AVP for the Center for Student Success and Learning Support Services

Duties and Responsibilities
Provide oversight regarding the quality of the student experience and success programming across multiple departments; including Freshman and Sophomore Experience, Tutoring, Office of Retention and Academic Advising and Coaching. These activities will be developed, implemented and assessed with the specific purpose of increasing student retention, persistence, and graduation rates.
Student Success:

• Keep the team abreast of proven practices and research that are effective with first generation and low-income students.
• Lead the development and facilitation of training sessions for staff that involves comprehensive mastery of intrusive advising and coaching strategies, holistic student support and comprehensive programming and services to meet the needs of students with diverse needs and experiences.
• Work directly with the College Deans, Chairs and Faculty to promote best practices for serving first-generation and low-income students.
• Direct and develop tracking and reporting systems for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating retention data and student success reports to college leadership and other state and Federal agencies.
• Work with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to analyze the course performance patterns and retention rates of identified students on a longitudinal basis and develop annual reports to inform decision-making, resource allocation, and delivery of services.
• Gather data and update the administration on the retention and resource needs of first generation and low-income students.
• Provides direct oversight for Tutoring and Testing.
• Manages office operations, including scheduling testing and other academic support services, for the Tutoring and Testing Center.
• Creates, recommends, and implements policy, guidelines, and procedures.
• Recruits/interviews/hires/trains/supervises/coaches/evaluates and schedules assigned personnel.
• Collaborates with faculty to identify and select tutors and peer mentors.
• Observes and mentors peer mentors and tutors to help staff and student workers build needed skills.
• Develops and implements various forms and modes of educational technologies in support of tutorial services.

Management:

• Interview, hire, train, supervise, monitor, and evaluate all management personnel. Implement, monitor, and evaluate progress of students. Compile and write University reports.
• Serve as liaison between support services departments in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. Maintain regular communication with staff. Attend appropriate University committee and/or community meetings.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with faculty and staff. Work closely with all units to ensure services align to improve retention rates annually.
• Establish, maintain and monitor budget and resource management; write proposals to enhance resources in all reporting units.
• Monitor purchases and resource allocation needs within all units.
• Collaborate with University and Community partners to identify and secure external resources and funding (local, state, regional and federal) to support student success and educational equity issues.
• In addition to the above, other duties as assigned.

• Doctorate degree in education, counseling, social work or related area.
• At least seven years' experience with higher education advising, programming, and retention related initiatives.
• Experience in leveraging passion and dedication for student success into measurable outcomes that improve the student experience.
• Knowledge of best practices for student retention and prior work with underserved student populations
• Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of Claflin University.
• Strong verbal, written, and listening skills in addition to strong technology and organizational abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and handle and prioritize simultaneous work assignments.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to cultivate effective relationships with a wide range of individuals (faculty, administrators, staff, students, and family members) and to work cross functionally.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and be sensitive to the needs of diverse populations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team exercising sound judgment.
• Creative and analytical thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to adapt to change and work in a fast-paced environment responding well under pressure.
• Must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as well as with all university procedures and policies

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in improving program and service delivery and increasing student retention and graduation rates.
• Experience with multimedia communications and utilizing social media.
• Understanding of student development theory and current success coaching methodologies.
• Experience with strengths and interest inventories
• Ability to assess performance and outcomes and thrive in a high accountability environment.
• Demonstrated success in providing friendly, high quality customer service.