Job Description for the Assistant Dean of Students position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Assistant Dean of Students

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Student Life

Department: Dean of Students

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean of Students provides visionary and instrumental leadership for important functions and priorities within a comprehensive, vibrant Office of the Dean of Students that is responsible for programs and services supporting student learning, holistic development, wellbeing, and community and personal responsibility. The Office of the Dean of Students is an important point of contact for the University community and serves as a resource for student support. The Assistant Dean of Students brings together those departments and functions in Student Life that support divisional and institutional emergency preparedness and response; graduate student support and communication; neighborhood relations and off-campus (commuter) student support; student leaves and returns; and consultation with students, faculty, staff, parents/guardians, and other University constituents and stakeholders. The Assistant Dean is responsible for providing leadership, management, and direct response to complex, sensitive student concerns and crisis response. This individual coordinates prompt, thoughtful, individualized approaches that maintain a student-centered focus while addressing the urgency of each situation.

The Assistant Dean develops and implements short-term and long-range plans, coordinates department goals and priorities, plans, develops, and implements assessment and evaluation efforts, and enacts strategies to achieve priorities of the department, division, and university. This individual is a key partner with faculty and administrative leaders across the institution in supporting university initiatives and priorities to strengthen inclusive excellence, wellness and well-being, leadership and civic engagement, first-year experience, student success, and the residential campus experience. The Assistant Dean of Students serves in the capacity of the Dean of Students in the absence of the dean.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.
Elon is proud to have been named to the list of Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs each of the past five years. For additional information about working with the Division of Student Life, visit: https://www.elon.edu/u/administration/student-life/about/work-with-us/

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Master's degree in higher education, student personnel, or related field with minimum 5 years of experience with the following relevant work experience: Completed master's degree in higher education, student personnel, or related field and at least 6-10 years of progressive post-master's experience in student development/higher education administration or a related functional area in higher education.

Preferred Education and Experience

Terminal degree (i.e., MFA, EdD, MD, JD, PhD) in higher education, student personnel, or related field

Required Other Training, Certifications, or Licensing

Job Duties

• Departmental and Administrative Oversight: Provide effective leadership for assigned functional areas within the Office of the Dean of Students (graduate student support and communication, community relationships regarding student issues, emergency preparedness and response, The Elon University Student Handbook, leaves and returns, parent/family relations and response, and neighborhood relations/off-campus student support), guided by a mission and vision consistent with the mission, goals, and priorities of the university and Division of Student Life. Coordinate and implement Division of Student Life Emergency Response System, including staff training and supervision. Establish and implement goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures. Provide oversight for department budgets; includes monitoring the budget, preparation and submission of the annual budget and long-term planning documents/proposals. Supervise, recruit, hire, train, and assess the job performance of assigned staff (including graduate or undergraduate student employees/ volunteers), which includes developing training experiences and supervision strategies that provide skills, knowledge, and dispositions required to effectively meet established goals and objectives. Develop and implement effective departmental contact and communication structures. Serve as a clearinghouse for resources, education, and programming related to all assigned functional areas. 
• Strategic and Collaborative Leadership: Provide sustained and visible campus leadership in university processes, procedures, and programs (graduate student support and communication, leaves and returns, neighborhood relations, parent/family relations and response). Establish and maintain effective relationships and programs that contribute to students' academic and personal success. Engage and collaborate with academic affairs administrators, faculty leaders, and student life educators to link curricular and co-curricular experiences to student success and wellbeing. Provide leadership to staff in regular assessment and communication of the impact and effectiveness of direct reporting areas. Serve on university-wide committees and task forces as representative of the Division of Student Life and the Office of the Dean of Students. Chair the Behavioral Intervention Team and provide leadership for the Office of the Dean of Students in the absence of the Dean of Students. 
• Direct Response to Crises and Concerns: Manage and respond to urgent concerns and crises. Effectively addressing inquiries and concerns from students, families, and campus stakeholders, including resolution or connection with appropriate campus or community resources. Coordinate prompt interventions for student emergencies, crises or substantial campus disruptions. Develop individualized support plans for students referred by the Dean of Students and the Behavioral Intervention Team, assessing the nature and severity of the situation to determine the necessary response. Implement behavioral intervention and safety risk-assessment strategies and processes to ensure student safety and support.
• Additional Responsibilities: Serve on university, divisional, or departmental committees, task forces, and search committees. Support university events, including, but not limited to: Convocations, Commencement, Family Weekend, and events related to Admissions and/or New Student Orientation. Serve as a member of a Student Life Care and Response Team, which includes either serving in a rotational on-call emergency response role or providing initial outreach and follow-up support for student concerns. Other related duties as assigned at the discretion of the Dean of Students. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: On Call Required: Serve as a senior administrator on-call on a rotational basis through the Student Life Emergency Response System, which includes supporting on-call staff and coordinating response to emergencies and crisis situations.

Travel Required: Occasional travel required for professional development or emergency response; may include international travel.

Some evening and weekend work may be required