JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut seeks an innovative leader to serve as the inaugural Director of Student Success, Equity & Inclusion (Student Services Program Manager 1) at UConn Hartford.

Reporting to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, the Director of Student Success, Equity & Inclusion will serve as a leading voice for advancing educational equity and promoting student enrollment, transition, and success at the UConn Hartford campus for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. The Director provides leadership to guide the implementation of a new framework for promoting student engagement, coordinating existing support systems and resources, and collaborating with the campus and University community. They will also be responsible for developing new initiatives that enhance underrepresented student access, academic performance, persistence, participation in life transformative and high-impact experiences, post-graduation preparation, and timely graduation.

Housed in the Institute for Student Success under the Center for Access & Postsecondary Success (CAPS) Office at the Hartford Campus, the Director is responsible for the administrative and operational effectiveness of student success initiatives for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, having overall oversight of staffing, fiscal management, grant management, resource development, and coordination of related support. The Director must be able to use recent educational research and institutional data to inform the implementation of current programs and the development of new programs to promote underrepresented student success on the Hartford campus as well as within the UConn system. As a vital member of the UConn community, the Director will maintain strong positive relations with UConn advisors, faculty, staff, administrators, cultural centers, and student organizations.

The Institute for Student Success (ISS) is home to multiple departments, programs, and initiatives designed to ensure students are connected to the resources and opportunities to succeed and thrive at UConn. For 55 years, our Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) has served to advance postsecondary access, transition, engagement, retention, and graduation for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Now, the Institute for Student Success seeks to expand our support and engagement of this population through the incorporation of additional holistic advising, academic support, personal development, and professional preparation programming. Learn more at iss.uconn.edu.

There will be three new Directors of Student Success, Equity & Inclusion each responsible for a different campus: Hartford, Stamford, or Waterbury. To be considered for this position at more than one campus, please apply separately for each position in which you are interested.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and administration of student success initiatives under the Center for Access & Postsecondary Success Office at UConn Hartford.
• Provide institutional advocacy through consultation and capacity building with key stakeholders to address barriers to access and to transform climate to support the success of students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
• Supervises the Center for Access & Postsecondary Success (CAPS) Office at the UConn Hartford campus, including the Office’s success initiatives of College Success Coaching, academic advising, CAPS Summer Bridge Program, academic support, financial literacy programming, student engagement, career preparation, and the Bridge to Storrs (campus change/transfer) transition program.
• Selects, trains, supervises, and evaluates professional, classified, and student staff associated with the program. Determines work assignments and work schedules to most effectively meet program needs; resolves personnel problems and reviews personnel actions to ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and with University, state, and funding agency regulations.
• Assists in the management of all fiscal and business operations, including overseeing program budget plans. Develops annual budget requests.
• Prepares statistical analyses, evaluations, and reports of department processes, programs, and initiatives. Oversees the evaluation of Program Goals and Outcome metrics and makes recommendations for increasing student success and engagement outcomes for the targeted populations.
• Oversees programs on the campus related to access, academic support, and enrichment programming to serve traditionally underrepresented students throughout the educational pipeline.
• Collaborates with University offices, including the Offices of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid Services, to support traditionally underrepresented student access and success on the Hartford campus.
• Assists with recruiting targeted student populations for participation in CAPS Summer Bridge Program; advocates for current and prospective undergraduate students who demonstrate academic and/or financial need.
• Assists with fundraising, grant, and supplemental resource development to increase resources to support campus students.
• Publicizes and communicates program efforts through internal, external, conference, and other publication efforts.
• Serves on relevant University and external committees and task forces.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience working with students who are first-generation to college, from low-income backgrounds, and/or other populations traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
• Experience managing student records, interpreting data, and evaluating program effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
• Demonstrated experience with grant writing and/or management, including budget development and administration processes.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic direction, administrative leadership, and operational management of a unit, including budget oversight and management, personnel management, workforce planning, and working with/motivating a diverse staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctoral degree in higher education or a related discipline.
• Experience developing and/or managing successful federal, state, and foundational grant proposals.
• Experience in fundraising.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, permanent position. The University offers a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits visit: https://hr.uconn.edu/benefits-beyond-pay/. The target salary for this position will be $91,000 commensurate with experience. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.