Director-First Year Experience

DIRECTOR-FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE
WILBUR WRIGHT COLLEGE

Wilbur Wright College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, seeks a Director-First Year Experience (FYE) to work as a member of a district-wide FYE lab community to create, innovate, share, and grow strategies and interventions in collaboration with college and district key stakeholders, providing a strategic and collaborative approach to improving first-year student outcomes. This position works to create a framework for a comprehensive district-wide FYE plan, providing a unified approach in developing strategies and interventions designed to close equity gaps, improve first-year student outcomes, and increase retention and success rates for new students. The Director-First Year Experience manages the implementation of the college’s FYE plan, executing programs and initiatives to support first-year students in their academic and social transition and integration into the college community. Performs related duties as required. Some evening and weekend work required.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

District FYE Lab Community Responsibilities:

• Works with other college FYE leads, college researchers/directors of strategic initiatives, and District Office partners to develop a FYE success framework.
• Develops a college-specific FYE theory of action and plan to effectively drive student outcomes.
• Tracks and monitors FYE activities, progress, and outcomes, leveraging Navigate and other system tools.
• Actively participates in the district-wide FYE lab community meetings with updates, reflections, suggestions, and outcome reports.

College Specific Responsibilities:

• Works collaboratively with cross-functional teams to implement a framework of programs and support services for first-year students including orientation, college success classes/workshops, academic alert system, and welcome events.
• Collaborates and maintains working partnerships with staff across college departments and faculty to ensure successful implementation of student support structures.
• Facilitates the integration of first-year student and other targeted populations to the college community, coordinating campus events to introduce students to co-curricular activities, support programs and services, student organizations, and other student engagement opportunities.
• Monitors and measures FYE program activities including student engagement/participation and analyzes student enrollment and retention data to assess program success and impact on student retention.
• Evaluates FYE programs and initiatives and draws upon best practices and emerging trends in student transition, retention, and engagement to effect changes and ensure continuous improvement and growth.
• Leads work teams in the monitoring of first-year students to identify areas for improvement, service gaps, and opportunities to assist students in maintaining academic success and successfully transitioning to a college environment.
• Develops on-going opportunities to assist in the academic and social transition and integration of first-year students to the City Colleges of Chicago and Wilbur Wright College community.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in education, social work, business or related field required.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in student services or a related field in a higher education institution OR Master’s Degree in college student personnel, higher education administration, counseling, or related field with one (1) to two (2) years related professional experience.
• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices.
• Knowledge of first-year student program best practices as well as principles and theories that strengthen resiliency factors for first-year students.
• Knowledge of academic support structures relating to student retention and success.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and equity in education.
• Must be able and willing to work some evenings and weekends.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Ability and willingness to travel between Wilbur Wright College and Humboldt Park Vocational Education Center, as needed.

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within six (6) months of hire.
We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago!