Dean of Students

Westminster University

Dean of Students

Full Time, Benefited

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletics, the Dean of Students is responsible for developing a culture of holistic student development at Westminster University. As a key member of the Vice President’s senior leadership, the DOS provides critical leadership in delivering a dynamic and successful student experience within a vibrant and progressive campus culture. A successful Dean of Students will be an experienced higher education administrator with (1) demonstrated experience centralizing diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging in student serving programs and processes, (2) an excitement for, and demonstrated experience in, change management and innovation, (3) a professional career plan in the practice of Student Affairs.

The Dean of Students is a senior-level administrator within Student Affairs responsible for providing leadership and vision, administration, and financial oversight for departments within the Division. Student Affairs departments are Student Engagement and Belonging, First Scholars, Outdoor Programs, Residence Life, Campus Dining, Purple Basket, Student Health Center, Counseling Center, Student Care and Conduct, Title IX, Campus Security, and Fitness, Wellness, and Recreation (FWRD). Significant divisional work areas include new student orientation, residential summer camps, parent support, crisis response management, and wellness programming.

Directly supervising two Assistant Dean of Students as well as the Director of Student Care and Conduct, the Dean of Students is tasked with supporting the student experience beyond the classroom beginning with pre-orientation engagement and culminating in graduation. The Dean of Students provides oversight for the Division’s contribution to institutional priorities as they intersect with student engagement, student wellness, student programming, and student support. Specifically, the Dean of Students is tasked with ensuring divisional achievement through coordinating strategies informed by current institutional priorities including the implementation of student value propositions and furthering the work of student development within an integrated wellness model.

The Dean of Students portfolio includes leading divisional strategic planning, special projects, and oversight for student engagement and belonging, student wellness programming and services, student crisis support, and the residential student experience. As a senior-level divisional leader, the Dean of Students is responsible for engaging with student leaders and groups, nurturing strategic parent engagement, and creating and implementing institution-level policy. The Dean of Students is a residential employee required to live in a university-provided home.

The negotiable anticipated starting date for the Dean of Students is January 2025.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Planning, Budgeting, and Facilities

• Provide institutional leadership for developing, delivering, evaluating a coordinated vision for student experience beyond the classroom
• Allocate and manage resources to maximize departmental function and improve the student experience
• Lead and coordinate Student Affairs implementation of West X priorities
• Design and implement divisional comprehensive assessment plan

Supervision and Management

• Provide supervision and oversight for the Assistant Dean of Students managing Fitness, Wellness and Recreation (FWRD), Outdoor Programs, Student Health Center, and Counseling Center
• Provide supervision and oversight for Assistant Dean of Students managing Student Engagement and Belonging, Residence Life, and Campus Dining
• Provide supervision and oversight for the Director of Student Care and Conduct
• Directly manage Behavioral Intervention Team, coordination of compliance with federal legislation in areas including Clery-related processes, Westminster’s drug and alcohol prevention program; the Dean of Students will work closely with the Title IX Coordinator on compliance related student education related to Title IX and Violence Against Women Act
• Guide, support and evaluate unit managers and staff
• Give leadership to division wide assessment efforts

Crisis Response and Campus Safety

• Respond to active crises, issues, and concerns of a critical nature when required
• Ensure conflict mediation, care, and conduct processes that promote outcomes of student learning, development, and well-being
• Serve as the primary point for student appeals related to Student Conduct
• Campus Security Authority, Mandatory Reporter, Title IX Deputy Coordinator
• Student Belonging and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB)
• Inspire and champion a student-responsive institutional focus that foregrounds holistic student development that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, access, belonging, and non-discrimination
• Work in close coordination with the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Student Care and Conduct to implement the student grievance resolution process
• Inclusively communicate student needs and interests in institutional decision-making

Parent Relations

• Provide strategic leadership to planning processes to increase parent/family engagement. Responsible for the initial development and then ongoing oversight, leadership, and assessment of a comprehensive parent and family engagement that meets the needs of our current/future student body and University
• Develops and implements short-and long-range planning and visioning to engage and support parents and families. This includes but is not limited to orientation, virtual information sessions, and web resources specifically written for families and parents
• Responsible for serving as the institution’s primary parent and family advocate.

Campus Involvement and Collaborations

• Serve on campus wide governance groups as assigned including: Athletics Advisory Council (monthly), Tuition Refunds and Changes to Academic Records Committee (monthly), Student Life Cycle Operations Group (monthly), Behavioral Intervention Team (weekly)
• Special projects for the Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletics
• Special responsibilities for planning Convocation and Commencement, presenting material at annual retreats for Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Faculty
• Develop and maintain positive working partnerships with Academic Deans, Facility and Plant Operations, and key partners across the institution.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate degree in Student Affairs Administration or related field, Doctoral degree preferred
• Eight years or more of progressive leadership in higher education administration
• Advanced knowledge of crisis management in the context of Student Affairs
• Extensive experience work facilitating organizational change
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with DEIAB work in the context of higher education administration
• Experience writing and enacting student-related institutional policies and/or protocols
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with resolution of all types of student grievances
• Ability to attend occasional after hours work events and respond to unplanned student emergencies
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal legislation, guidelines and updates including:
  • Title IX (1972) and ongoing updates
  • Campus Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights (1992)
  • Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act/Campus SAVE Act (2013)
  • Clery Act (1990)
  • Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act (2007)
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act/FERPA (1974)
  • Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act/HIPPA (1996)
  • Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act/ DFSCA (2018)
  • Federal Anti-hazing legislation: REACH Act (forthcoming)

Additional Responsibilities

• Supervision of assigned staff and/or student positions as detailed in the Supervisor Handbook
• Designated as Campus Security Authority
• Considered essential personnel in cases of campus closure or emergency
• May be designated as essential personnel in cases of campus closure or emergency
• Other duties as assigned

Additional Requirements

• Periodic overnight travel may be required.
• Extended hours, including evenings and weekends will be required.
• Ability to respond on-call as assigned, including evenings and weekends is required.
• Valid driver’s license and successful DMV check required.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Westminster University is committed to a diversified workforce, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination. To this end, Westminster prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on race or ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, disabilities, genetic information, status as a veteran, or any other category or classification protected by applicable federal, state, or city laws.