The University is a collegial community that values collaboration and community engagement with an emphasis on faculty, staff, and student interactions. An active student body and state-of-the-art amenities enhance the learning experience on a visually appealing campus located in historic Americus, Georgia.

Georgia Southwestern State University aspires to be an engaged, progressive, and inclusive university that serves as a vibrant center of learning, culture, and economic development for Southwest Georgia and beyond.

This position is responsible for providing orientation, success, transition, retention, and academic development of university students through the implementation of First‑Year Experience and Student Success programs and initiatives.

• Oversees and develops new student orientation and transition programs. (40%)
  • Develop, plan, implement, and assess all new first‑year and transfer undergraduate student orientation and transition programs.
  • Coordinate STORM Days and registration days.
  • Develop and maintain an online orientation program for students unable to attend orientation in person.
  • Oversee the development and maintenance of the new student orientation website and new student guide.
  • Hire, train, and supervise a group of student orientation leaders.
  • Teach assigned sections of the leadership courses.
  • Serve on orientation committees.
  • Collaborate with student services departments and faculty for developing orientation and registration programs.
  • Coordinate the planning of FYE workshops and programs to support student success, transition, and retention.
• Advises students. (35%)
  • Provides academic advisement to students.
  • Creates and modifies schedules for incoming freshmen.
  • Assists students with course selection, registration, and schedule revision.
  • Monitors and tracks advisee progress.
  • Maintains correspondence with advisees concerning appointments and other matters.
  • Refers students to campus and community resources.
  • Processes drop/add forms, withdrawal forms, registration, name changes, and changes in programs of study.
  • Develops and supports procedures for identifying at‑risk students.
  • Assists students with changes in majors.
  • Work collaboratively with Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and other related departments to provide holistic student advisement and support.
  • Collaborate with university constituent groups to advance Momentum Approach priorities.
  • Responsible for student retention through intentional outreach initiatives, intrusive advising, and academic partnerships.
• Coordinates the development of Parent and Family Programs (15%)
  • Plan and implement parent/family programs and resources.
  • Create intentional, coordinated, and high‑impact experiences for parents and family members.
  • Coordinate family programs including receptions and Family Weekends.
• Performs a variety of related duties. (10%)
  • Including but not limited to new student orientation, STORM Day, registration days, and Parent/Family programs.
  • Keeps abreast of current best practices related to First‑Year Experience, New Student Orientation, and Academic Advising.
  • Maintains up‑to‑date knowledge and implements continuous best practices related to student development, diversity and inclusion, and student engagement.
  • Maintains a thorough knowledge of federal, state, USG, and university policies and regulations as they relate to student engagement and success.
  • Serve as an instructor for an academic renewal course when necessary.

Master's degree in a course of study related to the occupational field required.

More than five years of related experience required.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

• Knowledge of university policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of computers and job‑related…