Director of Student Success

Millikin University is a private university that provides undergraduate and graduate education to a diverse student body of approximately 1,600 students on a 75-acre residential campus in Decatur, Ill. Millikin’s unique approach to education, known as Performance Learning, allows students to perform the work of their future careers through hands-on, real-world experiences starting on day one. Through these experiences, students gain access to a professional network they will carry throughout their careers. This commitment to innovation and excellence propels students to career success. Millikin offers over 50 academic programs in its College of Fine Arts, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Professional Studies and Tabor School of Business.

Applications are only accepted for open positions. A supplemental resume/CV may be attached in lieu of completing the Education and Employment sections only. All other sections must be completed.

Description

The Director of Student Success provides strategic leadership for academic advising, retention initiatives, academic support services, and student success programs that promote persistence and degree completion. Reporting to the Dean of Academic Services and University Registrar, the Director is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating services that foster student achievement and support undergraduate students from enrollment through graduation.

The Director, in conjunction with the Dean, provides leadership for advising initiatives, first-year support, retention efforts, academic recovery programs, and academic support services. Through collaboration with faculty and campus partners, the Director advances institutional goals related to student success, retention, and post-graduate outcomes while ensuring compliance with university policies and applicable regulations.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Student Success Center, which includes accessibility services, advising, bridge programs, grant programs (such as Title III), supplemental instruction, and tutoring.
• Manage departmental budgets, assessment activities, policies, procedures, and reporting.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and assess programs and services that support student success and retention.
• Provide leadership and oversight for accessibility services, ensuring students with documented disabilities receive reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Collaborate with students, faculty, and campus partners to promote equitable access to academic programs and services through timely communication, accommodation implementation, and the resolution of accessibility-related concerns.
• Promote a collaborative, student-centered culture focused on continuous improvement.
• Lead and coordinate advising initiatives and student success strategies.
• Support retention and persistence efforts through data-informed interventions.
• Ensure effective delivery and assessment of tutoring, supplemental instruction, study tables, and other academic support programs.
• Support first-year and transition programs in collaboration with campus partners.
• Partner with faculty and academic departments to strengthen advising and student support.
• Serve on university committees, councils, and task forces as assigned.
• Performs other work-related job duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position supervises seven professional staff in the Student Success Center. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training staff members, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining staff members; and addressing complaints and resolving issues.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a result-driven professional organization. Ability to manage results through a staff of direct and indirect employees. Ability to drive a team in a focused direction. Working knowledge of higher education processes and practices. Maintaining professional performance, demeanor, and results while working under pressure in a dynamic environment. Customer, budget, quality, and delivery conscious mindset. Ability to establish priorities, work independently with minimal supervision, and facilitate teamwork. Highly organized, with the ability to plan, execute, and multitask to meet deadlines and keep projects under budget.?Additional qualifications specific to this position are below:

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:
Minimum

• Master’s degree required in education or related field
• Three years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education
• Demonstrated strong supervisory experience
• Experience leading advising, academic support, and/or retention programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse student populations, including students with varying academic preparedness levels
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills

Preferred

• Experience with student information systems and student success technologies (Banner, Ellucian, TargetX, Argos, etc.).
• Five to six years of experience in higher education.
• Experience with assessment, strategic planning, and retention initiatives.

CRITICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE:
Skills

• Communication skills: Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.?
• Self-management skills: ability to manage time effectively, learn, and contribute to overall departmental tasks and goals.??
• Project coordination skills: ability to lead or contribute to planning or organizing projects, programs, services, etc.?
• Conflict resolution skills: ability to use interpersonal skills to develop and maintain positive professional relationships and resolve conflict in a team environment and with individuals from various diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Analytical skills: ability to analyze information and offer sound recommendations.??
• Computational skills: ability to perform basic mathematical computations to assist with financial operations and/or data collection, analysis, and reporting.?
• Computer skills: proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software, preferably Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Outlook Calendaring, Office 365.?

