Director of Student Support and Academic Enrichment

Position Overview

Primary Function:
Reporting to the Executive Director of Accessibility and Academic Enrichment and collaborating with the Dean of Students, the Associate/Director of Student Support and Academic Enrichment will manage the institution's vision, strategy, execution, and assessment of campus-wide retention efforts at the University of the South. This role oversees the design and execution of institution-wide retention strategies in collaboration with the Division of Student Life, the offices of the Dean of College, Admission and Financial Aid, Registrar, Athletics, FYE program, and various departments across campus. The Associate Director/Director will collaborate with other departments to coordinate and evaluate programs, support services, and activities that underpin student success, developing strategies and programs to meet students’ needs.

This position works with considerable independence and self-direction. Only the general direction and scope of the work to be accomplished are discussed with the supervisor. The staff member is expected to independently carry out position duties and understand what is expected and how to do it.

Positions Directly Supervised
Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate student leaders

Position Appointment Details:

• Career Band: 2D
• Full-Time

Position Description

Typical Duties & Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership

• Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive student retention strategy.
• Advise campus leaders on trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Co-chair cross-functional committees focused on student persistence.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative partners—including the Dean of the College, Admissions and Financial Aid, Athletics, Registrar, FYE, and Student Life—to strengthen student success pathways.
• Translate national best practices into locally relevant initiatives that promote belonging and achievement.

• Coordinate early intervention efforts with faculty and staff to promote early academic success.
• Serve on the CARE Team and the Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (BIT) Team.
• Partner with Community Standards on cases requiring additional case management.
• Lead trained student leaders supporting retention programming in collaboration with Residential Life, Greek Life, and Student Involvement.

• Manage Slate for case management, early alerts, workflows, forms, scheduling, and communication campaigns.
• Partner with IT Services and Institutional Research to ensure data integrity and system integration.
• Develop dashboards and predictive models to identify at-risk students.
• Create documentation and onboarding materials; train faculty and staff in effective platform use.

• Establish and monitor KPIs related to student success and retention.
• Lead assessment of programs and initiatives, using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Contribute to institutional reporting and accreditation processes.
• Review student feedback, engagement data, and retention trends to inform programming.
• Engage students to gather data for assessment and evaluation.

Attributes of a Successful Candidate

Education
Master’s degree in a related field

Experience

• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience working in higher education.
• Experience leading, creating, communicating vision and strategy, and innovating.
• Experience working with a diverse population and demonstrating inclusive behavior.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Knowledge of current trends in student retention and student development theory, and the ability to implement such skills/goals throughout the university.
• Knowledge of advising, assessment, information regarding support services, pre-enrollment programs, ongoing learning assistance, and technology support.
• Knowledge and possession of high professional standards and a personal code of ethics characterized by honesty, integrity, openness, and fairness.
• Skill in developing approaches where the student and the institution respond well to each other, and the student is strongly engaged in their learning program and university life.
• Strong leadership and administrative skills, including planning, budgeting, resource management, presenting, and supervision.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking, project management, problem recognition and resolution skills, including the ability to organize departmental data for effective planning.
• Skill in the use of computerized systems and programs
• Ability to collaborate, build relationships, and work with diverse groups.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and work well under limited time constraints.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work well in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment with students, faculty, and staff.

Supplemental Information

Confidential Information

• Financial statements,
• Student records,
• Organizational plans,
• Personal information about individual students

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The University of the South, familiarly known as “Sewanee,” is home to a nationally recognized College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology. Sewanee is distinguished by its dedication to cultivate academic excellence, community values, and environmental stewardship that produces informed, self-aware, and participatory citizens for our democracy and servant-leaders for the world. Nestled on 13,000 acres atop Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, the University offers both a uniquely beautiful setting and convenient access to nearby cities—Chattanooga, Nashville, and Huntsville. The University is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and seeks to be a place where individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences find support, opportunity, and purpose.

Support in the Hiring Process
If you have questions about a position or need assistance filing an application, or if you are a person with a disability and would like to request an accommodation in the application and interview process, please contact Human Resources at 931.598.1381 or hr@sewanee.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of the South is an equal-opportunity institution, dedicated to treating all applicants fairly and fostering a welcoming environment for employees and students alike.

University Benefits