Director of Student Success

Salary: $81,127.00 - $87,327.00 Annually

Location : Sioux Falls, SD

Job Type: Full-Time Staff

Job Number: 00242

Division: Enrollment Management

Department: Student Success

Opening Date: 07/08/2024

Position Summary

The Director of Student Success provides leadership for the Student Success Advisors (SSAs) and their work in the Student Success Center. It is paramount the Director is a collaborator who possesses strong people skills and the ability to gain rapport and trust with staff, colleagues, faculty, administrators, and key external stakeholders. The Director must work to gain a full understanding of Southeast Technical College's (STC) academic policies, procedural processes, registration procedures, technology platforms - including J1, OnBase, and Navigate - the college's strategic plan and mission, and the state's technical college system and goals. The Director must work collaboratively with all campus colleagues to offer students a holistic community of support.

The Director works closely with SSAs on their caseload management, improving quality and efficiency moving students from matriculation through graduation. The Director works closely with the Academic Resource Center Director and the Director of Access and Workforce Opportunity to improve student support, communication, and retention. The Director coaches and evaluates SSAs on essential job functions and assists the Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs and the Associate Vice President for Institutional Research & Registrar with departmental issues and projects involving enrollment and retention goals, student satisfaction, and student success.
Essential Functions

• Follow STCs Strategic Plan, Vision, Mission, and Values to provide guidance for the Student Success Center.
• Participate in annual professional development.
• Utilize STCs communication and data storage systems to ensure effective communication to employees, administration, and students.
• Help operate, train, and maintain any equipment/computer systems utilized by the Student Success Center.
• Research and analyze issues, complaints, and concerns at all levels of complexity and participate in an ad hoc team or workgroup to facilitate risk issue recommendations for mitigation.
• Implement courses of action according to established policies and procedures for students and recommend development of policies, procedures, and training when gaps are identified.
• Provide supervision, support, direction, and development to the SSAs and resources provided by the Student Success Center.
• Provide ongoing team training, support, and feedback.
• In collaboration with the VP and Associate VP, review student retention and success data and student feedback, assess and evaluate interventions, and provide leadership to ongoing improvement of the student coaching strategy and curriculum.
• Coordinate with other STC constituents to identify and resolve student needs.
• Create and review key performance indicator standards to evaluate staff performance on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and work with SSAs to develop action plans to improve performance issues.
• Identify and suggest new strategies to improve the overall quality, efficiency, and productivity of the SSAs, including their caseloads, teaching loads, and functional areas. More importantly, collaborate with them as respected and valued colleagues on said strategies.
• Assess student success initiatives and update Watermark.
• Create and deliver performance evaluations as directed by Human Resources.
• Review the departmental reporting on a weekly basis and provide updates to leadership.
• Conduct monthly coaching sessions with SSAs focusing on quality and efficiency.
• Assist with interviewing, hiring, and scheduling training of SSAs.
• Identify and assess students' needs to achieve satisfaction in their educational journey and assist students with development of a realistic path for success.
• Assist with Academic Advising and Registration (AAR) events that serve as new student orientation and registration for all incoming students.
• Continue to foster community by intentionally engaging students and inviting them to community events designed to assist in their academic journey and personal development.
• Coach SSAs to move students progressively from matriculation through to completion.
• Proactively engage with students through open and interactive communication to build trust and sustainable relationships.
• Monitor students' progress using the available technology resources.
• Fulfill student advising appointments using phone, videoconference, or in person as needed.
• Proactively engage with students through open and interactive communication to build trust and sustainable relationships.
• Participate in conversations with staff and campus colleagues about best practices in the fields of advising and student support resources.
• Maintain a positive, empathic, and professional attitude toward students and colleagues.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Position Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree required.
• Experience: 3-5 years of experience in similar roles in higher education.
• Other requirements:
• Computer skills: Ability to use email systems, word processing, and spreadsheet software
• Encourage change and innovative ideas within the organization and assist employees who may need help with adjusting to any changes that occur
• Communication: ability to actively listen and to effectively communicate with others through written and oral communication
• Leadership: ability to make decisions, delegate tasks, be innovative, negotiate, problem solve, build teams through coaching and development, resolve conflicts, hold yourself and others accountable, and work under pressure.
• Business acumen: ability to grasp and understand business concepts and issues that include understanding accounting information, preparing, and managing budgets, and making sound, long-term, organizational development decisions
• Diversity oriented: Ability to collaborate effectively with people regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, or job type
• Strategic planning: ability to develop and achieve short and long-term goals for the organization

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Closed office area and privacy for confidential meetings. General office environment with standard office equipment available. Lighting and temperature are adequate. Moderate noise levels typical of an office environment due to staff and student conversations and office equipment. This job is sedentary with physical activities normally required in an office environment. May be exposed to outdoor weather conditions when traveling on or off campus.

Southeast Tech offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including: health care, Flexible Spending Account, dental care, life insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, retirement, holidays, paid time off, and sick leave.

To learn more details, click to visit our Benefits Page.