Associate Dean for Student Success, Health & Well-Being - Clark University
Clark University
Application
Details
Posted: 19-Jul-23
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 164845
Location: Worcester, MA Category: Staff and Administrators Posted On: Tue Jul 18 2023 Job Description:
Reporting to the Associate Provost & Dean of Students, the successful candidate will be a student-centered, collaborative, innovative, and intentional educator responsible for providing leadership, strategic vision, and administrative oversight of campus-wide programs, services, and operations within the health and well-being portfolio.
The Associate Dean will serve as the main point person in the Division of Student Success to develop student programs, support student life, promote student learning regarding health and wellness, and contribute to the university's goal of creating an environment to ensure effective and efficient delivery of innovative health and holistic well-being-related services to the campus community, including implementing appropriate prevention and response strategies for student crises and students of concern, including concerns related to students' basic needs (Financial insecurity and food insecurity); the Associate Dean will provide educational training and outreach for students on health and wellness in the areas of suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs, sexual health and wellness, spiritual development, physical fitness and nutrition, and healthy relationships.
The Associate Dean of Students will lead the operationalization of the recent health and wellness task force recommendations delivered to the Provost and Associate Provost/Dean of Students in May 2022.
The Associate Dean of Students for Health and Well-Being will provide leadership and have direct oversight of Health Services, Counseling & Personal Growth, and Wellness Education. Other areas of health and wellness may be included as the University is going through structural and organizational changes.
Additionally, the Associate Dean of Students for Health and Well-Being will serve as a key campus partner and coordinator regarding campus efforts relating to public health management efforts (e.g., COVID-19). Lastly, this position will work closely with student organizations and critical campus partners on initiatives to mitigate the basic needs of our student body (financial insecurity and food insecurity).
In the area of student crises and students of concern, the Associate Dean will build relationships with faculty and other campus partners in identifying and responding to students of concern, manage the institution-wide crisis response Team, support students engaging in the medical leave process, convene when necessary the Student Threat Assessment Team, serve on the institutional Bias Incident Response Team, manage the on-going evaluation and development of health and well-being emergency response protocols, and provide the vision for building an ethos of prevention and care on campus for students facing social and emotional challenges affecting their academic success.
The position will serve in on-call rotation as an emergency responder, e.g., represent the University in responding to student and University community emergencies; response may involve working with off-campus agencies, university police, and university departments.
The Associate Dean will support and advance Divisional goals, represent DOS on Division and University committees, and help shape the strategic mission of DOS and the Division of Student Success in supporting student success and advancing institutional goals for retention and persistence. This position will work closely with the Associate Dean for Community Living, the Associate Dean for Engagement & Belonging, the Associate Dean for Student Success, and other members of the DSS Leadership Team members.
Major Responsibilities: Describe in concise and clear statements. List in order of importance and note the approximate percent of time required for each task (on an annual basis). Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Provide leadership, strategic vision, and administrative oversight of campus-wide programs, services, and operations within the health and well-being portfolio.
Coordinate and lead synergistic Health Services, Counseling & Personal Growth, Wellness Education, crisis response, etc., to bolster students' well-being.
Provides supervision and leadership across the institution regarding student health and well-being and develops collaborative approaches to solving challenging problems.
Operationalize the health and wellness May 2022 task force recommendations.
Commit to integrating student holistic well-being, especially mental health support, across all levels of Student Success and Academic Affairs.
Manage student emergency response processes, protocols, and practices relating to health and well-being in collaboration with Division and University-wide partners.
Serve in on-call rotation as an emergency responder, e.g., represent the University in responding to student and University community emergencies; response may involve working with off-campus agencies, university police, and university departments.
Manage and triage projects and communications for the Dean of Students, Division of Student Success, and follow-up appropriately as well as serving as liaison to parents/guardians, families and designated contact of Clark students as appropriate, on behalf of the Division.
