Job Description for the Elon Academy Assistant Director of College Success position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Elon Academy Assistant Director of College Success

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday-Friday, some Saturdays

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs

Department: Center for Access and Success

Position Summary

The Elon Academy, part of the Elon University Center for Access and Success, is a non-profit college access and success program for academically promising high school students in Alamance County with financial need and/or no family history of college. The Elon Academy Assistant Director of College Success has primary responsibility for designing and implementing programs that provide and/or facilitate financial, academic, social, and mentoring/advising support for scholars and their families in all phases of the Elon Academy. This includes working with scholars before and after graduation from high school and designing, coordinating, and implementing the College Success Program and the Transitions to College Retreat. The Assistant Director of College Success works with various groups on and off Elon’s campus to address issues of diversity and college retention. This position involves a significant amount of travel visiting scholars on their college campuses and developing partnerships that help them better access the networks of support on those campuses. This position reports to the Elon Academy Director.

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.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree
Prior experience in area(s) of college advising; college admissions and retention; college access; student instruction, mentorship and advising
Strong interpersonal, public speaking, communication, and writing skills
Demonstrated commitment to promoting educational equity for students from underrepresented backgrounds

Preferred Education and Experience

Master’s degree in Education, Public Service, or another relevant field
Experience in and knowledge of Alamance County, NC, the Alamance Burlington School System, and North Carolina public and private universities and colleges
Spanish fluency highly desired – conversation speaking and writing/translating

Required Other Training, Certifications, or Licensing

Job Duties

• Senior Scholar Support (year-round programming) Plan, teach, and assess the senior summer College Planning class (EA 301) and the 8 senior Saturday College Planning programs, which include support for the college application and selection process, securing financial aid and scholarships, and assessing financial aid packages (sessions occur one Saturday each month) Assist with all summer College Visits; arrange/lead optional academic year college tours Meet with each rising senior family during the summer for individualized academic advising and support; follow-up with each senior family during the academic year as scholars compare their college opportunities Supervise the undergraduate students who serve as Senior College Access Team (CAT) mentors Oversee the maintenance of senior cohort scholars’ academic files; monitor academic progress through personal contact with scholars, parents, and high school personnel (as needed) and through report cards, test scores, and other progress reports Track senior scholar successes and challenges from through senior year and into the first year of college, assisting where needed or mobilizing other staff or resources. Conduct individual and group advising sessions and group workshops for senior scholars and families during the summer and academic-year programs 
• Transitions to College Retreat and Peer Leaders Recruit, train, coordinate, and evaluate 4-6 college scholar Peer Leaders (experienced college scholars across multiple campuses) Plan and coordinate a multi-day Transitions to College Retreat over the summer for graduating seniors Oversee Peer Leader connections to first year college students at the Retreat and throughout the academic year
• College Success Programs Lead the ongoing mentorship of college scholars, working with other EA staff, as needed. This includes: 3 check-in visits to 15-25 first-year college students on their campuses (one in-person, others virtual as needed); additional visits (in-person or virtual) with sophomore, junior, and senior college students as needed and as possible given other duties (approx. 60-75 college scholars); and collecting and analyzing Peer Leader reports as a key data point Maintain all college scholar databases (academic progress, contacts, post-graduation plans) Advise scholars about graduate school and graduate fellowships Coordinate programs, services, and events for college scholars (college scholar panels, Holiday College Scholar Social and other relevant events) Build strategic partnerships with college and university student support services at Elon and on other campuses Manage LinkedIn page for college scholars and alum to stay connected to the program and learn about opportunities 
• Alumni Relations Maintain database of college graduates (Where they are now? Campus Resources/Contact people) Establish connections with program alumni when possible
• Additional Responsibilities Participate in all Elon Academy staff meetings Participate in all phases of the program, including Recruitment, Summer Academy, and Saturday Academy. Assist in the recruitment and training of CAT mentors Assist the Director of Elon Academy as needed on program evaluation efforts Collaborate with Elon Academy and Center for Access and Success staff Attend and present at professional forums and conferences regionally and nationally as appropriate. Stay current on changing policies, challenges and opportunities for undocumented students and other underserved populations to best advise these scholars Network with ABSS, the university, and community agencies in support of the program Work with the Director to increase the visible presence of EA at Elon, in the community, and beyond Perform other duties as assigned

Special Instructions to Applicants: You are invited to submit your cover letter, resume, unofficial transcripts (graduate or undergraduate), and a list of three references to apply for this position. Please apply at the Elon University career website.