ARTS & SCIENCES; DEAN (BL-ARSD-IUBLA)

The office of Undergraduate Retention and Achievement in the College of Arts and Sciences (the College), serves approximately 10,000 active undergraduate students pursuing degrees and more than 250 separate major, minor and certificate programs in three disciplinary areas within the core College and three schools: The Media School, the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design, and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. The Office of Undergraduate Retention and Achievement implements all College academic policies, academic progress reviews, and multiple petition processes for students in the College.

The College values diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core strength and essential element in the success of its educational mission. For full diversity statement, click here.

More information about the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University may be found here.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Focuses on data analysis and employs predictive analytics to guide student outreach efforts.
• Provides expert analysis of data related to student retention and success, with special attention to 4-year and 6-year graduation rates for students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Researches current student success trends and tools and recommends strategies and initiatives that support the College's efforts to increase student success, retention, and timely degree completion.
• Analyzes historical data and identifies indicators that suggest that a student needs outreach and/or intervention to enhance their student experience at IU and keep them on pace to graduation.
• Applies comprehensive knowledge and understanding of retention strategies and skill in assisting students in developing strategic decision-making skills.
• Counsels students about the nature and content of a liberal arts education, major fit, and develops strategies to identify and meet student academic and personal needs.
• Identifies areas of advising concern and administrative barriers that impact student success and persistence and proposes solutions for resolving issues/removing barriers.
• Develops training programs and conducts interventions that support the undergraduate educational mission of the University and that enhance the performance, retention, and graduation rates of students in the College.
• Works with the Undergraduate Retention and Achievement team to improve collaboration with other student-facing offices in the College, such as academic advisors, on targeted areas related to undergraduate student success and retention.
• Considers with impartial compassion student petitions and resolves complex student issues equitably.
• Applies advanced problem-solving skills and exercises sound judgement to determine when exceptions are appropriate, understanding that they can be precedent-setting.
• Applies comprehensive knowledge of College and University policies and procedures for appeals at various levels and provides guidance to faculty, staff, and students regarding these processes. Serves on campus committees related to areas of expertise.
• Liaises with other College and campus offices working toward student success, retention, and 4-year graduation goals.

General Responsibilities

• Develops and distributes reports of enrollment, year-over-year retention, progress toward degree completion, and graduation for distribution to leaders in enrollment management and across various student services functions. Maintains historical reports for trend analysis and benchmarking.
• Serves on committees and works collaboratively with other student services staff to maintain an understanding of the full student life-cycle and typical barriers to retention, degree completion, and graduation.
• Develops and implements retention programs, initiatives, and targeted communications to improve student enrollment and retention outcomes.
• Performs targeted outreach and interacts directly with at-risk students, connecting them with resources to navigate barriers to completion.
• Evaluates enrollment data to determine the effectiveness of current enrollment processes; liaises with and serves as a resource for academic departments, offices, programs, and schools across campus to develop and realize enrollment goals.
• Determines enrollment demand and mechanisms for maximizing enrollment capacity for specific courses and may make recommendations to appropriate registrar and academic representatives on future course offerings.
• Performs industry research and makes recommendations for process improvements in line with industry best practices.
• May provide guidance to lower-level Student Retention Specialists.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in business, public policy, or related field

Preferred

• Master's degree in a liberal arts discipline

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 5 years in enrollment management, admissions, student services, higher education, or related field

Preferred

• 5 years of professional experience in an advising, teaching, and/or administrative role in a university setting (preferably including a 1 year of teaching experience at the post-secondary level)
• Experience in university administration and successful collegial experience in an office environment

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Commitment to working with people of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to interpret federal, state, and institutional rules and regulations

Preferred

• Solid grounding in liberal arts and sciences
• Interpersonal skills, sound judgment, discretion, and considerable tact
• Ability to maintain sympathetic impartiality in resolving disputes
• Broad understanding of the majors and degrees in all the disciplines, departments, and programs in the College
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to adhere to deadlines
• Innovative and creative thinking in responding to changing demands and conditions in order to support student success, retention, and persistence
• Experience with statistics, databases, and spreadsheets as well as IU student records and advising systems

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Bloomington, Indiana

$51,000 - $53,000 annually

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.

Career Level: Advanced

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Student Services

Job Family: Enrollment Mgmt & Retention

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be differences in the working conditions as advertised in our standard job postings (e.g., the ability to travel from one campus to another, etc.). If you are invited for an interview, please discuss your questions or concerns regarding the working conditions at that time.

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

New employees will be provided with information regarding Indiana University's COVID-19 vaccine policy, which includes the opportunity to request an exemption. To learn more, view our COVID-19 vaccine information page.

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University's Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

Request Support
Telephone: 812-856-1234