Director Academic Resource Center

Position: Director of the Academic Resource Center
WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is designed to support the academic success of all Whitman College students by offering free tutoring, success coaching and skill-building workshops. The ARC
partners with students, faculty, staff, and college departments and centers to develop sustainable, accessible and student-focused academic support systems.

The ARC Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for all aspects of the academic support mission and is responsible for developing and improving student support services, including tutoring, academic coaching, and co-curricular programs. The Director promotes a student growth mindset and collaborates with faculty and staff to strengthen student support services that foster personal, academic, and professional achievement. Additionally, the Director oversees recruitment and training of staff, manages the budget, evaluates ARC services, ensures compliance with federal and institutional policies and regulations, and fosters professional partnerships to expand academic support.

The Director reports directly to the Provost and Dean of the Faculty.

PRINCIPAL

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Supervisory Duties

• This role supervises at least one regular staff position.
• This role typically supervises at least one student employee.

Provide Strategic Leadership for the ARC (50%)

• Provides direct service to students by developing and offering success-focused programs, personalized coaching, and tutoring assistance to help them achieve their academic goals.
• Partners with faculty and staff college wide to develop student learning assignments and create activities that increase student success and retention.
• Lead the integration of intercultural communication principles across academic coaching, tutoring, and student support services to enhance student engagement, belonging, and success among diverse student populations.
• Creates and oversees strategic partnerships for expanding tutoring and coaching services across all departments and centers.
• Promotes the development of co-curricular assignments with academic and student services departments
• Develops programs and opportunities for students to develop a growth mindset and understand metacognition to support their personal, academic, and professional success.
• Creates and implements annual plans for service offerings, cross-departmental collaborations, event attendance, and student academic success activities. Reviews operations systematically and annually for cost-effectiveness
• Contributes ideas and feedback on how the ARC can support the college's strategic goals and funding plans related to student learning, development and retention. Promotes the ARC to internal and external communities, presenting opportunities and activities to participate in increasing student engagement
• Promotes innovation and best practices in ARC services and outreach activities; maintains a working knowledge of nationwide trends.
• Serves on internal and external committees, including ad hoc and screening committees; represents student academic support services and the development of retention programs in academic affairs.
• Able to plan, schedule, and organize tasks related to the job to achieve goals within or ahead of established time frames.

Management & Supervision (35%)

• Oversees the recruitment, hiring, and supervision of all full- and part-time staff in collaboration with the Learning Coordinator and Academic Coach.
• Implements performance appraisals and evaluations; provides professional development opportunities.
• Manages annual program budgets, monitors and reviews expenditures regularly, maintains equipment inventory records, and prepares detailed budget reports, including tutoring cost projections.
• Manages escalated student and staff issues in a professional and timely manner in accordance with College Rules and policies.
• Ensures all federal and college regulations are met related to privacy, security, and confidentiality of student information, and train all staff on FERPA and other sensitive information…