Assistant Director for Student Support and Outreach

Location:

Hickory, North Carolina

The Assistant Director for Student Support and Outreach supports the university's efforts to promote student success, persistence and well-being through direct student support, outreach, resource connection, care coordination and follow-up for students experiencing personal, academic, financial, social or other challenges that may affect their success.

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students, the Assistant Director provides day-to-day coordination and administrative support for the operations and initiatives of Student Support and Outreach. The position serves as a student advocate, resource and liaison for students, faculty, staff and campus partners; manages assigned student concerns and outreach efforts; and coordinates designated departmental programs, processes, communications and projects.

The Assistant Director has independent responsibility for assigned departmental functions and ensures that related outreach, communication, documentation, data collection, follow-up and coordination are completed accurately and in a timely manner. The position provides the Associate Dean with information, data and recommendations to support departmental decision-making, assessment and continuous improvement.

• Coordinate the assignment and tracking of student cases, ensuring timely outreach, documentation, follow-up and appropriate resolution.
• Provide consultation, outreach, referral and follow-up to students experiencing academic, personal, social, financial, basic needs, health or other challenges affecting student success, often in coordination with appropriate university and community resources.
• Assess student needs, assist students in navigating university processes and coordinate appropriate referrals and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records of student contacts, referrals, interventions and outcomes in accordance with university policies and applicable regulations.
• Participate in student care and concern review processes, provide relevant information regarding assigned students and communicate timely updates to campus partners.
• Recognize complex or sensitive concerns requiring additional consultation and communicate those concerns to the Associate Dean or appropriate university personnel.
• Supervise the Graduate Assistant, including assigning and monitoring work and ensuring completion of assigned departmental tasks and projects.

• Utilize university systems and student affairs technology to document student contacts, referrals, follow-up, interventions, program participation and outcomes.
• Collect, track and compile departmental and program data, including student outreach, referrals, engagement, resource connections and other measures, to support reporting and assessment activities.
• Prepare routine reports, summaries, dashboards and data updates for the Associate Dean to support assessment, planning and decision-making.
• Identify and communicate trends, patterns, gaps and emerging student needs reflected in departmental data to the Associate Dean.
• Support the Associate Dean in using departmental data and information to evaluate services, identify opportunities for improvement and inform departmental priorities.

• Coordinate designated Student Support and Outreach programs, presentations and initiatives that address identified student needs, including initiatives related to basic needs, belonging, engagement, persistence and connection to resources.
• Provide educational outreach and training to faculty, staff and students on student support resources, referral processes and recognizing students who may be experiencing challenges.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff and campus partners.
• Evaluate assigned programs and initiatives through participation tracking, feedback, data collection and other appropriate assessment methods.

• Serve on university, departmental or other committees and taskforces as assigned.
• Support university events, including recruitment, orientation, welcome programs, family events, commencement and other university activities as appropriate.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Students.

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in higher education, student affairs,…