POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Assistant Director, Access and Success Programs
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1135
GRADE 43
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director, Access and Success Programs
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Assistant Director, Access and Success Programs assists program participants (low income, first generation, and/or disabled) to succeed in college by helping them determine appropriate academic goals and select academic schedules appropriate for their stated academic goals. The Assistant Director, Access and Success Programs guides pre-majors in the selection of academic majors and directs students to resources within the University that provide assistance in identifying academic majors and career choices, as appropriate. The Assistant Director, Access and Success Programs manages programs relating to career guidance, graduate school motivation, test preparation, disabled student issues, student leadership, tutoring, mentoring and study skills.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master's degree is required.
Experience: At least two years of experience with academic advising, access programs, or college or university employment experience directly related to the job responsibilities of this position is required; an equivalency of two years of graduate assistantships may be considered for substitution of one year of experience. Student services or teaching experience is preferred. Access programs experience or other student support services serving diverse student populations is preferred.
Skills: Excellent presentation and written communication skills, interpersonal skills (particularly in working with diverse student populations), organizational, and management skills are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required. A working knowledge of various computer applications is required; experience with database applications is preferred.
Other: A valid driver’s license is required. The scope of the position occasionally requires work in the evenings and on weekends.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Assists program participants in establishing appropriate academic and personal goals through intrusive academic advising and counseling and encourages the development of program participant study skills through the coordination and/or presentation of study skills workshops and individual study skills assistance.2. Provides appropriate and positive academic skills and refreshment for program participants by developing, creating, and organizing workshops.
3. Provides an essential student service of academic advisement by being knowledgeable of academic policies and procedures of Missouri State University, assisting program participants in the development of academic schedules appropriate for their stated educational goals, guiding program participants in decision-making and learning how to accept responsibility for their decisions, assisting program participants seeking academic information, assisting pre-majors in the selection of academic majors, and directing program participants to resources within the University that provide assistance in making career and academic major choices.
4. Manages the Access and Success Programs’ Peer Mentoring Program by matching peer mentors to students to help the mentee with guidance and support to be successful in college.
5. Facilitates personal and academic development of program participants by encouraging involvement in cultural and leadership activities both on and off campus, providing opportunities for participation in advising student leadership groups within the program and motivating program participants to apply for graduate school in their chosen field of study.
6. Ensures the effectiveness of the advising process by maintaining both paper and electronic database advisee files for all assigned advisees, regularly updating advisee academic reports and counseling notes, and validating the information contained in the advisee files with the student database.
7. Oversees the maintenance and updating of the website.
8. Manages the Scholarship Program, assures that students are assisted with their scholarship searches and preparation, and assures current information and materials are available.
9. Manages the Graduate School Program by encouraging program participants to seek out graduate programs of interest and providing assistance in preparing for taking graduate entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, and GMAT).
10. Coordinates sophomore participation in the Career Services track which provides exposure to creating resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, academic and career assessments, dinner etiquette, etc.
11. Promotes the services available through Access and success Programs by presenting programs on campus, off campus, and virtually.
12. Provides information needed for decision making by keeping current and accessible enrollment records, managing and maintaining databases, and preparing and submitting reports on the student population as requested by the Director of Access and Success Programs.
13. Works with the Director of Access and Success Programs to oversee budgetary planning and expenditures.
14. Helps to assure that Access and Success students and potential Access and Success students have full information on opportunities and responsibilities related to the program by preparing materials, such as mailings to prospective students, coordinating assessments and other tests involving participants, directing participants to the appropriate resources for academic advisement, providing basic information in response to questions about matriculation issues, and coordinating the cultural and social activities of the programs.
15. Assures the accuracy, completeness, and confidentiality of participants’ files by working with the Director of Access and Success Programs to assemble and maintain the components of the student file, such as the application form, assessment forms, academic record forms, etc., preparing applicant files, preparing and maintaining student files for participants, and coordinating the gathering of academic and financial need data on participants for entry into the student file.
16. Relieves the Director of Access and Success Programs of routine operational details affecting the department by assuming responsibility for secretarial, clerical, and office management functions and making administrative decisions within established guidelines and policy.
17. Facilitates awareness of the programs by marketing the program and promoting program services through informational presentations to faculty, staff, prospective students from the MSU population and transfer students, and/or by distributing program literature at student festivals, strategic locations across campus, and elsewhere as appropriate.
18. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
19. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the supervisor.
20. Contributes to the overall success of the program and the University by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Assistant Director of Access and Success Programs is supervised by the Director of Access and Success Programs and supervises the Diversity Transition and Support Coordinator, graduate assistants, and/or student employees.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED OCTOBER 2022
