Department: Student Affairs - Pathway and Advising
Reports to: Assistant Dean of Pathway and Academic Advising
Date: December 22, 2023 (Reopened April 3, 2024)
General Summary:
Under the general supervision of the Assistant Dean of Pathway and Academic Advising, the Director of Veteran and Military Resources will be responsible for program oversight, management, and implementation of all services for Active Military, veterans, and their family members through the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). Including developing program policies and procedures; managing day-to-day operations; budget management; recruiting staff and students; designing services; managing and evaluating staff; providing professional development; overseeing direct service activities; providing case management and advising; and maintaining student data. Collaborate with internal and external offices and constituencies, including staff, faculty, administration, the veterans center at partner institutions, and external agencies in an effort to increase persistence, retention, transfer, and graduation for active military, veterans and their families.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for our diverse students, staff, faculty, administrators, and the public in the Veterans Resource Center (VRC).
VRC leadership and oversight:
Provide appropriate training to staff assisting the V/M community at the college.
Triage concerns, questions, and needs with outside agencies, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and service providers.
Develop marketing materials to promote VRC activities and programs in collaboration with Assistant Dean and key stakeholders.
Assist in the dissemination of information to Academic Advisors and Administrative Staff regarding veteran services
Maintain an ongoing understanding of the online resources
Maintaining and updating the Veterans Resource Guide Maintain and update Veteran Resources through all communication channels, including the department website.
Implement New Student Resources Sessions for student veteran and military-affiliated students either new or returning after several years, fall and spring.
Remain current regarding state, federal, and College regulations and policies related to Veterans benefits and assure compliance.
Continue and maintain the current relationship with Veterans Administration Services
Supervise and evaluate assigned staff, work-study, and graduate assistantship positions.
Participate in the Veterans Advisory Board and the MCC Veterans Council.
Assist in collecting data to maintain statistics on veterans including developing reports on retention and degree completion rates; documenting VRC usage.
Administrative Oversight
Manage comprehensive budgets for Veteran Resources, including the use of funds directly provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs from SCO certifications
Provide Green Zone Training to all members of the college community to understand the needs of Veteran and military-connected students.
Develop a work plan to effectively address all reporting requirements at the Federal, State,
Submit annually to external rating agencies, including but not limited to Military Friendly and Best for Vets survey applications.
Submit on behalf of the college all VA certification reporting requirements including but not limited to WEAMS, 85/15, and Academic Catalog.
Work collaboratively with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging to develop a culture where DEB is incorporated into resources and VRC events.
Combine efforts with the Office of Student Engagement, Student Affinity groups, and other areas of the college to provide a broad range of programming for Veteran students focused on Wellness and Healthy Living.
Work with veterans to support and enhance college resources and programs:
Assist with explaining college policy procedures to veterans and/or family members
Assist in providing front-line service to active military, veterans, and or family members
Assist with outreach and recruitment activities for veterans to engage in VRC activities
Support members of the Veterans Club with programs and activities
Assist student veterans with integration into the college's process and programs
Further veterans' success at MCC by providing and disseminating information about opportunities, services, programs and workshops available on campus and in local communities
Assist Veterans Certifying Officials:
Serve as the primary School Certifying Official for the college, providing direct assistance to V/M students seeking to use VA benefits through the resource center.
Serve as the lead in the management of Veteran's education benefit paperwork in accordance with Federal and State guidelines
Assist in providing prospective and incoming enrolled and actively attending students with assistance and guidance to successfully finance their education using their VA education benefits
Refer students to the Veterans Integrating to Academic Leadership (VITAL) services:
Schedule on-campus time with the counselors and tutors of VITAL staff
Participate in informational sessions at the VA regarding MCC opportunities.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned
Job Requirements:
Master's degree in higher education administration or a related field
Three (3) years of related experience in a post-secondary/higher education student affairs environment
Knowledge of veterans' concerns and issues
Exceptional communication skills.
Ability to evaluate situations and make decisions in an ethical and confidential manner
Ability to manage multiple activities and programs
Experience with staff supervision.
Comfortable using enterprise student information systems and MS Office applications
Experience with equity-minded work and/or understanding of individuals of diverse identities such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, sexual orientation, veterans, and individuals with different academic preparation levels and varying physical and learning abilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference for candidates with a documented veteran status and demonstrated expertise in interpreting federal regulations.
Bilingual skills are a plus.
Experience using Ellucian Banner, EAB Navigate, VAOnce, and other related applications.
Additional Information:
Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 annually; actual salary commensurate with academic background and experience. Employees of Middlesex Community College are considered employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and receive benefits, which include:
High-quality and affordable health insurance through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Commission (GIC)
Competitive Dental and Vision Plans
Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance programs
Low-cost basic and optional life insurance
Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension or Optional Retirement Program (ORP) and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan or 403(b).
12 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation, and Personal Time
Tuition Benefits for employees and dependents at state colleges and universities
Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options
Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities
Cell Phone Bill Discounts with Verizon and T-Mobile Cell Phone Carriers
Access to the Commonwealth's Mass4You, employee assistance program
Free employee parking on Bedford and Lowell campuses
Eligibility towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Location: Lowell campus with occasional travel to Bedford as needed
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, schedule to be determined upon hire, this position will be eligible for a maximum of two days of telework in accordance with the College's telework policy.
At Middlesex Community College, everyone teaches, everyone learns. Collaborative in nature and innovative in practice, we educate, engage, and empower a diverse community of learners. Through transformative opportunities, we challenge and support every student to succeed and lead. Recognizing equity and inclusion as the foundation for excellence and creativity, Middlesex Community College meets the evolving educational, civic and workforce needs of our local and global communities.