Assistant Director of Advising & Retention

Assistant Director of Advising & Retention

Department: Advising & Retention Services

Posting Number: req
655

Anticipated

Start Date:

12/16/2025

Location: Weatherford

Employment Type: Exempt

This position assists the Director of Enrollment Management in the development and implementation of advising, retention, and student success strategies. The Assistant Director will incorporate data‑driven and trend‑analysis intervention strategies toward student success for target students, particularly new and returning at‑risk students. Facilitates the onboarding orientation and related programs for new students. Oversees staff in the Advising and Retention Services Department and collaborates with departments that impact advising and retention efforts.

The Assistant Director will collaborate with leaders in Student Services and across campus to ensure first‑year experience events and programs align with retention strategies that support students’ sense of belonging. The university seeks a bold and innovative collaborator who will ensure advising and retention‑based initiatives will be met that lead to dramatic increases in overall SWOSU student success.

• Works closely with Director of Enrollment Management and department chairs to analyze and identify course section capacity needs to maximize enrollment opportunities. Intensively reviews individual course section capacities across modalities as well as number of sections offered to meet demand.
• Monitors enrollment reports that include incoming and overall student data to identify key trends for intervention.
• Promotes course offerings for current and future semesters in various mediums including CANVAS notifications, single sign‑on login page, emails, etc.
• Facilitates enrollment‑related communication opportunities to ensure students stay informed of key enrollment dates, courses, advising information, and other relevant topics. Includes overseeing texting campaign and additional communication strategies.
• Collaborates and communicates with students, advisors, and administrators to trouble‑shoot barriers to graduation and provide timely solutions for students.
• Responsible for the design, implementation, and building of materials for the New Student Orientation (NSO) process, including the summer program Camp Duke.
• Serves as the primary advisor to student Orientation Leaders who assist with onboarding new students.
• Meets routinely with SWOSU Connect instructors to support curriculum and instructor professional development.
• Oversees the Academic Success Coaching program on campus, sharing academic information with coaches, managing coaching referrals and outreach, and assessing results of coaching engagement.
• Coordinates communication efforts with students on probation to ensure they understand their academic status and facilitate efforts to improve their academics.
• Participates in the Academic Suspension Appeals meeting and facilitates the re‑enroll process as applicable.
• Oversees outreach efforts to “stop‑out” students to facilitate opportunities for their return to campus.
• Oversees recruitment, management, professional development, and retention of direct reports and staff.
• Ensures compliance with state regulations, federal laws, and SWOSU policies.
• Assists functional areas in the usage and development of technology for the purpose of promoting enrollment.

• Reports to Director of Enrollment Management
• Available to assist with situations during or after working hours whether in‑person, by phone, or email contact.
• Promotes personal safety, safety procedures, and a safe work environment.
• 12‑month appointment.
• Full‑time status.

With locations in Weatherford, Yukon, Sayre, and online degree programs, SWOSU is one of the leading regional universities in the country. See what makes SWOSU and Weatherford so great!

• Bachelor’s degree is required; master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience in Student Services or acceptable equivalent is required.
• Personal computer experience, including word‑processing, and electronic software knowledge is required.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal skills, presentation, planning, and organizational skills are required.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the President of SWOSU or his/her designee may find appropriate.