Assistant Director of Exploratory Program

Job Description

Overview

The assistant director, exploratory program, oversees the development, implementation, and assessment of the exploratory program for undeclared students. The assistant director works closely with student success and first year experience staff to fulfill the goals of the office and the exploratory program and honor the mission of the university while positively impacting the experience of undeclared students. The assistant director manages the day to day operations of the exploratory program office and is responsible for implementing curricular, transition, and support programs with a focus on major exploration and selection, and works collaboratively with a wide range of offices and academic departments on policies, processes, and opportunities. The assistant director will develop and implement policies and processes related to major selection, progression of undeclared students, and undeclared student academic success. This is a twelve-month in-person position and includes evening and weekend commitments.

1. Manage day-to-day operations of the Exploratory Program Office and assist in overall management of the Student Success and First-Year Experience Office, supporting students, faculty, staff, and families on programs, processes, and policies.
2. Advocate for exploratory students by providing information, guidance, and referrals as needed.
3. Supervise and collaborate with the faculty fellow and exploratory program faculty advisors to plan events, communicate with students, create recruitment materials, and develop advising and major exploration resources.
4. Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate graduate and undergraduate exploratory program student staff; assist with similar processes for first-year experience staff and practicum students.
5. Develop and implement communication and outreach strategies for prospective and incoming students, including marketing materials, presentations, and engagement opportunities in collaboration with Admissions.
6. Oversee exploratory programs and initiatives, including major and career exploration activities, community-building events, and interdisciplinary programs, ensuring effective development, facilitation, marketing, and assessment.
7. Provide academic guidance and recommendations, collaborating with faculty advisors, academic advisors, and department chairs; maintain student confidentiality and make professional referrals as needed.
8. Guide students in course selection and scheduling; assist in resolving academic challenges; identify, implementing and monitor academic progress and academic holds (including holds connected to university policy around major declaration requirements); coordinate block registration for all incoming exploratory students (first-year and transfer) in collaboration with Registrar's Office and Academic Advising
9. Collaborate with individual academic departments to identify and advertise specific policies related to major declaration/approval; work in conjunction with specific chairs and the Registrar's office to develop and implement policies, procedures, and support structures for students removed from their major and placed in the Exploratory program.
10. Develop and deliver professional development workshops and resources for faculty and staff related to advising undeclared students and supporting major declaration processes.
11. Utilize university early warning and retention software to follow up on student referrals, analyze student trends and concerns, and coordinate outreach to exploratory students; serve as case recipient for all upper-class undeclared students and monitor all exploratory students' academic alerts.
12. Coordinate initiatives and programs with academic departments, Academic Advising, and Career Services.
13. Develop and execute recruitment, marketing, and implementation of meet your major and majors/minors fair for students across all academic programs in collaboration with academic department chairpersons
14. Collaborate with student navigation center and academic advising to update and maintain exploratory student degree map within the academic planner, maintain and manage holds, administer and facilitate block registration, provide transfer student support, and provide support for student dismissals across programs
15. Support orientation programs, including preference surveys, registration sessions, and academic planning for transfer students.
16. Represent the Exploratory Program and First Year Experience Office at open houses, accepted student days, and other relevant events.
17. Manage social media, website content, and internal online resources related to exploratory students.
18. Oversee the Exploratory Program E-learning course, including roster management, module development, and collaboration with IT and the Center for Teaching Innovation.
19. Chair the Exploratory Program Advisory Board
20. Develop and implement programmatic and student experience assessment efforts, collaborating with Institutional Effectiveness and communicating results to stakeholders.
21. Assist with management of the Exploratory Program budget within the Student Success and First Year Experience Office.
22. Maintain staff manuals, training systems, and project management tools
23. Serve on university committees and ad hoc committees as assigned.
24. Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree
• One to three years of graduate/professional work experience in a college/university
• Experience working directly with college student populations and faculty
• Previous experience working with student populations from a variety of backgrounds and experiences
• Demonstrated knowledge of current research, theory and best practices of first year student experience and student retention programs

• Master's degree preferred, preferably in student affairs or related field
• Experience in academic advising
• Excellent written and oral communication skills