Abilities

• Ability to adhere to work attendance requirements.?
• Ability to model self-care and well-being for colleagues and, most importantly, students.?
• Ability to manage emotions, function effectively, and make sound decisions in stressful and crisis situations.?
• Ability to handle multiple projects, services, activities, etc. in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment.?
• Ability to promote and achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion of multi-racial/ethnic, low-income, LGBTQ+, veteran, non-traditional, online, disability, first-generation, and other groups.?
• Ability to be flexible, diplomatic, patient, service-driven, and a self-starter.?
• Ability to work independently under limited supervision and in teams.??
• Ability to make reasoned administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive and confidential issues.??
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours based on operational need.?
• Ability to comply with university vehicle-use requirements (some driving may be necessary, including transporting students and staff to approved events).?

Knowledge

• Preparatory knowledge: coursework, military, or work-based knowledge of, for example, student development theories, learning theories, organizational theories, risk management.?
• Software/database systems: Ability to use software/databases related to student success initiatives.
• Student knowledge: knowledge of generational college students and the ability to design generation- and audience-specific programs, events, and services.?
• Accountability: experience with applying formative, summative, qualitative, and/or quantitative methodologies to assessing student learning outcomes and/or evaluating programs and services.?
• Multimedia experience: ability to collaborate on or design brochures, event flyers, and/or newsletters and develop and manage social media accounts.?
• Reporting experience: experience with program databases or software programs used to track, monitor, and report services to students.?
• Ability to plan and execute programs and services based on social justice, cultural responsiveness, anti-racism, and civility.?
• Regulatory knowledge: FERPA.

Supplemental Information

WORK ENVIRONMENT The Division of Academic Affairs at Millikin University is devoted to student success from enrollment to commencement. We are dynamic, agile, and culturally responsive. We guide, support, and, on occasion, challenge students as they develop, refine, and pursue their academic, career, and personal endeavors. All staff are responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, respectful, and caring environment for students, colleagues, and visitors. We seek skilled and diverse colleagues who are student-focused, flexible, self-motivated, and who will embrace and respect who we are and what we do. We also seek colleagues committed to moving the Division forward towards prominence and influence on campus, nationally, and within the profession.

Manual Dexterity: Dexterity to operate a keyboard.?

Physical Effort:? Occasionally sitting at a desk or table; occasional lifting 25 lbs. or less; intermittently sitting/standing; hearing and visual acuity within normal range; ability to stoop, kneel, and crouch occasionally; high degree of mobility required.?

Working Conditions: Typical working conditions found in most administrative work areas.
Hazards: None

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Communicates effectively and appropriately. Gets along and cooperates with co-workers and appropriately interacts with others. Participates and functions as an effective member of the team.

CONFIDENTIALITY Exchanges university information with others only on a "need to know" basis.

ATTENDANCE Promptly arrives for the designated shift. Follows all applicable policies regarding schedules, attendance, and organizational requirements. Typically considered an exempt/salaried position, this will involve normal 9+ hour days, weekends, and off shifts as required to successfully perform job duties. Excessive absenteeism will hinder successful job performance.

SAFETY Understands and always uses safe practices. Reports all unsafe conditions to the Risk Manager immediately. Assures all equipment functions properly before use. Knows and adheres to all safety and fire prevention rules and regulations. Knows location and use of personal protective equipment, fire plan, SDS, and Disaster Plan.

UNIVERSAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Provides excellent service to all customers, striving to exceed their expectations. Demonstrates courtesy, compassion, and respect. Is thoroughly committed to the mission and vision of Millikin University.

Review of applications will begin immediatley and will continue until the position is filled. Employment and first day of work is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Millikin University provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local laws. Beyong meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Millikin University is committed to increasing its employee diversity and will consider qualified applicants with experiene in diverse settings, who have a record of research that supports/benefits diverse communities or a record of teaching a diverse studnet population.