Assistant Dean, Student Experience

Job Description

Fairfield University is a co‑educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200‑acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT.

The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools:
The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles

F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development.

As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Academic

Egan School

Fairfield, CT campus, Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

May be required to attend off‑hour meetings and events, and travel to the Austin campus, as necessary.

Exempt, Supervisor

The Assistant Dean for Student Experience works closely with academic departments to coordinate and align student experience with program requirements, including the development of streamlined processes for addressing student progression concerns and facilitating access to appropriate university resources. This role is responsible for progression monitoring and student success initiatives across undergraduate and graduate programs in the Egan School, and oversees advising systems, early alert and risk identification processes, and individualized student support strategies to promote student retention, progression, and completion.

Works closely with Department Chairs, Program Directors, faculty, and university student support offices to ensure consistent advising practices, proactive student engagement, and coordinated interventions for students experiencing academic or personal challenges.

Graduate degree in Nursing, Public Health, or related health discipline; eligible for appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor.

Progressive experience in academic advising, student success, or student affairs within higher education. Experience working with student retention initiatives, advising systems, and academic progression processes preferred.

Associate Dean for Student Success

• Collaborate closely with Department Chairs, Program Directors, and faculty to ensure advising practices and student support processes align with program expectations and academic policies.
• Oversee advising systems across undergraduate and graduate programs to ensure consistency and quality.
• Support dedicated advising staff and faculty advisors through training, coaching, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate development of individualized program of study plans for students as needed.
• Monitor advising practices to ensure alignment with School policies and accreditation expectations.

• Develop and maintain coordinated processes with academic departments to address progression challenges, including early intervention strategies and referral pathways to appropriate university resources.
• Lead implementation of early alert systems to identify and support students experiencing academic risk.
• Monitor retention, progression, and completion trends and collaborate with leadership to address emerging issues.
• Serve as a primary escalation point for complex student success cases.
• Support development of targeted interventions for students requiring additional academic or personal support.

• Coordinate with academic departments and university support services to ensure timely and consistent responses to student needs requiring academic, administrative, or support service intervention.
• Support implementation of student progression policies and academic standards across programs.
• Collaborate with Department Chairs and Program Directors on issues related to academic standing, leaves of absence, and academic exceptions for departments; make notifications on…