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Job Description Summary

Job Description

The Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) is seeking an Assistant Director for Student Engagement and Retention to serve as part of an innovative, student-facing team. This leadership role will ensure that this new program achieves sustained academic excellence and strong marketplace relevance to provide high value to our students. To optimize our work and the experiences of our students, staff and faculty, we seek to hire teammates who are committed to inclusive practices that value the backgrounds, experiences, and voices of all of our community members. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive and equitable environment for all given our commitment to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. The Assistant Director provides logistical and promotional oversight over engagement and retention efforts to support and ensure student success.

An ideal candidate will have

• earned bachelor's degree in related field,

• at least three years of related experience working in an engagement and retention capacity with students and/or in event planning, and

• experience working with adult learners and/or programs for working professionals is preferred (i.e., accelerated, online programs).

Job Role

Wake Forest University has a strong sense of community with faculty and staff who are dedicated to the mission of educating the whole person. SPS focuses on accelerating the professional growth of adult students in the Charlotte community and beyond by providing accessible, flexible, affordable, and leading-edge educational experiences by leveraging our academic areas of excellence and external strategic partnerships.

To support this work, the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Retention will:

• Lead retention-related training initiatives for Student Success Managers, focusing specifically on orientation and onboarding initiatives and requirements and serving as academic advising presence for students on leave of absence or with special advising circumstances (e.g., transfer, cross-registered) in collaboration with other student-facing and program staff.

• Support and advocate for students in personal, social, or academic distress throughout their degree program experience, in collaboration with any contracted services providers where appropriate.

• Plan, organize, promote, and execute school-wide in-person and virtual engagement experiences for students - curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular - to promote belonging, community-building, and retention (including, but not limited to, Wake360, annual Hooding Ceremony and Reception, Homecoming Festival on the Quad, Graduate Student Appreciation Week).

• Collaborate with SPS colleagues (faculty and staff), as well as with on-campus/online graduate and professional school counterparts on engagement experiences to facilitate networking across programs/schools.

• Create and execute webinars to prepare students for graduation, including participation in the annual hooding ceremony.

• Continuously assess and improve SPS engagement experiences in alignment with School retention and graduation Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and University strategic plan.

• Maintain all student-facing information on the SPS website, learning management system (LMS; Canvas), and contracted service provider's student-facing communications and timeline to ensure a consistent SPS voice and to support retention efforts.

• Pursue and implement professional development opportunities for student leaders.

Additional Job Description

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate, and professional education. Founded in 1834, the University is ranked among the top thirty national universities according to U.S. News & World Report. With other 5,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate and professional students, the student-faculty ratio is 11:1. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the University has adopted the motto Pro Humanitate, which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the work. Click here for quick facts about the University

The School of Professional Studies

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) is the newest school of Wake Forest University. SPS houses innovative graduate degree and non-degree programs, including certificates and other credentials, as well as relevant Executive Education courses, for working professionals. SPS is focused on developing accessible and market-relevant programs that build upon Wake Forest's current areas of strength as well as delivering future professional development education that is essential to the growing economy of Charlotte, where the School is located, and the surrounding region. SPS is at the frontier of what's next for Wake Forest University as the university boldly expands into Charlotte with the construction of an Innovation District in partnership with Atrium Health. SPS is an exciting strategic initiative for the university benefiting from strong support from the university community, including administration and trustees, and the business and civic leaders of Charlotte.

SPS has a vision to develop a new kind of leader. It helps working professionals rise to the challenges of today's dynamic job market by teaching in-demand skills and awarding sought-after credentials. The School empowers its students to adapt, grow, and excel, shaping them into leaders who will guide businesses into the future with integrity. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPS offers fully online programs students can complete from anywhere, as well as opportunities to network, learn, and connect in person. Learn more about the School of Professional Studies online at https://sps.wfu.edu.

Charlotte, North Carolina

The fifth fastest growing city in the U.S., Charlotte is the most populous city in North Carolina, with more than 874,000 residents. The city is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area, especially in the financial sector. It is the second largest financial banking center in the U.S. after New York City. Home to several Fortune 500 companies, Charlotte is one of the nation's top cities expected to experience continued economic growth, particularly for start-ups.

Charlotte has opportunities and activities of a large city with the welcoming community of a small town. Great school systems, a variety of parks and outdoor venues, eclectic food scene, wonderful museums, family-friendly activities, and live entertainment venues make this city one to enjoy year around. Business Insider ranked the city 14th in its list of 50 Best Places to Live in America.

Like many great cities, Charlotte has attracted people from across the world who now call it home. The different ethnicities, ages, and religions found within the city have enhanced Charlotte's culture and sense of community.

Time Type Requirement

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

WakeForestseeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate.In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on thebasis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran statusandencourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.