Convene the Student Threat Assessment Team in collaboration with the Dean of Students as needed.
Serve as a hearing officer, facilitator, or appeals officer for the University Conduct Board and the Title IX Hearing Board (hearing officer or facilitator only).
Review highly confidential requests for student medical and voluntary withdrawals and manage processing and policy enhancement for withdrawals or leaves of absence in conjunction with the Dean of the College Office.
Oversee policies and practices supporting students on Medical Leave to boost students' successful return to Clark.
Responsible for escalated operational issues, including human resources and people management.
Drives innovation, inclusion, and excellence within the area of student support; reviews and creates policies and procedures.
Provides expertise and identifies grant and funding opportunities; develops business relationships across the university and externally.
Stays up-to-date on new student support standards, technologies, policies, and procedures and works collaboratively with other student support leaders across departments and campuses in determining standards, best practices, and related policies/procedures; ensures the adoption and implementation by direct reporting leaders.
Participate in the growth and development of the Division and Clark University
Support the on-boarding and off-boarding process for students
Support critical retention and student success initiatives
Support key initiatives and experiences within Student Success and the University, such as opening weekend, orientation, commencement, family weekend, traditional events, etc.
Promote efficiency and courtesy throughout the University community and ensure that it is consistent with Student Success' mission and values
Remain cognizant of the University's mission and identity, the constant promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of student voices
Communicate effectively with supervisor concerning pertinent departmental and University matters
Other duties as assigned that are within the best interest of the division
Job Requirements:
Master's degree (Doctorate preferred) in public health, social work, counseling, higher education administration, student development, student personnel, or related field from an accredited institution, in addition to a minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience in student success and higher education administration (or a combination of education and relevant experience). Supervisory experience is preferred.
Knowledge and experience to provide appropriate responses and resources to students reporting challenges with mental health (including suicidal ideation), chronic health issues, substance abuse, or other issues affecting their educational success.
Demonstrated knowledge of legal issues, current trends, and best practices that inform
student case management in higher education.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, human relations, organizational, and time management skills, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of a small, dynamic, highly-collaborative student success team.
Demonstrated experience responding to crisis and complex conduct situations; managing sensitive and confidential information/records; understanding and appreciation for college student development, student success constructs, and the student success field in general.
Possess a high level of intercultural competence, including experience working with diverse communities, such as students of color, first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented student populations.
Extended hours will be required on an as-needed basis, including evening, early morning, and weekend assignments.
Prior experience working with and contributing to a diverse workplace with the ability to
interact effectively with a broad range of constituents on campus
Additional Information:
As of June 1, 2023 Clark University no longer requires employees or students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, Clark urges all community members to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, which recommend that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including booster doses. This is important for your own personal health as well as the health of our community.
Clark University embraces equal opportunity as a core value: we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. This commitment applies to every aspect of education, services, and employment policies and practices at Clark. Our commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. All positions at Clark share in the responsibility for building a community that values diversity and the uniqueness of others by exhibiting integrity and respect in interacting with all members of the Clark community to create an atmosphere of fairness and belonging. We strongly encourage members from historically underrepresented communities, inclusive of all women, to apply.
Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.
Founded in 1887, Clark University is a liberal arts-based research university committed toscholarship and inquiry that addresses social and human imperatives on a global basis. It is the place where Robert Goddard invented the modern rocket, where Sigmund Freud delivered his only lectures in the United States, and where current students stake their claim to the Clark motto, “Challenge Convention, Change Our World,” which is the rallying cry that inspires our community every day. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University educates its undergraduate and graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. The University’s engages students in such areas as biology, chemistry, economics, geography, psychology, urban education, management, environmental science and policy, Holocaust and genocide studies, and international development and social change. Clark University’s pioneering model of higher education, LEEP (Liberation Education and Effective Practice) compels undergraduate students to thrive in authentic world and workplace settings, and prepares them for lives and careers of consequence.