Associate Dean of Retention Job Listing at Delta College in University Center, MI (Job ID 6585)

Description

The successful candidate must demonstrate experience, skills, and commitment to fostering an environment of belonging, diversity, equity and inclusion in student, faculty and staff.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Associate Dean of Retention provides visionary leadership in the planning, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive student support services designed to enhance the student experience and foster academic achievement at Delta College. Reporting to the Dean of Student Success, this role is integral to the College's strategic efforts in student retention, success and completion initiatives. The Associate Dean will lead the implementation of innovative strategies to enhance student engagement and success, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, strategic alignment, and the assessment of student success initiatives. A critical focus of this role is to support at-opportunity student populations and decrease opportunity gaps, ensuring equitable access to resources and success outcomes.

The Associate Dean will provide leadership and strategic oversight of the Personal Counseling Services, Disability Resources, Coordinated Care and Academic Advising Offices ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and student-centered initiatives. A key component of this role includes guiding the strategic direction of Career Discovery services to support students in their academic and professional pathways. In collaboration with the campus and community partners, the Associate Dean will work proactively to foster an inclusive and supportive environment where each student feels a sense of belonging and connectedness. This includes leading efforts to strengthen engagement strategies that promote meaningful connections between students, faculty, staff and support services, contributing to a holistic student experience.

The Associate Dean will continuously assess and refine programs, communications and services to meet the evolving needs of new and returning students. Emphasis will be placed on student success initiatives that drive enrollment, retention, and completion of degrees and certificates. Departmental initiatives will be evaluated using national assessment tools such as Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) along with other relevant assessment tools to ensure high-quality, student-centered services. Additionally, the Associate Dean serves as a key member of the Vice President Council for the Student and Educational Services division, contributing to institutional planning and student success initiatives that align with Delta College's mission and values.

GENERAL OFFICE AND TEAM CONTRIBUTIONS

• Embed the College's mission and values throughout all responsibilities and work; and focus on student success as the guiding principle to informed decision-making.
• Understand, develop, and provide an environment that supports belonging, connectedness and inclusion, while incorporating cultural competency in the workplace.
• Contribute to positive teamwork environment.
• Provide leadership, evaluation, and professional development of staff in the Personal Counseling Services, Disability Resources, Coordinated Care and Academic Advising Offices, facilitating short term and long-range planning, assessments that support student success outcomes; align program initiatives with strategic goals and outcomes of the college.
• Provide strategic leadership for Career Discovery, guiding the Director of Advising on student-advisor career exploration and guided pathway discussions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

• Provide strategic direction for the development and continuous improvement of programs and services that support student retention, academic success, and career readiness, with a particular emphasis on addressing the needs of at-opportunity student populations.
• Lead the integration of strategic insights into all student success initiatives, ensuring data-informed decision-making that aligns with Delta College's institutional goals and prioritizes closing opportunity gaps.
• Work with Institutional Effectiveness to identify areas for institutional improvement with regard to its student success, retention, completion, and collaborate in project management of initiatives for success.
• Develop and implement targeted student success initiatives that promote equitable access to essential resources, ensuring comprehensive support for all student populations, including economically disadvantaged, first-generation, and historically underrepresented students, to foster academic achievement.
• Facilitate partnerships and programs that enhance students' access to academic, career, and personal development resources, both within and outside the college, with an emphasis on closing opportunity gaps.
• Assist the Dean of Student Success in the strategic review of data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for enhancing student success initiatives, with a focus on reducing disparities and increasing equity in retention and completion rates.
• Serve on the Student Support System committee to provide essential input related to the system design and intervention pathways for referrals.
• Provide leadership in the development of targeted interventions for at-opportunity students based on data insights, ensuring timely and effective support.
• Conduct workshops, seminars, and presentations to students, faculty, employers, and community partners enhancing awareness and utilization of student success resources and emphasizing strategies to reduce opportunity gaps.
• Builds collaborative partnerships with Academics, Associate Dean of Enrollment Management, Academic Support Services, BEDI and other college departments to develop integrated student success strategies.
• Supervise and Coordinate services offered within Counseling Center, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and student-centered initiatives that promote well-being and academic persistence.
• Serve on the Academic Curriculum Council, working in consultation with Academic Deans, Associate Deans and faculty regarding the impact of new and existing programs on student enrollment, retention and success.
• Participate in the collection and assessment of retention data, and provide support for retention through engagement with the Dean of Student Success, Academic Deans, Academic Associate Deans, Program Coordinators, and Directors.
• Provide leadership with the development, planning and operation of the retention communication plan using the Advise CRM system.
• Maximize the full utilization of student success software programs, (e.g. Student Planning) to enhance academic advising, degree planning, and tracking to improve retention and completion rates.
• Design, develop, and evaluate comprehensive services and programs to support undecided students and those considering a change in their major, ensuring seamless transitions and academic success.

• Master's degree in counseling, Social Work, Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs or a closely related field.
• 3 to 7 years of related work experience
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with community partners to develop student success initiatives or support systems.
• Proven leadership experience in student retention, academic advising, or student support services within higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise teams, including counseling services, disability resources, advising and student care coordination.
• Experience developing and implementing strategies that support student belonging, connectedness and equitable access to resources.
• Strong understanding of retention strategies and data-informed decision making to support student success.
• Knowledge of student success software programs such as CRM Advise, Student Self-Service, Titanium and other retention-focused technology.
• Commitment to fostering a student-centered, inclusive environment that enhances engagement, persistence and completion.

• Licensed Counselor or Licensed Social Worker.
• Experience developing, leading or managing career discovery initiatives.
• Knowledge of higher education policies and best practices related to student retention, persistence and completion.
• Experience collaborating with Academic Affairs, Enrollment Services, and community organizations to develop interventions and success initiatives.

Special Instructions

Complete an on-line application and attach a cover letter with position title, resume, three current names of professional references, and copies of transcripts (official transcripts required upon hire) and/or certifications and licenses.Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcript 1

Optional Documents

1. Letter of Recommendation 1
2. Letter of Recommendation 2
3. Letter of Recommendation 3
4. Transcript 2
5. Transcript 3

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